Listen, O wise one, to the ancient unfolding of creation. The mind, subtle and dual in its nature, stands as the eleventh principle, possessing its own unique quality. From the ego, when it is influenced by the darkness of tamas, the subtle elements of matter are brought forth. Of these elements, the first to arise is called the primary element, for it is the origin of all. From this primary element, only sound emerges, and from sound, space itself is produced. Then, from space comes the subtle quality of touch, and from touch, air arises. Air gives birth to form, and from form, fire is born. From fire, taste is produced, and from taste, the waters come forth. Out of the waters arises scent, and from scent, earth is born. Thus, from these elements, all beings—both moving and unmoving—are created. By the presence of the Purusha and the grace of the unmanifest, from the Great Principle down to the most particular, the cosmic egg is produced. Within this egg, when both the effect and the instrument of Brahman are perfected, the knower of the field—Brahma—grows mightily therein. Brahma, possessing form, is the first among all; he is the Purusha, the original creator of beings, and at the beginning, he alone comes into being. The image of this Lord is marked by wisdom and detachment. His intellect, which brings forth virtue and lordship, is called Brahmi, especially for the one who is proud in sacrifice. From the unmanifest, whatever Brahma desires with his mind is brought forth. As master, he transforms creation according to the three qualities: sattva, rajas, and tamas, as well as dependence and his own nature. Dividing himself threefold, he operates throughout the three worlds; by these three aspects, he creates, devours, and observes himself. With four faces, he is known as Brahma; as Time, he is the Ender. As the Purusha with a thousand heads, he is the Self-born, existing in three states. Sattva and rajas together are Brahma; as Time, tamas and rajas predominate. In the form of Vishnu, only sattva prevails. The Lord increases the qualities threefold within himself. Thus, as Brahma, he creates the worlds; as Time, he withdraws them; as Purusha, he remains utterly indifferent. The Lord’s action is always threefold. Because of this threefold division, Brahma is called threefold in qualities; and because of his fourfold distinction, he is known as the Fourfold Manifestation. He is the first, the primordial god, and because he is unborn, he is called the Unborn. As the protector of all beings, he is remembered as the Lord of Creatures. The golden mountain Meru forms his shell; the waters of the womb are his oceans, and the mountains themselves are his membrane. Within this cosmic egg are contained all the worlds, the entire universe: the moon, the sun, the stars, the planets, and the wind. The egg is surrounded on the outside by waters ten times greater than itself; these waters are encircled by fire, ten times greater still. That fire is surrounded by air, again ten times greater; air is enveloped by space, and space by the primary element. The primary element is enveloped by the Great Principle, which itself is surrounded by the unmanifest. In this way, the cosmic egg is wrapped externally by seven coverings. Thus, eight fundamental principles exist, each performing the acts of creation, preservation, and destruction. They arise from one another and sustain each other, acting as substratum and support, with modifications residing in that which is modified. Just as a tortoise extends and withdraws its limbs, so too does the unmanifest, having produced all modifications, absorb them back into itself. Everything arises from the unmanifest according to its own nature, but when the time of dissolution arrives, all merges back in reverse order. The three qualities, under the influence of time, become either unequal or balanced. When the qualities are balanced, dissolution occurs; when they are unbalanced, creation arises. This cosmic egg is the womb of Brahman, the great field of all existence, and Brahma is the knower of this field. Of such eggs, countless millions exist everywhere, due to the all-pervading nature of primordial matter, situated above, below, and in all directions. In each place, four-faced Brahmas, as well as Vishnus and Shivas, are created by the primordial matter, all having attained the presence of Shambhu. The great Lord, transcending even the unmanifest, creates the cosmic egg from it; from the egg, mighty Brahma is born, and by him, these worlds are fashioned. This creation of primordial matter is the first, initiated without intellect, and at the final dissolution, it is wholly absorbed, being but the play of the Lord. That which is remembered as the immeasurable cause—Brahma, primordial matter, the source of nature—is without beginning, middle, or end, of infinite power, pure, deeply red, and united with spirit. Because of its productive nature and the predominance of rajas, primordial matter is the cause of the world’s propagation and growth. Having produced eight modifications at the beginning, it likewise absorbs them at the end. All existence and renewed activity of the causes established by primordial nature occur solely by the will of the great Lord, whose glory is beyond nature. Now, you ask of the Manus and the various divisions of kalpas, and within them, the intermediate creations and re-creations. The supreme half of Brahman’s time is considered the measure of its duration; at its end, another time arises, and then re-creation occurs. In each previous birth of Brahma, day by day, fourteen great cycles of Manus revolve. Because these Manus and kalpas are without beginning or end, and unknowable in their entirety, they cannot be separately described in words. Even though all have been spoken of, what fruit is there for you, who listen to my words? Therefore, I am not able to describe them separately. In this present kalpa that is now unfolding, the cycles of creation and dissolution occur in a condensed manner. The kalpa now proceeding is called the Boar (Varaha) Kalpa; in this too, O best of the twice-born, there are fourteen Manus.