तत्सङ्कल्पक्रमेणैव ततस् स्थितिम् उपागता । इयं सृष्टिर् अपर्यन्ता मायेव घनमायया
By the sequence of his intention alone, this endless creation has come into being, like an illusion produced by a mighty magician.
जीवो मनःपदं प्राप्य वैरिञ्चपदम् आगतः । यथा ब्रह्मंस् तथा सर्वं विस्तरेण वदाशु मे
The individual soul, having reached the state of mind, attained the station of the Creator; just as Brahmā did, so does everything—explain this to me in detail, quickly.
ब्राह्मं शृणु महाबाहो शरीरग्रहणे क्रमम् । निदर्शनेन तेनैव जागतीं ज्ञास्यसि स्थितिम्
Hear, O mighty-armed one, the process of assuming a body in the case of Brahmā; by that very illustration you will understand the state of worldly existence.
दिक्कालाद्यनवच्छिन्नम् आत्मतत्त्वं स्वशक्तितः । लीलयैव यद् आदत्ते दिक्कालकलितं वपुः
The essence of self, unlimited by space, time, and the like, by its own power, playfully assumes a body marked by space and time.
तद् एतज् जीवपर्यायं वासनावेशतत्परं । मनस् सम्पद्यते लोलं कलनाकलनोन्मुखम्
This, which is called the individual soul, absorbed in impressions, becomes the restless mind, inclined toward both conceptualizing and non-conceptualizing.
कलयन्ती मनश्शक्तिर् आदौ भावयति क्षणात् । आकाशभावनाम् अच्छां शब्दबीजरसोन्मुखीम्
At first, the power of mind, by its imagining, instantly brings forth the pure notion of space, oriented toward the essence of sound as its seed.
ततस् तद्घनतां यातं घनस्पन्दं क्रमान् मनः । भावयत्य् अनिलस्पन्दं स्पर्शबीजरसोन्मुखम्
Then, as that becomes condensed, the mind gradually conceives the vibration of solidity, and then the vibration of air, oriented toward the essence of touch as its seed.
ताभ्याम् आकाशवाताभ्याम् आमृष्टाभ्यां मनोदृशा । शब्दस्पर्शस्वरूपाभ्यां सङ्घर्षाज् जन्यते ऽनलः
When space and air, perceived by the mind as sound and touch, come into contact, fire is produced from their friction.
मनस् तद्घनतां प्राप्य ततो भावयति क्षणात् । प्राकाश्यम् अमलालोकम् आलोकस् तेन वर्धते
The mind, having attained density, instantly brings forth luminosity—pure, clear light—which then increases in radiance.
मनस् तादृग्गुणगणं रसतन्मात्रवेदनम् । क्षणाच् चिनोत्य् अपां शैत्यं जलसंवित् ततो भवेत्
The mind, endowed with such qualities and the perception of taste, instantly grasps the coolness of water; thus, the awareness of water arises.
ततस् तादृग्गुणगणं मनो भावयति क्षणात् । स्वरूपं गन्धवत् स्थूलं येनोदेष्यति मेदिनी
Then, the mind, possessing such qualities, instantly conceives the substantial form with scent, by which the earth will be manifested.
अथेदं भूततन्मात्रवेष्टितं तनुतां जहत् । वपुर् वह्निकणाकारं स्फुरितं व्योम्नि पश्यति
Thereafter, this, enveloped by the subtle elements, sheds its subtlety; one perceives in space a form like a spark of fire, shining forth.
अहङ्कारकलायुक्तं बुद्धिजीवसमन्वितम् । तत् पुर्यष्टकम् इत्य् उक्तं भूतहृत्पद्मषट्पदः
Endowed with the faculty of ego, along with intellect and the individual soul, this is called the 'eightfold subtle body,' the bee at the lotus-heart of the elements.
तस्मिंस् तत् तीव्रसंवेगाद् भावयद् भासुरं वपुः । स्थूलतां एति पाकेन मनो भव्यफलं यथा
Within that, by intense force, the mind brings forth a radiant body; by maturation, it attains grossness, just as a destined fruit ripens.
मूषास्थद्रुतहेमाभं स्फुरितं विमलाम्बरे । सन्निवेशम् अथादत्ते तत् तेजस् स्वं स्वभावतः
Shining in the pure sky, like molten gold flowing from a crucible, that radiance assumes its own form by its inherent nature.
तस्मिन् स्वसन्निवेशे ऽथ तेजःपुञ्जमये मनः । भजते भावनां स्फारे निश्चिताम् आततां स्वतः
Then, in that very own abode, the mind—composed of a mass of radiance—assumes a firm and expansive imagination, arising naturally.
ऊर्ध्वं शिरःपीठमयीम् अधः पादमयीं तथा । पार्श्वयोर् हस्तसंस्थानां मध्ये चोदरधर्मिणीं
Above, it forms a head-like seat; below, a base like feet; on both sides, the arrangement of hands; and in the middle, the nature of a belly.
प्रकटावयवो बालो ज्वालाजालामलाकृतिः । मनोरथवशोपात्तवपुस् तिष्ठत्य् असाव् अथ
There appears a child with manifest limbs, resembling a cluster of pure flames, who stands there, taking a body according to the will of the mind.
एवं स्ववासनावेशात् कल्पिताङ्गं मनो मुनेः । नयत्य् उपचयं देहं स्वं स्वभावम् ऋतुर् यथा
Thus, through the force of its own tendencies, the mind of the sage, having imagined limbs, brings about the growth of its own body, just as a season brings forth its natural effects.
कालेन स्फुटताम् एत्य भवत्य् अमलविग्रहः । बुद्धिसत्त्वबलोत्साहविज्ञानैश्वर्यसंस्थितः
In time, becoming distinct, it attains a spotless form, endowed with intelligence, purity, strength, enthusiasm, discernment, and mastery.
स एष भगवान् ब्रह्मा सर्वलोकाधिनायकः । द्रवत्कनकसङ्काशः परमाकाशसम्भवः
He is that blessed Lord Brahma, ruler of all worlds, shining like molten gold, arisen from the supreme expanse.
अथासौ परमाकाशे तिष्ठन् परमरूपवान् । कल्पयत्य् आत्मनो गेहम् आत्मस्थश् चित्तलीलया
Then, abiding in the supreme expanse, possessing the highest form, he creates his own dwelling by the play of his own mind, remaining established in himself.
कदाचित् केवलं व्योम परमं पारवर्जितम् । अनादिमध्यपर्यन्तं कदाचिद् अमलं पयः
At times, it is pure space alone, supreme and free from any distinction; at times, it is pure water, without beginning, middle, or end.
कदाचित् कल्पकालाग्निज्वालाभासुरमण्डितम् । कदाचित् काननं कान्तं नाभीकमलकुट्मलम्
At times, it is adorned with the radiance of the flames of the fire at the end of an age; at times, it is a lovely forest, or the closed bud of a lotus at the navel.
अन्यान्य् अन्यान्य् अनेकानि प्रतिजन्मावधि प्रभुः । कल्पयत्य् आसनान्य् एष नानारूपाणि हेलया
This sovereign, by his own will, effortlessly creates countless different seats, of various forms, for each and every birth.
तत्रेदम्प्रथमत्वेन यदैष ब्रह्मणः पदात् । अवतीर्णस् तदा ज्ञानात् तस्यैव सुसमस् स्मृतः
Among these, when he first descends from the state of Brahman, then, due to knowledge, his own body is considered to be well-formed.
गर्भनिद्राव्यपगमे वपुः पश्यति भासुरम् । प्राणापानप्रवाहाढ्यं द्रव्यैर् एव विनिर्मितम्
When the sleep of the womb departs, he sees a radiant body, endowed with the flow of prāṇa and apāna, constructed solely from substances.
रोमकोटिभिर् आकीर्णं द्वात्रिंशद्दशनान्वितम् । त्रिस्थूणं पञ्चदैवत्यम् अधश्चरणलाञ्छितम्
It is covered with the tips of hairs, furnished with thirty-two teeth, supported by three pillars, possessed of fifteen deities, and marked below by the soles of the feet.
पञ्चभागं नवद्वारं त्वग्लेपमसृणाङ्गकम् । युक्तम् अङ्गुलिविंशत्या नखविंशतिलाञ्छितम्
It is divided into five parts, has nine gates, limbs smooth and smeared with unguents, equipped with twenty fingers, and marked by twenty nails.
द्विबाहुं द्विस्तनं द्व्यक्षं बह्वक्षभुजम् एव वा । नीडं चित्तविहङ्गस्य बिलं मन्मथभोगिनः
It has two arms, two breasts, two eyes—or sometimes many shoulders and arms; it is the nest of the bird of mind, the cave for the serpent of desire.