इत्युक्ते ब्रह्मणा सोऽग्निः प्रजज्वाल सहस्रशः
Thus addressed by Brahmā, that fire blazed forth in thousands.
अकारेकार ऊकारो ब्रह्मा तमथ दृष्टवान्
The letters 'a', 'i', and 'u'—then Brahmā saw them.
व्याप्तं भवाग्निना सर्वं तिर्यगूर्ध्वमधस्तथा
All things, above, below, and across, were pervaded by the fire of existence.
चिंतयंतं तु ब्रह्माणं भीतं चैव विशेषतः
Brahmā, especially fearful, was pondering deeply.
तेजोनिधिं च सर्वेशं ज्ञातुमिच्छन्प्रजापतिः 5.1.4.
Desiring to know the Lord of all, the treasury of radiance, Prajāpati approached.
अद्भुतानां प्रतिश्रोत्रे तेजसा निधये नमः
Homage to the repository of brilliance, who hears the wondrous things.
बीजं यो विश्वभावानां संमोहनविमोहनम्
He who is the seed of all beings, the enchanter and the dispeller of delusion.
ऊर्ध्ववक्त्र नमस्तेस्तु सत्त्वात्मक धरात्मक
Salutations to you, whose face is upward, who are the essence of being and of the earth.
जलजोत्फुल्लपत्राक्ष जलदेव हुताशन
O lotus-eyed, cloud-god, and fire-god, whose eyes are like blossoming lotus petals.
यज्ञाहुतिसमाचार यज्ञरूप नमोनमः
Homage, again and again, to you whose form is sacrifice, who are the performer of sacrificial offering.
तमोहार महाहार स्वाप्रिय तमोहर
Remover of darkness, great bearer, beloved of your own, dispeller of darkness.
वैश्वानरानलोदग्र ऊर्ध्वपावक सर्वग?? विभावसो महाभाग कृष्णवर्त्मन्नमोनमः
O blazing Vaiśvānara fire, upward-flaming, all-pervading, illustrious one, of great fortune, with dark path—homage, homage!
तुष्टोऽहं भवतो ब्रह्मन्भावकर्म प्रसिध्यति
I am pleased with you, O Brahman; your creative act will succeed.
एवमुक्तस्तदा ब्रह्मा नमस्कृत्याब्रवीत्पुनः
Thus addressed, Brahmā then bowed and spoke again.
अब्रवीत्सोऽथ ब्रह्माणं पुरुष स्त्वं प्रजापतिः 5.1.4.
Then he said to Brahmā: 'You are the Person, the Lord of creatures.'
अथापश्यत्स दिव्येन भगवंतं सनातनम्
Then he beheld, with divine sight, the eternal Lord.
ज्वलनं गगनं भूमिं दृश्यादृश्यं परं पदम् सदैव कुरुते देवो भुंक्ते सर्वं यतः प्रभुः
The god always creates and enjoys fire, sky, earth, the visible and invisible, the supreme state, for he is the master of all.
अतिसंभूतिभव्येन स्तोत्रेणाथ प्रजापतिः
Then Prajāpati, with a hymn of great and auspicious origin—
ततोऽतिरक्तवर्णं च दृष्ट्वा देवः प्रजापतिः
Thereupon, seeing the god with a very red hue, Prajāpati—
व्यक्ताव्यक्तप्रणेतारं प्रणमञ्छिरसा स्वयम्
He himself bowed with his head to the Lord, the originator of the manifest and unmanifest.
पृथिवी वायुराकाशं यच्चान्यद्भुवनत्रयम्
Earth, air, space, and whatever else exists in the three worlds—
तत्त्वसर्गं भूतसर्गं भावसर्गं तथैव च
the creation of principles, the creation of elements, and likewise the creation of beings—
यत्किंचिद्वस्तुजातं हि तत्सर्वमचरं चरम्
whatever collection of things there may be, all of that, both moving and unmoving—
अथेशः प्राह ब्रह्माणं त्वया दृष्टं यथातथम्
then the Lord said to Brahmā: 'You have seen everything just as it is.'
कर्ताहमनुकर्ता त्वं लोकानां स्थितिकारणे 5.1.4.
'I am the creator; you are the imitator, for the purpose of maintaining the worlds.'
इत्युक्तो देवदेवेन ब्रह्मा वचनमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by the God of gods, Brahmā spoke these words:
त्वत्प्रसादात्प्रजासर्गं कुर्वतो मे महेश्वर
'By your grace, O great Lord, I am able to create beings.'
महे३वर उवाच ध्यायतः पुत्रकामस्य स्रष्टु कामस्य ते यतः
Maheśvara said: 'Because you, desiring sons and wishing to create, were meditating—'
पुत्रत्वं प्राप्य हीशस्ते छेत्स्यामि पंचमं शिरः
'Having attained sonship, O Lord, I shall cut off your fifth head.'
कीर्तयस्व सखा धन्यः स नः पूज्यो भविष्यति
'Proclaim him as a blessed friend; he will become worthy of our worship.'