क्षुधाविष्टास्तदा सर्वा जग्मुस्ता वै स्वयम्भुवम्
Then, overcome by hunger, they all went to Svayambhu (the Self-born).
ब्रह्मा स्वयंभूर्भगवान् ज्ञात्वा तासां मनीषितम्
The blessed Svayambhu Brahma, knowing their intention,
ग्रस्ताः पृथिव्या त्वोषध्यो ज्ञात्वा प्रत्यरूहत्पुनः
Having understood that the herbs had been consumed by the earth, he restored them again.
दुग्धेयं गौस्तदा तेन बीजानि वसुधातले
Then, by him, this earth was milked, and the seeds were placed upon the surface of the ground.
ओषध्यः फलपाकाताः क्षणसप्तवशास्तु ताः
The herbs, after their fruits had ripened, remained under the sway of seven moments.
प्रियंगव उदारास्ते कोरदुष्टाः सवामकाः
Priyangava, udara, koradusha, and savamaka—
हरिकाश्चरकाश्चैव गमः सप्तदश स्मृताः
Harikā, charaka, and also gama—these seventeen are remembered.
श्यामाकाश्चैव नीवारा जर्तिलाः सगवेधुकाः
Shyamaka, nivara, jartila, and gavedhuka as well—
ग्रामारण्याः स्मृता ह्येता ओषध्यस्तु चतुर्दश
These are known as the fourteen herbs of village and forest.
अफालकृष्टास्ताः सर्वा ग्राम्यारण्यश्चतुर्द्दश
All these fourteen, both of village and forest, are not cultivated by plough.
मूलैः फलैश्च रोहैश्चगृह्णन्पुष्टाश्च यत्फलम्
They took them by means of roots, fruits, and shoots, and were nourished by whatever fruit there was.
ऋतुपुष्पफलास्ता वै ओषध्यो जज्ञिरे त्विह
Those herbs here were born with flowers and fruits according to the seasons.
ततस्तासां च पृत्त्यर्थै वार्तोपायं चकार ह
Then, for their sustenance, he devised a means of livelihood.
ततः प्रभृति चौषध्यः कृष्टपच्यास्तु जज्ञिरे
From that time onward, cultivated herbs came into being.
मर्यादां स्थापयामास ययारक्षत्परस्परम्
He established boundaries by which they protected one another.
इतरेषां कृतत्राणान् स्थापयामास क्षत्रियान्
He appointed kshatriyas for the protection of the others.
सत्यं बूत यथाभूतं ध्रुवं वो ब्रह्मणास्तु ताः
Let the truth, the reality as it is, and the eternal be established for you by Brahma.
क्रीतानि नाशयंति स्म पृथिव्यां ते व्यवस्थिताः
Those who were settled upon the earth destroyed what had been acquired.
सेवंतश्च द्रवंतश्च परिचर्यासु ये रताः
Those who delighted in service and in running about for duties.
तेषां कर्माणि धर्मांश्च ब्रह्मा तु व्यदधात्प्रभुः
Brahma, the Lord, assigned their actions and duties to them.
पुनः प्रजास्तु ता मोहाद्धर्म्मं तं नान्वपालयन्
Again, due to delusion, the people did not uphold that dharma.
ब्रह्मा बुद्धा तु तत्सर्वं याथातथ्येन स प्रभुः
Brahma, being wise, understood all of this exactly as it was.
याजनाध्यापने ब्रह्मा तथा दानप्रतिग्रहम्
Brahma assigned the tasks of sacrifice, teaching, giving, and receiving gifts.
पाशुपाल्यं च वाणिज्यं कृषिं चैव विशां ददौ
He gave animal herding, trade, and agriculture to the people.
सामान्यानि च कर्माणि ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशां पुनः
He again assigned common duties to the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas.
कर्माजीवं तु वै दत्त्वा तेषामिह परस्परम्
He gave livelihood through work to each of them, mutually, here.
प्राजापत्यं द्विजातीनां स्मृतं स्थानं क्रियावताम्
The place of the ritualistic, for the twice-born, is remembered as belonging to the descendants of Prajapati.
वैश्यानां मारुतं स्थानं स्वस्वकर्मोपजीविनाम्
For the Vaishyas, the place of Maruta is for those who live by their own respective work.
स्थानान्येतानि वर्णानां योग्याचारवतां सताम्
These are the stations of the castes for those who are virtuous and practice appropriately.
ततः स्थितेषु वर्णेषु स्थापयामास ह्याश्रमान्
Then, when the castes were established, he set up the ashramas.