धृत्यास्तु नियमः पुत्रस्तुष्ट्याः संतोष उच्यते
From Dhṛti was born Niyama as a son; from Tuṣṭi, Saṃtoṣa is said to have arisen.
क्रियायाश्चाभवत् पुत्रो दण्डः समय एव च
From Kriyā was born the son Daṇḍa, and also Samaya.
लज्जाया विनयः पुत्रो वपुषो व्यवसायकः
From Lajjā, Vinaya was the son; from Vapu, Vyavasāyaka.
यशः कीर्तिसुतस्तद्वदित्येते धर्मसूनवः
Yaśas, the son of Kīrti, likewise—these are the sons of Dharma.
इत्येष वै सुखोदर्कः सर्गो धर्मस्य कीर्तितः
Thus this creation of Dharma, which leads to happiness, has been described.
निकृत्यनृतयोर्जज्ञे भयं नरक एव च
From Nikṛti and Anṛta were born Bhaya and Naraka.
भयाज्जज्ञे ऽथ वै माया मृत्युं भूतापहारिणम्
From Bhaya was born Māyā, and Mṛtyu, the taker of beings.
मृत्योर्व्याधिजराशोकतृष्णाक्रोधाश्च जज्ञिरे
From Mṛtyu arose disease, old age, sorrow, thirst, and anger.
नैषां भार्यास्ति पुत्रो वा सर्वे ते ह्यूर्ध्वरेतसः
They have neither wife nor son; all of them are indeed celibate.
संक्षेपेण मया प्रोक्ता विसृष्टिर्मुनिपुङ्गवा
In brief, O foremost among sages, I have described the creation.
प्रणम्य वरदं विष्णुं पप्रच्छुः संशयान्विता
Having bowed to Vishnu, the granter of boons, they questioned him, filled with doubt.
इदानीं संशयं चेममस्माकं छेत्तुमर्हसि
Now you ought to resolve this doubt of ours.
पुत्रत्वमगच्छंभुर्ब्रह्मणो ऽव्यक्तजन्मनः
How did the earth become the son of Brahma, whose birth is unmanifest?
अण्डजो जगतामीशस्तन्नो वक्तुमिहार्हसि
The lord of beings, born from the egg—please explain that to us here.
पुत्रत्वं ब्रह्मणस्तस्य पद्मयोनित्वमेव च
The sonship of Brahma and his origin from the lotus—these too.
आसीदेकार्णवं सर्वं न देवाद्या न चर्षयः
All was a single ocean; neither gods nor sages existed.
आश्रित्य शेषशयनं सुष्वाप पुरुषोत्तमः
Relying on Shesha as his couch, the Supreme Person slept.
सहस्त्रबाहुः सर्वज्ञश्चिन्त्यमानो मनीषिभिः
With a thousand arms and omniscience, he was contemplated by the wise.
महाविभूतिर्योगात्मा योगिनां हृदयालयः
Of great splendor, embodying yoga, dwelling in the hearts of yogis.
त्रैलोक्यसारं विमलं नाभ्यां पङ्कजमुद्वभौ
From his navel arose a lotus, pure and the essence of the three worlds.
दिव्यगन्धमयं पुण्यं कर्णिकाकेसरान्वितम्
Divine, fragrant, auspicious, adorned with stamens and filaments.
हिरण्यगर्भो भगवांस्तं देशमुपचक्रमे
The blessed Hiranyagarbha approached that place.
प्रोवाच मधुरं वाक्यं मायया तस्य मोहितः
Deluded by his maya, he spoke sweet words.
एकाकी को भवाञ्छेते ब्रूहि मे पुरुषर्षभ
Who are you, alone here? Tell me, O best among men.
उवाच देवं ब्रह्माणं मेघगम्भीरनिः स्वनः
Brahma, with a voice deep as thunderclouds, spoke to the god.
महायोगेश्वरं मां त्वं जानीहि पुरुषोत्तमम्
Know me as the Supreme Person, the great lord of yoga.
सपर्वतमहाद्वीपं समुद्रैः सप्तभिर्वृतम्
The earth, together with its great mountains and continents, is surrounded by seven oceans.
जानन्नपि महायोगी को भवानिति वेधसम्
Even knowing this, O great yogi, who are you—thus did the Creator inquire.
प्रत्युवाचाम्बुजाभाक्षं सस्मितं श्लक्ष्णया गिरा
He replied to the lotus-eyed one, smiling gently and with soft words.
मय्येव संस्थितं विश्वं ब्रह्माहं विश्वतोमुखः
The universe abides in me alone; I am Brahma, the all-faced.