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.
उत्पाद्यग्राहिमश्चैव ते ऽज्ञाने ज्ञानमानिनः
Those who produce and grasp, considering themselves knowledgeable in ignorance.
एकादशन्द्रियविधा नवधात्मादयस्तथा
The eleven kinds of senses, and likewise the ninefold forms of the self.
अन्तः प्रकाशास्ते सर्वे आवृताश्च बहिः पुनः
All of them shine within, yet are covered outwardly again.
तिर्यक् स्रोतस उच्यन्ते वश्यात्मानस्त्रिसंज्ञकाः
Those with transverse currents are called self-controlled, possessing threefold consciousness.
अभिप्रायमथोद्भूतं दृष्ट्वा सर्गं तथाविधम्
Having observed that kind of creation arising from intention.
ऊर्द्धस्रोतस्तृतीयस्तु तद्वै चोर्द्धं व्यवस्थितम्
The third is the upward current, and that is established above.
ताः सुखं प्रीतिबहुला बहिरन्तश्च वावृताः
They are abundant in happiness and delight, covered both outwardly and inwardly.
नवधातादयस्ते वै तुष्टात्मानो बुधाः स्मृताः
Those ninefold forms are remembered as wise, possessing contented selves.
ऊर्द्धस्रोतःसु सृष्टेषु देवेषु स तदा प्रभुः
When the upward-current beings were created among the gods, then the Lord.
सर्गमन्यं सिमृक्षुस्तं साधकं पुनरीश्वरः
The Lord again desired another creation, that which is effective.