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.
श्रोत्रे घ्राणो रसः स्पर्शो दृष्टिश्चेन्द्रियसंज्ञिताः
Hearing, smell, taste, touch, and sight are known as the senses.
स्थावराणां न दृश्यन्ते शरीरे पञ्च धातवः
In immobile beings, the five elements are not seen in the body.
वृक्षाणां नोपलभ्यन्ते शरीरे पञ्च धातवः
In trees, the five elements are not found in the body.
न च स्पर्शं हि जानन्ति ते कथं पञ्च धातवः
And they do not perceive touch; so how can the five elements be present?
आकाशस्याप्रमेयत्वादृक्षाणां नास्ति भौतिकम्
Because space is immeasurable, trees do not have the material element of space.
तेषां पुष्पपलव्यक्तिर्नित्यं समुपपद्यते
Yet the manifestation of flowers and fruits in them always occurs.
म्लायते शीर्यते चापि स्पर्शस्तेनात्र विद्यते
They wither and decay as well; thus, touch is present there.
श्रोत्रेण गृह्यते शब्दस्तस्माच्छृण्वन्ति पादपाः
Sound is grasped by hearing; therefore, trees hear.
नह्यदृष्टश्च मार्गो ऽस्ति तस्मात्पश्यन्ति पादपाः
There is no unseen path; therefore, trees see.
अरोगाः पुष्पिताः संति तस्माज्जिघ्रन्ति पादपाः
They are healthy and bear flowers; therefore, trees smell.