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.
संरक्षणार्थं भूतानां सृष्टं प्रथमतो जलम्
For the protection of beings, water was first created.
यत्प्राणाः सर्वभूतानां वर्द्धन्ते येन च प्रजाः
By which the life-forces of all beings grow, and by which creatures increase.
सर्वं तद्वारुणं ज्ञेयमापस्तस्तंभिरे पुनः
All that should be understood as belonging to Varuna; the waters once again became still.
कथं वा मेदिनी सृष्टेत्यत्र मे संशयो महान्
How was the earth created? On this matter, I have great doubt.
लोकसंभवसंदेहः समुत्पन्नो महात्मनाम्
A question about the origin of the worlds has arisen among the great souls.
त्यक्ताहाराः स्पर्द्धमाना दिव्यं विर्षशतं द्विजाः
The twice-born, having abandoned food and competing with one another, endured a hundred divine years.
दिव्या सरस्वती तत्र संबभूव नभस्तलात्
There, the divine Sarasvati appeared, descending from the sky.
नष्टचन्द्रार्कपवनं प्रसुप्तमिव संबभौ
It appeared as if the moon, sun, and wind were lost, as if everything were asleep.
तस्माञ्च सलिलोत्पीडादुदतिष्टत मारुतः
From the pressure of the waters, the wind arose.
तञ्चाभसा पूर्यमाणं सशब्दं कुरुते ऽनिलः
As it filled the space with its presence, the wind produced sound.
भित्त्वार्णवतलं वायुः समुत्पतति घोषवान्
Breaking through the surface of the waters, the wind ascended, resounding loudly.
आकाशस्थानमासाद्य प्रशान्तिं नाधिगच्छति
Having reached the region of the sky, it did not attain calm.
प्रादुरासीदूर्ध्वशिखः कृत्वा निस्तिमिरं तमः
A darkness appeared, rising upward, utterly devoid of light.
तदग्निवायुसंपर्काद्धनत्वमुपपद्यते
From the contact of fire and wind, solidity arises.
स संघातत्वमापन्नो भूमित्वमनुगच्छति
Having attained aggregation, it assumes the nature of earth.
भूमिर्यो निरियं ज्ञेया यस्याः सर्वं प्रसूयते
The earth should be known as that from which everything is produced.
आवृता यैरिमे लोका महाभूताभिसंज्ञितैः
These worlds are enveloped by what are called the great elements.
पश्चात्तेष्वेव भूतत्वं कथं समुपपद्यते
How does the nature of elementhood subsequently arise in them?
अतस्तेषां महाभूतशब्दो ऽयमुपपद्यते
Therefore, the term 'great element' is applied to them.
पृथिवी चात्र संघातः शरीरं पाञ्चभौतिकम्
Here, earth is the aggregate; the body is composed of five elements.