हिरण्यगर्भं कपिलं छन्दोमूर्ति सनातनम्
He is called Hiraṇyagarbha, Kapila, the embodiment of the Vedas, the eternal one.
गर्भोदकं समुद्राश्च तस्यासन् परमात्मनः
The embryonic waters and the oceans belonged to that Supreme Self.
चन्द्रादित्यौ सनक्षत्रौ सग्रहौ सह वायुना
The moon and sun, with the stars, the planets, and the wind, were with him.
आपो दशगुणेनैव तेजसा बाह्यतो वृताः
The waters are enveloped externally by fire, tenfold in strength.
आकाशेनावृतो वायुः खं तु भूतादिनावृतम्
Air is enveloped by space, and space is enveloped by the primordial elements.
एते लोका महात्मनः सर्वतत्त्वाभिमानिनः
These worlds belong to the Great Self, who identifies with all principles.
ईश्वरा योगधर्माणो ये चान्ये तत्त्वचिन्तकाः
Those who are lords, those who possess the qualities of yoga, and others who contemplate reality—
एतैरावरणैरण्डं सप्तभिः प्राकृतैर्वृतम्
By these coverings, the cosmic egg is enveloped by seven natural layers.
प्रजापतेः परा मूर्तिरितीयं वैदिकी श्रुतिः
This is the supreme form of the Creator, as declared by the Vedic revelation.
द्वितीयं तस्य देवस्य शरीरं परमेष्ठिनः
The second body of that divine Lord, the Supreme Being—
तृतीयं भगवद्रूपं प्राहुर्वेदार्थवेदिनः
Those who know the meaning of the Vedas call the third form the blessed one.
चतुर्मुखः स भगवान् जगत्सृष्टौ प्रवर्तते
That blessed one, four-faced, engages in the creation of the world.
सत्त्वं गुणमुपाश्रित्य विष्णुर्विश्वेश्वरः स्वयम्
Viṣṇu, the Lord of all, himself assumes the quality of sattva.
तमोगुणं समाश्रित्य रुद्रः संहरते जगत्
Rudra, relying on the quality of tamas, dissolves the world.
एकधा स द्विधा चैव त्रिधा च बहुधा पुनः
He is one, and also twofold, threefold, and again manifold.
नानाकृतिक्रियारूपनामवन्ति स्वलीलया
By his own play, he assumes various forms, actions, appearances, and names.
सृजते ग्रसते चैव वीक्षते च विशेषतः
He creates, consumes, and especially observes all things.
गुणात्मकत्वात् त्रैकाल्ये तस्मादेकः स उच्यते
Because he is composed of qualities and exists in three times, therefore he is called one.
आदित्वादादिदेवो ऽसौ अजातत्वादजः स्मृतः
Because he is the first, he is called the primal god; because he is unborn, he is remembered as the unborn.
देवेषु च महादेवो माहदेव इति स्मृतः
Among the gods, the great god is remembered as Māhadeva.
वशित्वादप्यवश्यत्वादीश्वरः परिभाषितः
Because of mastery and also lack of subjection, he is called Īśvara, the Lord.
अनुत्पादाच्च पूर्वत्वात् स्वयंभूरिति स स्मृतः
Because he is not produced and is prior, he is remembered as Svayambhū, the self-born.
हरः संसारहरणाद् विभुत्वाद् विष्णुरुच्यते
He is called Hara because he removes worldly existence, and Viṣṇu because of his pervasiveness.
सर्वज्ञः सर्वविज्ञानात् सर्वः सर्वमयो यतः
He is omniscient because he knows all, and he is all because he is the source of everything.
तारणात् सर्वदुः खानां तारकः परिगीयते
Because he delivers all from suffering, he is praised as the Deliverer.
अनेकभेदभिन्नस्तु क्रीडते परमेश्वरः
The Supreme Lord, manifesting in many diverse forms, plays.
अबुद्धिपूर्वको विप्रा ब्राह्मीं सृष्टिं निबोधत
O sages, without speculation, understand the Brahmic creation.
न शक्यते समाख्यातुं बहुवर्षैरपि स्वयम्
It cannot be fully described even in many years, by oneself.
स एव स्यात् परः कालः तदन्ते प्रतिसृज्यते
That alone is the Supreme Time, which is reabsorbed at its end.
तत् पराख्यं तदर्धं च परार्धमभिदीयते
That is called a parārdha, and half of that is known as a parārdha.