Listen, and I shall recount the origins as spoken in the sacred narrative. The Blessed Lord Viṣṇu, renowned as Ananta, is the source—the eternal foundation of all that exists. From Him, the entire universe arose; if you ask about the beginning, it is from that divine being that everything came forth. There are no other measures or explanations beyond this; let your doubts be dispelled by this truth. That delightful and wondrous realm, upheld by countless supports, is beyond the reach of mortals—it cannot be attained by you. Within that realm, the gods themselves shine, radiant as the sun, blazing with the brilliance of fire. This region is difficult to comprehend, O noble one, and its boundlessness is such that even the gods are daunted. The space there is restrained, yet remains immeasurable even to the divine. It is said that at the end of darkness lies water, and at the end of water there is fire. Beyond fire is again space, and at the edge of space, once more, water appears. From fire, wind, and water arise, yet even the gods struggle to fathom their mysteries. These elements are like space itself, and they are divided and distinguished by the discernment of truth—just as measures are set within the three worlds and in the vast ocean. The movement of Siddhas and gods is limited, each according to their name and nature, as established by the great-minded One. Who else, indeed, could know the entirety of this creation, even if another of similar kind should exist? Brahma, the embodiment of Dharma, stands as the foremost and supreme progenitor. You speak of Brahma, the ancient one, yet doubts may linger about his true nature. For his seat, the earth is called the lotus, and at its center, Brahma is situated. There, he creates the worlds—he is the creator of the universe. Brahma’s place is in the very middle of Mount Meru; beyond that, O best of the twice-born, the waters were first created for the protection of living beings. By these waters, the life-forces of all creatures are nourished and increased. All of this is under the domain of Varuna, and eventually, the waters became still once more. Yet, how was the earth itself created? This question stirs great doubt. Among the wise, a question arose regarding the origin of the worlds. The twice-born sages, having renounced food and striving with one another in austerity, endured for a hundred divine years. In that place, the divine Sarasvati appeared, descending from the heavens. It seemed as if the moon, the sun, and the wind were lost, as though all things had fallen into slumber. Then, from the pressure of the waters, the wind arose. As the wind filled space with its presence, it produced sound, breaking through the surface of the waters with a great, resounding force. The wind ascended to the region of the sky, yet even there it did not find calm. Then, darkness arose, rising upward, utterly devoid of light. From the contact of fire and wind, solidity came into being. This, upon aggregation, assumed the very nature of earth. Know that earth is that from which all things are produced. These worlds are enveloped by what are called the great elements. But how does the true nature of elementhood arise within them? It is for this reason that they are called the ‘great elements.’ Here, earth is the aggregate, and the body itself is composed of the five elements. Thus, the story of creation unfolds, revealing the profound mysteries of existence.