अहं ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च शेषो धर्मो महान्विराट्
I, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śeṣa, Dharma, the great Virāṭ—
यद्विशेषणयुक्तं च दृश्यं प्रत्यक्षमेव च
Whatever is endowed with attributes and is visible, perceptible—
वैकुण्ठे च पुरा पृष्टे धर्मेण ब्रह्मणा तदा 1.28.
Formerly, in Vaikuṇṭha, this was asked by Dharma to Brahmā.
सारभूतं च तत्त्वानामज्ञानान्धकलोचनम्
It is the essence of the principles, the eye for those blinded by ignorance.
परमात्मस्वरूपं च परं ब्रह्म सनातनम्
It is the true form of the Supreme Self, the supreme, eternal Brahman.
प्राणाः पञ्च स्वयं विष्णुर्मनो ब्रह्मा प्रजापतिः
The five vital airs are Viṣṇu himself; the mind is Brahmā, the lord of creatures.
आत्माधीना वयं सर्वे स्थिते तस्मिन्वयं स्थिताः
We all depend on the Self; as long as that abides, we abide.
जीवस्तत्प्रतिबिम्बं च सर्वभोगी हि कर्मणाम्
The individual soul is its reflection, the enjoyer of all results of actions.
बिम्बं घटेषु भग्नेषु प्रलीनं चन्द्रसूर्य्ययोः
Just as the reflection disappears from broken pots, so too do the forms of the moon and sun vanish.
एकमेव परं ब्रह्म शेषे वत्स भवक्षये
Only the supreme Brahman remains, dear one, at the end of the world.
तच्च ज्योतिःस्वरूपं च मण्डलाकारमेव च
And that is of the nature of light, having the form of a radiant circle.
आकाशमिव विस्तीर्णं सर्वव्यापकमव्ययम्
It is vast like space, all-pervading and imperishable.
वदन्ति योगिनस्तत्र परं ब्रह्म सनातनम् 1.28.
There, the yogis declare, is the supreme, eternal Brahman.
निरीहं च निराकारं परमात्मानमीश्वरम्
It is without desire, without form—the supreme Self, the Lord.
परमानन्दरूपं च परमानन्दकारणम् तत्रैव लीना प्रकृतिः सर्वबीजस्वरूपिणी
It is of the nature of supreme bliss, the cause of supreme bliss; and there, too, merges Prakriti, the source of all seeds.
यथाऽग्नौ दाहिका शक्तिः प्रभा सूर्य्ये यथा मुने
Just as the power to burn is in fire, and radiance is in the sun, O sage,
यथा शब्दश्च गगने यथा गन्धः क्षितौ सदा
Just as sound is in the sky, and scent is always in the earth,
सृष्ट्युन्मुखेन तद् ब्रह्म चांशेन पुरुषः स्मृतः
So, when Brahman is inclined toward creation, a portion of it is known as Purusha.
त्रिगुणा सा हि तत्रैव परा च्छायामयी स्मृता
There, she is threefold in qualities, and is remembered as the supreme, shadowy form.
यथा मृदा कुलालश्च घटं कर्तुं क्षमः सदा
Just as a potter is always able to make a pot from clay,
स्वर्णेन कुण्डलं कर्त्तुं स्वर्णकारः क्षमो यथा
And just as a goldsmith is able to make an earring from gold,
कुलालसृष्टा न च मृन्नित्या चैव सनातनी
The pot is made by the potter, but the clay is eternal and everlasting.
नित्यं तत्परमं ब्रह्म नित्या च प्रकृतिः स्मृता 1.28.
So too, that supreme Brahman is eternal, and Prakriti is also said to be eternal.
मृदं स्वर्णं समाहर्तुं कुलालस्वर्णकारकौ
To obtain clay or gold, the potter and goldsmith are required.
तस्मात्तत्प्रकृतेर्ब्रह्म परमेव च नारद
Therefore, O Narada, Brahman is supreme over Prakriti.
केचिद्वदन्ति तद्ब्रह्म स्वयं च प्रकृतिः पुमान्
Some say that Brahman itself is both Prakriti and Purusha.
तद्ब्रह्म परमं धाम सर्वकारणकारणम्
That Brahman is the supreme abode, the cause of all causes.
ब्रह्म चात्मा च सर्वेषां निर्लिप्तं साक्षिरूपि च
Brahman and the Self of all are untouched, and exist as the witness.
तद्ब्रह्मशक्तिः प्रकृतिः सर्वबीजस्वरूपिणी
The power of that Brahman is Prakriti, the very form of all seeds.
तेजोरूपं च तद्ब्रह्म ध्यायन्ते योगिनः सदा
Yogis always meditate on that Brahman as having the form of light.