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.
आकाशसदृशा ह्येते भिद्यन्ते तत्त्वदशनात्
These are like space, and they are divided by the cutting of truth.
त्रैलोक्ये सागरे चैव प्रमाणं विहितं यथा
Just as a measure is established in the three worlds and in the ocean.
सिद्धानां देवतानां च परिमीता यदा गतिः
When the movement of the Siddhas and the gods is limited.
नामधेयानुरुपस्य मानसस्य महात्मनः
According to the name and nature of the great-minded one.
को ऽन्यस्तद्वेदितुं शक्यो यो ऽपि स्यात्तद्विधो ऽपरः
Who else is able to know that, even if another of similar kind exists?
ब्रह्मा धर्ममयः पूर्वः प्रजापतिरनुत्तमः
Brahma, the embodiment of Dharma, is the foremost and supreme progenitor.
ब्रह्माणं पूर्वजं चाह भवान्संदेह एव मे
You speak of Brahma, the ancient one; I am indeed in doubt about this.
तस्यासनविधानार्थं पृथिवी पद्ममुच्यते
For the purpose of his seat, the earth is called the lotus.
तस्य मध्ये स्थितो लोकान्सृजत्येष जगद्विधिः
Situated in its center, he creates the worlds; this is the creator of the universe.
मेरुमध्ये स्थितो ब्रह्मा तद्वहिर्द्विजसत्तम
Brahma is situated in the middle of Meru; outside of that, O best of twice-born.