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.
विश्वकर्मा विभजते कल्पादिषु पुनः पुनः
Viśvakarman divides them again and again at the beginnings of the cycles.
भूराद्यांश्चतुरो लोकान्पुनःपुनरकल्पयत्
He repeatedly arranged the four worlds, beginning with Bhū.
ब्रह्मा स्वयंभूर्भगवाम् सिसृक्षुर्विविधाः प्रजाः
Brahmā, the self-born Lord, desiring to create various beings,
तस्याभिध्यायतः सर्गं तदा वै बुद्धिपूर्वकम्
As he contemplated creation, then indeed, with deliberate thought, it came forth.
तमो मोहो महामोहस्तामिस्रो ह्यन्धसंज्ञितः
Darkness, confusion, great delusion, gloom, and what is called blind ignorance.
पञ्चधावस्थितः सर्गो ध्यायत साभिमानिनः
Creation exists in fivefold form, for those who meditate and possess pride.
बहिरन्तश्चाप्रकाशस्तथानिःसंज्ञ एव च
Without illumination both outwardly and inwardly, and likewise devoid of consciousness.
तस्माच्च संवृतात्मानो नगा मुख्याः प्रकीर्तिताः
From that, beings with concealed selves, the principal trees, are declared.
अप्रती तमनाः सोथ तदोत्पत्तिममन्यत
With minds unable to perceive, they regarded that as the origin of their birth.
यस्मात्तिर्यग्विवर्त्तेत तिर्यकस्रोतस्ततः स्मृतः
Because it turns sideways, it is remembered as having a transverse current.