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.
स एष भगवान्विष्णुरनन्त इति विश्रुतः
He is that Blessed Lord Viṣṇu, renowned as Ananta.
ततः समभवद्विश्वं पृष्टो ऽहं यदिह त्वया
From him, the universe then arose—if you have questioned me about this here.
कान्यत्र परिमाणानि संशयं छिन्धि तत्त्वतः
What other measures are there? Remove your doubt in truth.
रम्यं नानाश्रयाकीर्णं यस्यां तो नाधिगम्यते
That delightful realm, filled with many supports, cannot be attained by you.
तत्र देवाः स्वयं दीप्ता भास्कराभाग्निवर्चसः
There, the gods themselves shine, radiant like the sun and blazing with the brilliance of fire.
दुर्गमत्वादनन्तत्वादिति मे वद मानद
Because of its difficulty and boundlessness, tell me, O giver of honor.
निरुद्धमेतदाकाशं ह्यप्रमेयं सुरैरपि
This space is restrained, indeed immeasurable even by the gods.
तमसोंऽते जलं प्राहुर्जलस्यान्ते ऽग्निरेव च
They say water lies at the end of darkness, and at the end of water is fire.
तदन्ते पुनराकाशमाकाशान्ते पुनर्जलम्
Beyond that is again space, and at the end of space, again water.
अग्निमारुततोयेभ्यो दुर्ज्ञेयं दैवतैरपि
From fire, wind, and water, even the deities find it difficult to comprehend.