स्वायंभुवेन्तरे प्राप्ताः सृष्ट्यर्थं ते भवेन तु
They arrived in the epoch of Svāyambhuva, indeed for the purpose of creation.
देवस्य महतो यज्ञे वारुणीं बिभ्रतस्तनुम्
In the great sacrifice of the god, bearing the form of Vāruṇī,
ऋषयो जज्ञिरे दीर्घे द्वितीयमिति नः श्रुतम्
The seers were born in that long (sacrifice); thus have we heard it as the second (creation).
अत्रिश्चैव वसिष्ठश्च ह्यष्टौ ते ब्रह्मणः सुताः
Atri and also Vasiṣṭha—these eight are sons of Brahmā.
यज्ञाङ्गानि च सर्वाणि वषठ्कारश्च मूर्त्तिमान्
All the limbs of sacrifice and the embodied Vaṣaṭkāra (exclamation) as well,
ऋग्वेदश्चाभवत्तत्र यश्च क्रमविभूषितः
And there arose the Ṛgveda, adorned with its proper sequence.
स्थितो यज्ञार्थसंपृक्तः सूक्तब्राह्मणमन्त्रवान्
Established for the sake of sacrifice, endowed with hymns, Brāhmaṇa texts, and mantras,
विश्वावस्वादिभिः सार्द्धं गन्धर्वैः संभृतो ऽभवत्
He was accompanied there by the Gandharvas, beginning with Viśvāvasu.
प्रत्यङ्गिरसयोगैश्च द्विशरीरशिरो ऽभवत्
By union with the descendants of Angiras, he became two-bodied and two-headed.
आश्रयस्तु वषट्कारो निग्रहप्रग्रहावपि
The Vaṣaṭkāra was the support, as also the acts of restraint and release.
देवकन्याश्च पत्न्यश्च तथा मातर एव च
The goddesses, wives, and also the mothers likewise,
मूर्तिमन्तः सुरूपाख्या वरुणस्य वपुर्भृतः
Having forms, called Surūpā, bearing the appearance of Varuṇa,
ब्रह्मर्षिभाविनोर्ऽथस्य विधानाच्च न संशयः
By the ordinance of the meaning destined for the Brahmarṣis, there is no doubt.
आस्रवज्जुहुयां चक्रे मन्त्रवच्च पितामहः
The Grandfather performed the offering as prescribed, with mantras, as a flow (of oblations).
तस्यार्वाक्तेजसश्चैव जज्ञे लोकेषु तैजसम्
And from his radiant energy was born, among the worlds, a fiery being.
आज्यस्थाल्यामुपादाय स्वशुक्रं हुतवांश्च ह
Taking his own seed into the vessel of ghee, he indeed made the offering.
ज्वलन्तो वपुषा युक्ताः सप्रभावैः स्वकैर्गुणैः
Radiant, endowed with form, possessing their own powers and qualities.
हिरण्यगर्भस्तं दृष्ट्वा ज्वालां भित्त्वा विनिर्गतम्
Hiraṇyagarbha, seeing that flame pierced and emerged.
महादेवस्तथोद्भूतो दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्माणमब्रवीत्
Mahādeva also arose, and seeing Brahmā, he spoke.
विजज्ञे प्रथमं देव मम पुत्रो भवत्वयम्
He recognized first, 'Let this god be my son.'
पुत्रत्वे कल्पयामास महादेव स्तदा भृगुम्
Mahādeva then appointed Bhṛgu as his son.
द्वितीयं च ततः शुक्रमङ्गारेष्वजुहोत्प्रभुः
Then, as the second, Śukra was offered by the lord in the embers.
संभूतिं तस्य तां दृष्ट्वा वह्निर्ब्रह्माणमब्रवीत्
Seeing that birth, Agni spoke to Brahmā.
एवमस्त्विति सो ऽप्युक्तो ब्रह्मणा सदसस्पतिः
Thus, being told by Brahmā, the lord of existence replied, 'So be it.'
षट् कृत्वा तु पुनः शुक्रे ब्रह्मणा लोककारिणा
Six times again, in Śukra, by Brahmā, the creator of worlds.
मरीचिः प्रथमं तत्र मरीचिभ्यः समुत्थितः
Marīci was first there, arising from the Marīcis.
अहं तृतीय इत्यत्रिस्तस्मादत्रिः स कीर्त्यते
'I am the third,' thus Atri; therefore he is called Atri.
केशैर्लंबैः समुद्भूतस्तस्मात्स पुलहः स्मृतः
Born from hanging hair, thus he is remembered as Pulaha.
वसिष्ठ इति तत्त्वज्ञैः प्रोच्यते ब्रह्मवादिभिः
He is called Vasiṣṭha by those who know reality, by the speakers of Brahman.
लोकस्य सन्तानकरा यैरिमा वर्द्धिताः प्रजाः
By whom the progeny of the world was increased, these are the creators of offspring.