In the unfolding of creation, my radiance emerges through the great sequence that begins with Mahat, the cosmic intelligence. From my own body is born Hiraṇyagarbha, the golden womb—the Sun himself. At the dawn of the cosmic cycle, Hiraṇyagarbha imparts the four Vedas to his sons, the twice-born sages, establishing the sacred knowledge at the heart of existence. He bears within himself the divine power and sovereignty that I bestow, and, becoming four-faced, he creates the world, arising solely from himself. It is my supreme form alone that performs the act of preservation, maintaining the balance of the universe. By my command, this very form also brings about dissolution, ensuring the cyclical nature of existence. Fire, too, cooks and transforms, impelled by my power. Vaiśvānara, the divine fire, acts according to the Lord’s command, enlivening all beings and sustaining their bodies by my will. Soma, the nourishing moon, operates only at my behest. The Sun, following the ordinance of the Self-born, causes rain to fall and grants the fruits of sacrifice to those who perform their rites, all by my command. Yama, the son of Vivasvat, governs the realm of the departed by the command of the God of gods. Kubera, the lord of wealth, exists only through my will, as does Nirṛti, the deity of dissolution, who always acts by my command. Īśāna, the protector of devotees, abides by my order, guarding those who seek refuge. The constant protector of yogis acts only by my command, and the remover of obstacles, the leader of dharma, follows my word. Skanda, the self-born, acts always according to my ordinance. All these deities create the various worlds solely by the command of the Supreme. She who is Nārāyaṇa’s consort exists by my favor and acts only when prompted by my command. The goddess Sāvitrī, revered and remembered, follows the will of the god. She who is especially meditated upon also obeys my word. He who upholds the world upon his head does so only by my command, and he drinks the entire ocean by the Lord’s will. All these protectors safeguard all beings according to my command, and every other deity is established only by my ordinance. Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and Piśācas are set in their places by the ordinance of the self-born. The seasons, fortnights, and months, as well as the supreme divisions of time, are established by the progenitor’s will, existing beyond ordinary perception. All these exist only by the command of the Supreme Soul. All the cosmic eggs—the worlds themselves—are sustained by the self-born one, surrounded on all sides by multitudes of elements. They always carry out the command of the Supreme Self. The primal nature, the origin of all beings, operates under my direction. Māyā, the power of transformation, constantly acts by the command of the Lord. And this Self, the innermost essence of all, forever exists by my direction. Thus, everything in creation—every being, force, and principle—arises, acts, and abides only by my command, the Supreme.