भुवनं चेश्वरं मृत्युं कपालीति च विशुतम्
Bhuvana, the lord, Mṛtyu, and Kapāli, the renowned one.
तपसोग्रेण महाता सुरभिस्तानजीजनत्
By her intense and great austerity, Surabhi gave birth to them.
रोहिणी चैव सुभगां गान्धवी च यशस्विनीम्
Rohiṇī, the fortunate one, and Gāndhavī, the illustrious,
सुरूपा हंसकाली च भद्रा कामदुघा तथा
Surūpā, Haṃsakālī, Bhadrā, and Kāmadughā likewise.
हंसकाली तु महिषान्भद्रायस्त्वविजातयः
Haṃsakālī is among the buffaloes, and Bhadrāya and others are of unmixed lineage.
उच्चैःश्रवादयो जाताः खेचरास्ते मनोजवाः
Uccaiḥśravas and others were born; those who move in the sky, swift as thought.
उक्ता देवोपवाह्यास्ते गान्धर्वियोनयो हयाः
These are called the divine steeds, horses of the Gandharva lineage.
स्रग्वी ककुद्मान्द्युतिमा नमृतालयसंभवः
Sragvī, Kakudmān, Dyutimān, and Namṛta are born of iron.
इत्येते कश्यपसुता रुद्रादित्याः प्रकीर्त्तिताः
Thus these sons of Kaśyapa, the Rudras and Ādityas, have been described.
यथेन्धनवशाद्वह्निरेकस्तु बहुधा भवेत्
Just as fire, depending on fuel, becomes manifold though it is one,
एको ब्रह्मान्तकश्चैव पुरुषश्चैति तत्र यः
So too, the one who is Brahmā, Antaka, and Puruṣa appears there.
ब्राह्मी च पौरुषी चैव कालाख्या चेति ताः स्मृताः
Brāhmī, Pauruṣī, and the one called Kālā—these are remembered.
मता सा या तु कालाख्या प्रजाक्षयकरी तु सा
That one who is called Kālā is considered the bringer of the destruction of beings.
राजसी ब्रह्मणो या तु मारीचः कश्यपो ऽभवत्
The Rājasic aspect of Brahmā became Mārīca and Kaśyapa.
तामसी चान्तकृद्या तु तदंशो विष्णुरुच्यते
The Tāmasic aspect, which is called the end-maker, is said to be a portion of Viṣṇu.
मता सा या तु कालाख्या प्रजाक्षयकरी तु सा
That one who is called Kālā is considered the bringer of the destruction of beings.
एवमेताः स्मृतास्तिस्रस्तनवो हि स्वयंभुवः
Thus, these three forms of the Self-born are remembered.
एतास्तन्वः स्मृता देवा धर्मशास्त्रे पुरातने
These forms are remembered as deities in the ancient Dharmaśāstra.
अभिजातिप्रभावज्ञैर्मुनिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः
By sages who know the origin and radiance of lineages, who are seers of truth.
इदं परमिदं नेति ब्रुवते भिन्नदर्शिनः
Those with differing views declare, 'This is supreme,' or 'This is not.'
केचिद्भवं परत्वेन प्राहुर्विष्णुं तथापरे
Some proclaim Bhava as supreme, others Viṣṇu.
सत्त्वं कालं च देशं च कार्यं चावेक्ष्य कर्म च
Considering sattva, time, place, effect, and also action.
एकं प्रशंसमानस्तु सर्वानेवप्रशसति
He who praises one, in effect praises all.
न प्रद्वेषस्ततः कार्यो देवतासु विजानता
Therefore, one who knows should not bear enmity toward the deities.
एकत्वात्स त्रिधा भूत्वा संप्रमोहयति प्रजाः
From unity, he becomes threefold and deludes the beings.
जिज्ञासवः परीहन्ते सक्ता दुष्टा विचेतसः
Those who are attached, wicked, and confused, shun inquiry.
यातुधाना विशेषा ये पिशाचाश्चैव नान्तरम्
The special classes of yātudhānas and also piśācas have no distinction.
गुणमात्रात्मिकाभिस्तु तनुभिर्मोहयन्प्रजाः
With bodies composed solely of qualities, he deludes the beings.
तस्माद्देवास्त्रयो ह्येते नैरन्तर्येणधिष्टताः
Therefore, these three gods are continuously established.
अल्पत्वं वा बहुत्वं वा तेषु को ज्ञातुमर्हति
Who can truly know whether they are few or many?