कलौ नास्त्येव नास्त्येव गतिरन्यथा
In Kali, truly, truly, there is no other way.
परां निर्वृत्तिमापन्नः पुनरेतदुवाच ह
Having attained supreme bliss, he again spoke these words.
प्रकाशितं जगज्ज्योतिः परं ब्रह्म सनातनम्
The supreme, eternal Brahman, the light of the world, has been revealed.
यः स्मरेत्पुण्डरीकाक्षं सर्वपापविनाशनम्
He who remembers the lotus-eyed one destroys all sins.
त्वयोक्तं तत्प्रतीये ऽहं कथं दृष्टान्तमन्तरा
What you have spoken, I accept; but how can I understand without an example?
तदाख्याहि यथा चित्तं सीदत्स्थितिमवाप्नुयात्
Tell me, then, how a mind that is sinking may attain stability.
सनकः प्रत्युवाचेदं स्मरन्नारायणं परम्
Sanaka replied, remembering the supreme Nārāyaṇa.
वेदान्तशास्त्रे कुशलस्तवायं निवर्तयेद्वा परमार्यवन्द्यः
He is skilled in the Vedānta scriptures, and may turn you back; he is most worthy of reverence among the noble.
सनन्दनं मोक्षधर्मान्प्रष्टुं समुपचक्रमे
Sanandana began to question about the dharmas of liberation.
प्रलये च कमभ्येति तन्मे ब्रूहि सनन्दन
At dissolution, where does it go? Tell me this, Sanandana.
सभूमिः साग्निपवनो लोको ऽयं केन निर्मितः
With earth, fire, wind—by whom was this world created?
शौचाशौचं कथं तेषां धर्माधर्मविधिः कथम्
How is purity and impurity determined for them? How is the rule of dharma and adharma established?
अस्माल्लोकादमुं लोकं सर्वं शंसतु मे भवान्
From this world to that world, may you declare everything to me.
भृगुणाभिहितं शास्त्रं भरद्वाजाय पृच्छते
The scripture spoken by Bhṛgu was questioned by Bharadvāja.
भृगुमहर्षिमासीनं भरद्वाजो ऽन्वपृच्छत
Bharadvāja questioned the sage Bhṛgu, who was seated.
कथं मुक्तिश्च संसाराज्जायते तस्य मानद
How does liberation arise from saṃsāra for him, O bestower of honor?
सेव्यसेवकभावेन वर्तेते इति तौ सदा
They always conduct themselves in the manner of master and servant.
लोकानां रमणः सो ऽयं निर्गुणश्च निरञ्जनः
He, the delight of the worlds, is without qualities and without stain.
कथमेनं परात्मानं कालशक्तिदुरन्वयम्
How can that Supreme Self, difficult to comprehend due to time and power, be known?
जीवो जीवत्वमुल्लङ्घ्य कथं ब्रह्म समन्वयात्
How can the individual soul, transcending individuality, attain union with Brahman?
एवं स भगवान्पृष्टो भरद्वाजेन संशयम्
Thus, when questioned by Bharadvāja regarding this doubt, the Blessed Lord—
मानसो नाम यः पूर्वो विश्रुतो वे महर्षिभिः
That which was formerly known as the Mind-born, renowned among the great sages,
अव्यक्त इति विख्यातः शाश्वतो ऽथाक्षयो ऽव्ययः
Is called the Unmanifest, eternal, imperishable, and undecaying.
सो ऽमृजत्प्रथमं देवो महान्तं नाम नामतः
He, the god, first created the great one, known by name.
आकाशादभवद्वारि सलिलादग्निमारुतौ
From space arose water; from water, fire and wind.
ततस्तेजो मयं दिव्यं पद्मं सृष्टं स्वयंभुवा
Then, the self-born one created a divine, radiant lotus.
अहॄङ्कार इति ख्यातः सर्वभूतात्मभूतकृत्
He is known as Ahaṃkāra, the source and soul of all beings.
शैलास्तस्यास्थिसंधास्तु मेदो मसिं च मेदिनी
His bones are the mountains; his marrow, the earth's soil and ink.
पवनश्चैव निश्वासस्तेजो ऽग्निर्निम्नगाः शिराः
His breath is the wind; his energy, fire; his veins, the rivers.
नभश्चोर्ध्वशिरस्तस्य क्षितिः पदौ भुजौ दिशः
His head above is the sky; his feet, the earth; his arms, the directions.