ब्रह्मोवाच नमः शिवायामलसत्त्वचेतसे गुणत्रयातीतविसारितेजसे
Brahma said: Salutations to Shiva, whose nature is pure consciousness, who transcends the three qualities, whose radiance is boundless.
नमोऽ स्तु ते सृष्टिविधौ रजोजुषे जगत्स्थितौ सत्त्वमधिष्ठिताय ते
Salutations to you, who delight in creation through rajas, and who preside over the world's maintenance through sattva.
अशेषभूतप्रकृतेः परा य वै परात्मरूपाय नमः शिवाय वै
Homage to Śiva, who is the supreme Self, transcending all elements and nature.
भूतोयवह्न्यम्बरवायुचंद्रसूर्यात्मरूपाभिरिदं तनूभिः
With forms as earth, water, fire, space, wind, moon, and sun, he embodies all these bodies.
यानीह तेजांसि जगंति यानि भूतानि भव्यान्यथ कारणानि
All the lights here, all worlds, all beings, all that will be, and all causes—
अन्तर्हित उवाचेदं ब्रह्मन्संयाच्यतां वरः
The hidden one spoke: 'O Brahman, ask for your boon.'
स वव्रे मनसा पुत्रं भवं गौरवकारणात्
He desired, in his mind, a son—Bhava—out of reverence.
यस्मान्मां मनसा पुत्रं चतुर्मुख समीहसे 5.1.2.
Because you seek me as a son in your mind, O Four-faced one,
अयाच्यं याचितं यस्मान्ममांशो नीललोहितः
Since what should not be asked has been asked, my portion, Nīlalohita, will be yours.
अन्यद्यस्मात्स्मृतो भक्त्या त्वयाहं पितृभावतः
Because you have remembered me with devotion as a father,
तस्माद्ब्रह्मेति लोकेऽत्र नाम ख्यातं भविष्यति
Therefore, in this world, the name 'Brahmā' will become renowned.
लब्ध्वा शापवरावेवं पुत्रसृष्टिं चकार सः
Having received both curse and boon, he created his son.
समिद्युक्तेन हस्तेन ललाटं मार्जतोऽभवत्
As he rubbed his forehead with a hand holding the sacrificial fuel,
तदनन्तरमासाद्य उत्ततार सुतोंऽतिकात्
Then, having approached, the son emerged from within.
पंचवक्त्रो दशभुजः शूलचापासिशक्तिमान्
He had five faces, ten arms, and held spear, bow, sword, and power.
सेन्दुः कपर्दं बिभ्राणः सिंहचर्मांबरंधरः
He wore the crescent moon, matted hair, and a lion-skin garment.
नीललोहितनामेति भव रुद्र पिनाकधृक्
Bhava, Rudra, Pinākadhṛk—be known as Nīlalohita, O bearer of the bow.
सप्तादौ मानसाञ्जज्ञे सनकादींस्ततोऽपरान् 5.1.2.
First, he created the seven mind-born sages, beginning with Sanaka, and then others.
अष्टभेदान्सुरान्कृत्वा तिर्यग्योनिं च पंचधा
He made the gods in eight forms, and the animal species in five ways.
सृष्टिः सुरादिका जाता कृत्वा ब्रह्माणमप्यधः
Creation began with the gods; after making Brahmā, he also created below.
ततो ब्रह्माऽवदद्रुद्रमपूज्यो हि त्वया कृतः
Then Brahmā said to Rudra: 'You have been made unworthy of worship by me.'
तं नीललोहितः प्रोचे भवता नार्चितो ह्यहम्
To him, the blue and red-hued one replied: 'Indeed, I have not been worshipped by you.'
ततो ब्रह्माऽभवन्मूढो रजसा चोपबृंहितः
Then Brahmā became deluded, his mind strengthened by passion.
मत्तुल्यो नास्ति वै देवो येन सृष्टिः प्रवर्द्धिता
There is no god equal to me, by whom creation has been expanded.
एवं मूढः स पंचास्यो विरंच्योऽभवद्दर्पितः
Thus, deluded and arrogant, the five-faced Brahmā became proud.
द्वितीयं वदनं तस्य ऋग्वे दस्य प्रवर्तकम्
His second face became the originator of the Ṛgveda.
सांगोपांगेतिहासांश्च सरहस्यान्ससंग्रहान्
With its limbs and sub-limbs, histories, all the secrets, and their collections.
तस्याऽसुराः सुराः सर्वे वक्त्रस्याद्भुततेजसः 5.1.2.
All the gods and demons, of wondrous brilliance from that face—
सपुत्रा अपि सोद्वेगा बभूवुर्नष्ट चेतसः
Even with their sons, they became anxious, their minds lost.
अभिभूतमिवात्मानं मन्यमाना अविद्विषः
Thinking themselves overpowered, though without enmity.