विनयेन यथान्यायं गम्भीरं प्रश्नमुत्तमम्
With humility and according to propriety, he asked a profound and excellent question.
सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ चैव तथाहोरात्रमेव च
The sun and the moon, as well as day and night, likewise.
ब्रह्मैको दुश्चरं तत्र तताप परमं तपः
There, Brahma alone performed the most arduous austerity.
कीदृशं सर्वभूतेशस्तपस्तेपे प्रजा पतिः
What kind of austerity did the lord of all beings, the progenitor, undertake?
ध्यायंस्तदा स भगवांस्तेन लोकानवासृजत्
Then, that blessed one, meditating, did not create the worlds by that.
योगामृतास्तदा सृष्टा ब्रह्मणा लोकचक्षुषा
At that time, Brahma, the eye of the worlds, created the nectar of yoga.
देवानसृजत ब्रह्मा योगयुक्तान्सनातनान्
Brahma created the gods, eternal ones endowed with yoga.
सर्वकामप्रदाः पूज्या देवादानवमानवैः
They grant all desires and are honored by gods, demons, and humans.
अमूर्त्तयस्त्रयस्तेषां चत्वारस्तु समूर्त्तयः
Of them, three are formless, and four possess form.
तेषामधस्ताद्वर्त्तन्ते चत्वारः सूक्ष्ममूर्त्तयः
Below them exist four subtle forms.
लोके वर्षन्ति ते ह्यस्मिंस्तेभ्यः पर्जन्यसंभवः
In the world, they indeed cause rain; from them arises the origin of clouds.
आप्याययन्ति ते यस्मात्सोमं चान्नं च योगतः
Because of them, soma and food are nourished through yoga.
मनोजवाः स्वधाभक्ष्यः सर्वकामपरिष्कृताः
Swift as the mind, nourished by svadhā, perfected in all desires.
एते योगं परित्यज्य प्राप्ता लोकान्सुदर्शनान्
These, abandoning yoga, attained splendid worlds.
ततो युगसहस्रान्ते जायन्ते ब्रह्मवादिनः
Then, at the end of a thousand ages, those who speak Brahman are born.
व्यक्ताव्यक्तं परित्यज्य महायोगबलेन च
Having abandoned the manifest and unmanifest, by the power of great yoga.
उत्सृज्य देहजालानि महायोगबलेन च
Abandoning bodily coverings through the power of great yoga,
क्रियया गुरुपूजाभिर्यागं कुर्वन्ति यत्नतः
With ritual acts and reverent worship of the guru, they diligently perform sacrifice.
आप्याययन्ति योगेन त्रैलोक्यं येन जीवति
By yoga, they nourish the three worlds, by which all life is sustained.
पितॄणां हि बलं योगो योगात्सोमः प्रवर्त्तते
Indeed, the strength of the ancestors is yoga; from yoga, Soma arises.
एकस्तानपि मन्त्रज्ञः सर्वानर्हति तच्छृणु
Even one who knows the mantras alone surpasses them all; listen to this.
एकस्तान्स्नातकः प्रितः सर्वानर्हति तच्छृणु
Even one satisfied, newly initiated, surpasses them all; listen to this.
योगाचार्येण यद्भुक्तं त्रायते महातो भयात्
What is consumed by the yoga teacher protects from great fear.
ब्रह्मचारिसहस्रेण योग एव विशिष्यते
Among a thousand celibates, yoga alone excels.
नान्यत्र तारणं दानं योगेष्वाह प्रजापतिः
There is no other deliverance or gift except in yoga, says Prajapati.
पुत्रो वाप्यथ वा पौत्रो ध्यानिनं भोजयिष्यति
Whether a son or grandson, let him feed one who meditates.
तदलाभे उदसीनं गूहस्थमपि भोजयेत्
If such is unavailable, let him feed even one who is indifferent or dwelling in secrecy.
ध्यानयोगी परस्तस्मादिति ब्रह्मानुशासनम्
The meditator in yoga is superior to all; thus is the instruction of Brahma.
भावयन्सर्वलोकान्वै स्थित एष गणः सदा
This group, always established, contemplates all worlds.
संततिं संस्थितिं चैव भावनां च यथाक्रमम्
Their succession, their existence, and their contemplation occur in due order.