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?
गुणात्मकत्ववै कल्पये तस्मादेकः स उच्यते
Because their nature is of qualities, he is thus called one.
देवं तमेकं बहुधा प्राहुर्नारायणं द्विजाः
The twice-born declare that the one god, manifest in many forms, is Nārāyaṇa.
मन्वन्तरेषु वै तिस्र आवर्त्तन्ते पुनः पुनः
In each Manvantara, the three return again and again.
तेजसा यशसा बुद्ध्या श्रुतेन च बलेन च
By brilliance, fame, intellect, learning, and strength.
राजस्या ब्रह्मणोंऽशेन मारीचः कश्यपो ऽभवत्
By a portion of Brahmā’s energy, Mārīca became Kaśyapa.
सात्त्विक्याश्च तथांशेन यज्ञो विष्णुरजा यत
And likewise, by a portion of Sattva, Yajña became Viṣṇu.
मन्वन्तरेष्विह स्रष्टुमावर्त्तन्ते पुनः पुनः
In each Manvantara, they return here again and again to create.
युगादौ सकृदुत्पन्नास्तिष्ठन्तीहाप्रसंयमात्
At the beginning of the age, they arise once and remain here without interruption.
कालो भूत्वा युगात्मासौ रुद्रः संहरते पुनः
Becoming Time, the essence of the age, Rudra again dissolves.
भूत्वा संवर्त्तकादित्यस्त्रींल्लोकांश्च दहत्युत
Becoming the sun of dissolution, he burns the three worlds.