तावत्त्वे सो ऽस्य कालो ऽन्यस्तस्यान्ते प्रतिबुद्ध्यते
Only when that time ends does another period awaken for him.
समतीतानि कल्पानां तावच्छेषात्परेतु ये
Of the kalpas that have passed, only those that remain are beyond.
प्रथमं सांप्रतस्तेषां कल्पो वै वर्त्तते च यः
Of these, the present kalpa is the first and currently ongoing.
पूर्णे युगसहस्रे तु परिपाल्यं नरेश्वरैः
When a thousand yugas are complete, it is to be protected by the lords of men.
शान्तवातैः प्रलीने ऽस्मिन्न प्राज्ञायत किञ्चन
When all was dissolved by gentle winds, nothing at all was perceived.
विभुर्भवति स ब्रह्मा सहस्राक्षः सहस्रपात्
Then, the all-pervading Brahmā, with a thousand eyes and a thousand feet, came into being.
ब्रह्म नारायणाख्यस्तु सुष्वाप सलिले तदा
That Brahmā, called Nārāyaṇa, then slept upon the waters.
इमं चोदाहरन्त्यत्रर् श्लोकं नारायणं प्रति
Here, they recite this verse concerning Nārāyaṇa.
अयन तस्य ताःप्रोक्तास्तेन नारायणः स्मृतः
Because those paths are said to be his, he is remembered as Nārāyaṇa.
स्वर्णपत्रेप्रकुरुते ब्रह्मत्वादर्शकारणात्
He creates from a golden vessel, as a sign of his attainment of Brahmanhood.
निशायामिव खद्योतः प्रापृट्काले ततस्ततः
Like a firefly in the night, at the time of dissolution, here and there.
अनुमानादसंमूढो भूमेरद्धरणं प्रति
By inference, without confusion, regarding the support of the earth.
ततो महात्मा मनसा दिव्यरूपम चिन्तयत्
Then the great soul, with his mind, conceived a divine form.
किं तु रूपमहं कृत्वा सलिलादुद्धरे महीम्
But in what form, having created it, shall I lift the earth from the waters?
उदृश्यं सर्वभूतानां वाङ्मयं ब्रह्मसंज्ञितम्
A form visible to all beings, composed of speech, known as Brahman.
नीलमेघप्रतीकाशं मेघस्तनितनिःस्वनम्
Resembling a dark cloud, with a sound like thunder.
विद्युदग्निप्रतिकाशमादित्यसमतेजसम्
He shone like lightning and fire, possessing the radiance of the sun.
पीनोन्नतकटीदेशं वृषलक्षणपूजितम्
His hips were broad and prominent, honored with the marks of a bull.
पृथिव्युद्धरणार्थाय प्रविवेश रसातलम्
For the purpose of lifting up the earth, he entered the netherworld.
अग्निजिह्वो दर्भरोमा ब्रह्मशीर्षो महातपाः
His tongue was fire, his hair was darbha grass, his head was Brahma, and he was endowed with great austerity.
प्राग्वंशकायो द्युतिमान् नानादीक्षाभिरन्वितः
His body was of the eastern line, resplendent, adorned with various initiations.
उपाकर्मरुचिश्चैव प्रवर्ग्यावर्तभूषणः
He had the glow of ritual commencement and was adorned with the ring of Pravargya.
मायापत्नीसहायो वै गिरिशृङ्गमिवोच्छ्रयः
Accompanied by his illusory consort, he stood tall like a mountain peak.
आज्यगन्धः स्रुवस्तुण्डः सामघोषस्वनो महान्
He was fragrant with clarified butter, his mouth like a ladle, and his voice resounded with the chant of the Sāman hymns.
प्रायश्चित्तनखो घोरः पशुजानुर्महामखः
His nails were expiations, he was fierce, his knees were sacrificial animals, and he was the great sacrifice.
वाद्यन्तरात्मसत्रस्य नास्मिकासो मशोणितः
He was the inner sound of the sacrificial music, without flesh or blood.
अग्निसंछादितां भूमिं समामिच्छन्प्रजापतिम्
Desiring the earth covered by fire, he approached Prajāpati.
पृथक् तास्तु समीकृत्य पृथिव्यां सो ऽचिनोद्गिरीन्
Separating them distinctly, he arranged the mountains upon the earth.
देनाग्निना विलीनास्ते पर्वता भुवि सर्वशः
Those mountains, melted by fire, were scattered all over the earth.
निषिक्ता यत्रयत्रासंस्तत्रतत्राचलो ऽभवत्
Wherever they were placed, there a mountain arose.