सांप्रतं हि तयोर्मध्ये प्रागवस्था बभूव ह
Indeed, between those two, there existed a prior state.
सांप्रतं संप्रवक्ष्यामि कल्पमेतं निबोधत
Now I shall clearly explain this Kalpa; listen attentively.
शर्वर्यंते प्रकुरुते ब्रह्मा तूत्सर्गकारणात्
At the end of the night, Brahmā acts for the sake of creation.
अन्धकारार्णवे तस्मिन्नष्टे स्थावरजंगमे
In that ocean of darkness, when all that is movable and immovable is lost,
प्रविभागेन भूतेषु सत्यमात्रे स्थितेषु वा
When, by division, the elements or only pure existence remains,
तदा कामेन तरसामन्यामानःस्वयं धिया
Then, impelled by desire and force, he himself, with his own thought,
ततस्तु सलिले तस्मिन् ज्ञात्वा त्वन्तर्गतो महीम्
Then, knowing the earth to be within those waters,
चकार तं तु देवो ऽथ पूर्वकल्पादिषु स्मृतः
The god then performed that act, as is remembered from previous Kalpas.
अद्भिः संछादितामिच्छन् पृथिवीं स प्रजापतिः
Desiring the earth covered by the waters, that Lord of creatures—
सामुद्राश्च समुद्रेषु नादेयाश्च नदीषु च
The oceanic ones in the oceans, and the riverine ones in the rivers—
प्राक्सर्गे दह्यमाने तु पुरा संवर्त काग्निना
Before creation, when previously all was being burned by the fire of dissolution,
शैल्यादेकार्णवे तस्मिन्वायुना ये तु संहिताः
Those who were joined by the wind from the mountain in that ocean—
स्कन्धाचलत्वादचलाः पर्वभिः पर्वताः स्मृताः
Because they move with the earth, the mountains are called immovable by the sages.
तत स्तावासमुद्धृत्य क्षितिमंतर्जलात्प्रभुः
Then, having lifted up the earth from the waters, the Lord—
विषमाणि समीकृत्य शिलाभिरभितो गिरीन्
Having made the uneven places level with rocks all around, he formed the mountains.
तावंतः पर्वताश्चैव वर्षांते समवस्थिताः
Just so many mountains stand at the end of each region.
सप्तद्वीपा समुद्राश्च अन्योन्यस्यानुमंडलम्
The seven continents and oceans encircle one another.
भूराद्याश्चतुरो लोकाश्चंद्रादित्यौ ग्रहैः सह
The four worlds beginning with Bhū, along with the moon, sun, and planets—
कल्पस्य चास्य ब्रह्मा चासृजद्यः स्थानिनः सुरान्
And for this cycle, Brahmā created the stationary gods.
स्वर्गं दिशः समुद्रांश्च नदीः सर्वांस्तु पर्वतान्
He created heaven, the directions, the oceans, all the rivers, and the mountains.
लवकाष्ठाः कलाश्चैव मुहुर्त्तान्संधिरात्र्यहान्
Moments, sticks, fractions, hours, junctions, nights, and days—
स्थानाभिमानिनश्चैव स्थानानिच पृथक्पृथक्
Those who preside over places, and the places themselves, each separately—
कृतं त्रेता द्वापरं च तिष्यं चैव तथा युगम्
The Krita, Treta, Dvapara, and Tishya ages, as well as the yuga—
प्रागुक्ताश्च मया तुभ्यं पूर्व्वे कल्पे प्रजास्तु ताः
And those beings previously mentioned by me to you, from the earlier cycle—
अप्राप्तायास्तपोलोकं पृथिव्यां याः समासत
Those who, not having attained the world of asceticism, remained on earth—
वीक्ष्यार्थं ताः स्थितास्तत्र पुनः सर्गस्य कारणात्
They stayed there to observe, again for the purpose of creation.
धर्म्मार्थ काममोक्षाणामिह ताः साधिताः स्मृताः
Here, those who accomplished dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa are remembered.
ततस्ते तपसा युक्ताः स्थानान्यापूरयन्पुरा
Then, endowed with austerity, they filled the places in ancient times.
आसंगद्वेषयुक्तेन कर्मणा ते दिवं गताः
Through actions joined with attachment and aversion, they went to heaven.
स्वकर्म्मफलशेषेण ख्याताश्चैव तदात्मकाः
And, by the remainder of their own karma's fruits, they became renowned as those of that nature.