उत्तिष्ठन्ति तदा घोरा व्योम्नि संवर्तका घनाः
Then, in the sky, the terrible clouds of dissolution arise.
केचिद्वैडूर्यसंकाशा इन्द्रनीलनिभाः परे
Some are like beryl in appearance, others resemble blue sapphires.
धूम्रवर्णा घनाः केचित्केचित्पीताःपयोधराः
Some clouds are smoky in color, some are yellow, and some are rain-bearing.
मनशिलाभास्त्वपरे कपोताभास्तथांबुदाः
Others resemble the hue of cinnabar, and some are like pigeons in appearance, as are the rain-clouds.
चाषपत्रनिभाः केचिदुत्तिष्ठन्ति घना दिवि
Some clouds rise in the sky, resembling the feathers of a heron.
केचित्पर्वतसंकाशाः केचित्स्थलनिभा घनाः
Some clouds are like mountains, and some resemble stretches of land.
बहुरूपा घोररूपा घोरस्वरनिनादिनः
They take on many forms, some are terrifying in shape, and they resound with dreadful voices.
ततस्ते जलदा घोरराविणो भास्करात्मकाः
Then those clouds, roaring fearfully, are born from the Sun.
ततस्ते जलदा वर्षं मुञ्चन्ति च महौघवत्
Then those clouds release rain, pouring down like a great flood.
प्रवृष्टैश्च तथात्यर्थं वारिणा पूर्यते जगत्
And thus, as the rain falls abundantly, the world is filled with water.
नष्टे चाग्नौ वर्षगते पयोदाः पावकोद्भवाः
When the fire is extinguished and the rain has fallen, the clouds, born of fire, disappear.
धाराभिः पूरयन्तीमं चोद्यमानाः स्वयंभुवा
Urged on by the Self-born, they fill this world with streams of water.
साद्रिद्वीपान्तरं पीतं जलमन्नेषु तिष्ठति
The yellow water remains among the continents and islands.
संवेष्टयति घोरात्मा दिवि वायुः समततः
The wind, of terrible nature, envelops everything in the sky evenly.
पूर्मे युगसहस्रे वै निःशेषः कल्प उच्यते
A complete cycle of a thousand yugas is called a kalpa.
अथ भूमिर्जलं खं च वायुश्चैकार्मवे तदा
Then, earth, water, space, and wind become one vast ocean.
पार्थिवास्त्वथ सामुद्रा आपो दैव्याश्च सर्वशः
At that time, all terrestrial, oceanic, and divine waters merge together.
आगतागतिके चैव तदा तत्सलिलं स्मृतम्
At that time, the water is said to be both coming and going.
आभाति यस्मात्तद्भाभिर्भाशब्दो व्याप्तिदीप्तिषु
Because it shines with those radiances, the word 'bhā' denotes pervasiveness and brilliance.
नानात्वे चैव शीघ्रे च धातुर्वै अर उच्यते
And in diversity and swiftness, the element is called 'ara.'
तस्मिन्युगसहस्रान्ते दिवसे ब्रह्मणो गते
When a thousand ages have passed and a day of Brahma comes to its end,
तदा तु सर्वे व्यापारा निवर्त्तन्ते प्रजापतेः
then all the activities of the Lord of creatures cease.
तदा स भवति ब्रह्मा सहस्राक्षः सहस्रपात्
At that time, Brahma becomes the thousand-eyed, thousand-footed one.
सहस्रबाहुः प्रथमः प्रजापतिस्त्रयी मयो यः पुरुषो निरुच्यते
He is the thousand-armed, the first Lord of creatures, the Person described as the embodiment of the three Vedas.
हिरण्यगर्भः पुरुषो महान्वै संपठ्यते वै रजसः परस्तात्
The Golden-embryo, the great Person, is indeed declared to exist beyond the realm of rajas.
सुषुप्सुरप्रकाशेप्सुः स रात्रिं कुरुते प्रभुः
Desiring rest and the cessation of manifestation, that Lord makes it night.
पश्यन्ति तं महात्मानं कालं सप्त महर्षयः जनलोकं विवर्त्तास्ते तपसा लब्धचक्षुषः
The seven great seers, endowed with vision through austerity, behold that great-souled Time as they move about in Janaloka.
भृग्वादयो महात्मानः पूर्वे व्याख्यातलक्षणाः
The great souls beginning with Bhrigu, who were previously described and characterized,
ब्रह्माणं ते तु पश्यन्ति सदा ब्राह्मीषु रात्रिषु
they always behold Brahma during the nights of Brahma.
कल्पानां परमेष्टि त्वात्तस्मादाद्यः स पठ्यते
Because he is the supreme lord of the kalpas, he is therefore called the first.