अत्र वो वर्णयिष्यामि विधिं मन्वन्तरस्य यः
Here I shall describe to you the procedure pertaining to the Manvantara.
प्रतिमन्वन्तरे चैव श्रुतिरन्या विधीयते
In each Manvantara, indeed, a different tradition is established.
आभूतसंप्लवस्यापि वर्ज्यैकं शतरुद्रियम्
Even in the cosmic dissolution, only the Śatarudriya is exempted.
द्रव्यस्तोत्रं गुणस्तोत्रं फलस्तोत्रं तथैव च
There are hymns for substances, hymns for qualities, and hymns for results likewise.
मन्वन्तरेषु सर्वेषु यथा देवा भवन्ति ये
In all the Manvantaras, the gods are as they come to be.
एवं मन्त्रगणानां तु समुत्पत्तिश्चतुर्विधा
Thus, the origin of groups of mantras is fourfold.
ऋषीणां तप्यतामुग्रं तपः परमदुष्करम्
The sages undergo intense austerity, the highest and most difficult penance.
असंतोषाद्भया द्दुःखात्सुखाच्छोकाच्च पञ्चधा
Because of dissatisfaction, fear, pain, pleasure, and sorrow—fivefold.
ऋषीणां यदृषित्वं हि तद्वक्ष्यामीह लक्षणैः
I shall now explain the characteristics of the sages' sagehood.
अतस्त्वृषीणां वक्ष्यामि तत्र ह्यार्षसमुद्भवम्
Therefore, I shall describe the origin of the sages in that context.
अविभागे तु वेदानामनिर्देश्ये तमोमये
When the Vedas are undivided and indeterminate, enveloped in darkness,
चेतनाबुद्धिपूर्वं तु चेतनेन प्रवर्त्तते
Consciousness and intellect come first, and through consciousness, activity proceeds.
चेतनाधिष्ठितं सत्त्वं प्रवर्त्तति गुणात्मकम्
The sattva, governed by consciousness, acts according to its qualities.
विषयो विषयित्वाच्च अर्थेर्ऽथत्वात्तथैव च
Through the relation of subject and object, and likewise through the relation of meaning and meaningfulness,
संसिध्यन्ति तदा व्यक्ताः क्रमेण महदादयः
Then, the manifest entities such as Mahat and others are perfected in succession.
भूतभेदाश्च भूतेभ्यो जज्ञिरे स्म परस्परम्
The divisions of elements are born from the elements themselves, mutually.
यथोल्मुकात्तु त्रुटयः एककालाद्भवन्ति हि
Just as sparks arise from a firebrand, so do they come forth simultaneously.
यथान्धकारे खद्योतः सहसा संप्रदृश्यते
Just as a firefly is suddenly seen in the darkness.
स माहन्सशरीरस्तु यत्रैवायमवर्त्तत
That great soul, in his own body, existed right there.
महांस्तु तमसः पारे वैलक्षण्याद्विभाव्यते
The Mahat is discerned beyond darkness, distinguished by its unique nature.
बुद्धिर्विवर्त्तमानस्य प्रादुर्भूता चतुर्विधा
The intellect of the evolving being appeared in fourfold form.
सांसिद्धिकान्यथैतानि विज्ञेयानि नरस्य वै
These are to be understood as either innate or otherwise, in the case of a human.
अनुशेते यतः सर्वान्क्षेत्रज्ञानमथापि वा
Because all knowledge of the field rests upon it, or even arises from it.
यस्माद्वुद्ध्यानुशेते च तस्माद्वोधात्मकः स वै
Since intellect rests upon it, therefore it is indeed of the nature of knowledge.
एवं विवृत्तः क्षेत्रज्ञः क्षेत्रज्ञानाभिसंहितः
Thus the knower of the field, associated with knowledge of the field, is unfolded.
परं ह्यर्षयते यस्मात्परमर्षित्वमस्य तत्
Because it perceives the highest, its supreme perceiving is thus established.
यस्मादेव स्वयं भूतस्तस्माच्चाप्यृषिता स्मृता
Because it exists by itself, it is also called 'seer.'
यस्मादुत्पद्यमानैस्तैर्महान्परिगतः परः
Because the Mahat is encompassed by those who are being produced, it is supreme.
तस्मान्महर्षयः प्रोक्ता बुद्धेः परम दर्शिना
Therefore, those who see the highest truth of intellect are called great seers.
अहङ्कारं तपश्चैव ऋषन्ति ऋषितां गताः
Having attained the state of seers, they have mastered ego and austerity.