Creation of the Kumaras and Others

Verse 1 (bhagavata.3.12.1)

मैत्रेय उवाच इति ते वर्णितः क्षत्तः कालाख्यः परमात्मनः । महिमा वेदगर्भोऽथ यथास्राक्षीन्निबोध मे ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvāca iti te varṇitaḥ kṣattaḥ kālākhyaḥ paramātmanaḥ mahimā veda-garbho ’tha yathāsrākṣīn nibodha me

Maitreya said: Thus, O Vidura, has been described to you the glory of the Supersoul known by the name of time; now understand from me how Brahmā, the reservoir of the Vedas, thereafter engaged in creation.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.3.12.2)

ससर्जाग्रेऽन्धतामिस्रमथ तामिस्रमादिकृत् । महामोहं च मोहं च तमश्चाज्ञानवृत्तयः ॥ २ ॥

sasarjāgre ’ndha-tāmisram atha tāmisram ādi-kṛt mahāmohaṁ ca mohaṁ ca tamaś cājñāna-vṛttayaḥ

At first he, the originator, created the sense of blinding death (andha-tāmisra), then tāmisra — anger born of frustration — and mahā-moha, the sense of ownership over enjoyable objects, and moha, illusory conception, and tamas, darkness regarding self-knowledge — these engagements of nescience.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.3.12.3)

दृष्ट्वा पापीयसीं सृष्टिं नात्मानं बह्वमन्यत । भगवद्ध्यानपूतेन मनसान्यां ततोऽसृजत् ॥ ३ ॥

dṛṣṭvā pāpīyasīṁ sṛṣṭiṁ nātmānaṁ bahv amanyata bhagavad-dhyāna-pūtena manasānyāṁ tato ’sṛjat

Seeing that sinful creation, he did not feel much satisfaction with himself; with a mind purified by meditation upon the Personality of Godhead, he then created another.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.3.12.4)

सनकं च सनन्दं च सनातनमथात्मभूः । सनत्कुमारं च मुनीन्निष्क्रियानूर्ध्वरेतसः ॥ ४ ॥

sanakaṁ ca sanandaṁ ca sanātanam athātmabhūḥ sanat-kumāraṁ ca munīn niṣkriyān ūrdhva-retasaḥ

Self-born Brahmā then created Sanaka, Sananda, Sanātana and Sanat-kumāra, sages free from all fruitive action, whose seed flows upward.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.3.12.5)

तान् बभाषे स्वभूः पुत्रान् प्रजाः सृजत पुत्रकाः । तन्नैच्छन्मोक्षधर्माणो वासुदेवपरायणाः ॥ ५ ॥

tān babhāṣe svabhūḥ putrān prajāḥ sṛjata putrakāḥ tan naicchan mokṣa-dharmāṇo vāsudeva-parāyaṇāḥ

Brahmā said to those sons: My sons, create progeny; but they, devoted solely to Vāsudeva and pledged to the path of liberation, did not desire it.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.3.12.6)

सोऽवध्यातः सुतैरेवं प्रत्याख्यातानुशासनैः । क्रोधं दुर्विषहं जातं नियन्तुमुपचक्रमे ॥ ६ ॥

so ’vadhyātaḥ sutair evaṁ pratyākhyātānuśāsanaiḥ krodhaṁ durviṣahaṁ jātaṁ niyantum upacakrame

Thus disregarded by his sons, who refused to obey his command, he began to try to control the anger that had arisen within him, too great to be tolerated.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.3.12.7)

धिया निगृह्यमाणोऽपि भ्रुवोर्मध्यात्प्रजापतेः । सद्योऽजायत तन्मन्युः कुमारो नीललोहितः ॥ ७ ॥

dhiyā nigṛhyamāṇo ’pi bhruvor madhyāt prajāpateḥ sadyo ’jāyata tan-manyuḥ kumāro nīla-lohitaḥ

Though he restrained it with his intelligence, from between the eyebrows of Prajāpati there was at once generated that very anger, in the form of a child of mixed blue and red hue.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.3.12.8)

स वै रुरोद देवानां पूर्वजो भगवान् भवः । नामानि कुरु मे धातः स्थानानि च जगद्गुरो ॥ ८ ॥

sa vai ruroda devānāṁ pūrvajo bhagavān bhavaḥ nāmāni kuru me dhātaḥ sthānāni ca jagad-guro

That child, the eldest of the demigods, the powerful Bhava (Śiva), wept aloud, saying: O ordainer, O teacher of the universe, assign to me names and abodes.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.3.12.9)

इति तस्य वचः पाद्मो भगवान् परिपालयन् । अभ्यधाद्भद्रया वाचा मा रोदीस्तत्करोमि ते ॥ ९ ॥

iti tasya vacaḥ pādmo bhagavān paripālayan abhyadhād bhadrayā vācā mā rodīs tat karomi te

Hearing this request, the powerful lotus-born Lord, granting it, pacified him with gentle words: Do not weep; I shall do as you desire.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.3.12.10)

यदरोदीः सुरश्रेष्ठ सोद्वेग इव बालकः । ततस्त्वामभिधास्यन्ति नाम्ना रुद्र इति प्रजाः ॥ १० ॥

yad arodīḥ sura-śreṣṭha sodvega iva bālakaḥ tatas tvām abhidhāsyanti nāmnā rudra iti prajāḥ

O chief of the demigods, since you cried out with such anxiety, like a frightened child, people will therefore call you by the name Rudra.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.3.12.11)

हृदिन्द्रियाण्यसुर्व्योम वायुरग्निर्जलं मही । सूर्यश्चन्द्रस्तपश्चैव स्थानान्यग्रे कृतानि ते ॥ ११ ॥

hṛd indriyāṇy asur vyoma vāyur agnir jalaṁ mahī sūryaś candras tapaś caiva sthānāny agre kṛtāni te

The heart, the senses, the life-air, the sky, air, fire, water, the earth, the sun, the moon, and penance — these places have already been assigned to you.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.3.12.12)

मन्युर्मनुर्महिनसो महाञ्छिव ऋतध्वजः । उग्ररेता भवः कालो वामदेवो धृतव्रतः ॥ १२ ॥

manyur manur mahinaso mahāñ chiva ṛtadhvajaḥ ugraretā bhavaḥ kālo vāmadevo dhṛtavrataḥ

Manyu, Manu, Mahinasa, Mahān, Śiva, Ṛtadhvaja, Ugraretā, Bhava, Kāla, Vāmadeva and Dhṛtavrata — these were declared as your names.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.3.12.13)

धीर्धृतिरसलोमा च नियुत्सर्पिरिलाम्बिका । इरावती स्वधा दीक्षा रुद्राण्यो रुद्र ते स्त्रियः ॥ १३ ॥

dhīr dhṛti-rasalomā ca niyut sarpir ilāmbikā irāvatī svadhā dīkṣā rudrāṇyo rudra te striyaḥ

Dhī, Dhṛti, Rasalā, Umā, Niyut, Sarpi, Ilā, Ambikā, Irāvatī, Svadhā and Dīkṣā — O Rudra, these eleven were declared as your wives.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.3.12.14)

गृहाणैतानि नामानि स्थानानि च सयोषणः । एभिः सृज प्रजा बह्वीः प्रजानामसि यत्पतिः ॥ १४ ॥

gṛhāṇaitāni nāmāni sthānāni ca sa-yoṣaṇaḥ ebhiḥ sṛja prajā bahvīḥ prajānām asi yat patiḥ

Accept these names and abodes, together with your wives; with these, generate abundant progeny, since you are the lord of all living beings.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.3.12.15)

इत्यादिष्टः स्वगुरुणा भगवान्नीललोहितः । सत्त्वाकृतिस्वभावेन ससर्जात्मसमाः प्रजाः ॥ १५ ॥

ity ādiṣṭaḥ sva-guruṇā bhagavān nīla-lohitaḥ sattvākṛti-svabhāvena sasarjātma-samāḥ prajāḥ

Thus instructed by his own spiritual master, the powerful Nīla-lohita (Rudra), through a nature of fierce power and form, created offspring resembling his own self.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.3.12.16)

रुद्राणां रुद्रसृष्टानां समन्ताद् ग्रसतां जगत् । निशाम्यासंख्यशो यूथान् प्रजापतिरशङ्कत ॥ १६ ॥

rudrāṇāṁ rudra-sṛṣṭānāṁ samantād grasatāṁ jagat niśāmyāsaṅkhyaśo yūthān prajāpatir aśaṅkata

Observing those Rudras, generated by Rudra, gathering in countless hordes and devouring the universe on every side, Prajāpati grew afraid.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.3.12.17)

अलं प्रजाभिः सृष्टाभिरीदृशीभिः सुरोत्तम । मया सह दहन्तीभिर्दिशश्चक्षुर्भिरुल्बणैः ॥ १७ ॥

alaṁ prajābhiḥ sṛṣṭābhir īdṛśībhiḥ surottama mayā saha dahantībhir diśaś cakṣurbhir ulbaṇaiḥ

Enough, O best of the demigods, of such progeny as this, generated to burn all directions, along with myself, with their fierce, flaming eyes.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.3.12.18)

तप आतिष्ठ भद्रं ते सर्वभूतसुखावहम् । तपसैव यथापूर्व स्रष्टा विश्वमिदं भवान् ॥ १८ ॥

tapa ātiṣṭha bhadraṁ te sarva-bhūta-sukhāvaham tapasaiva yathā pūrvaṁ sraṣṭā viśvam idaṁ bhavān

Take up penance instead, which is auspicious for you and brings happiness to all beings; by penance alone, as before, you shall create this universe yourself.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.3.12.19)

तपसैव परं ज्योतिर्भगवन्तमधोक्षजम् । सर्वभूतगुहावासमञ्जसा विन्दते पुमान् ॥ १९ ॥

tapasaiva paraṁ jyotir bhagavantam adhokṣajam sarva-bhūta-guhāvāsam añjasā vindate pumān

By penance alone does a person fully attain that supreme light, the Personality of Godhead beyond the senses, who dwells in the cave of the heart of every living being.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.3.12.20)

मैत्रेय उवाच एवमात्मभुवादिष्टः परिक्रम्य गिरां पतिम् । बाढमित्यमुमामन्त्र्य विवेश तपसे वनम् ॥ २० ॥

maitreya uvāca evam ātmabhuvādiṣṭaḥ parikramya girāṁ patim bāḍham ity amum āmantrya viveśa tapase vanam

Maitreya said: Thus instructed by self-born Brahmā, circumambulating the master of the Vedas and saying, 'So be it,' addressing him thus, he entered the forest for penance.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.3.12.21)

अथाभिध्यायतः सर्गं दश पुत्राः प्रजज्ञिरे । भगवच्छक्तियुक्तस्य लोकसन्तानहेतवः ॥ २१ ॥

athābhidhyāyataḥ sargaṁ daśa putrāḥ prajajñire bhagavac-chakti-yuktasya loka-santāna-hetavaḥ

Then, while he, empowered with the potency of the Personality of Godhead, was meditating upon creation, ten sons were born, the causes of the world's propagation.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.3.12.22)

मरीचिरत्र्याङ्गिरसौ पुलस्त्यः पुलहः क्रतुः । भृगुर्वसिष्ठो दक्षश्च दशमस्तत्र नारदः ॥ २२ ॥

marīcir atry-aṅgirasau pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ bhṛgur vasiṣṭho dakṣaś ca daśamas tatra nāradaḥ

Marīci, Atri, Aṅgirā, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhṛgu, Vasiṣṭha and Dakṣa — and the tenth among them, Nārada.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.3.12.23)

उत्सङ्गान्नारदो जज्ञे दक्षोऽङ्गुष्ठात्स्वयम्भुवः । प्राणाद्वसिष्ठः सञ्जातो भृगुस्त्वचि करात्क्रतुः ॥ २३ ॥

utsaṅgān nārado jajñe dakṣo ’ṅguṣṭhāt svayambhuvaḥ prāṇād vasiṣṭhaḥ sañjāto bhṛgus tvaci karāt kratuḥ

Nārada was born from his lap; Dakṣa, of self-born Brahmā, from his thumb; Vasiṣṭha was born from his breath; Bhṛgu from his skin; Kratu from his hand.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.3.12.24)

पुलहो नाभितो जज्ञे पुलस्त्यः कर्णयोऋर्षिः । अङ्गिरा मुखतोऽक्ष्णोऽत्रिर्मरीचिर्मनसोऽभवत् ॥ २४ ॥

pulaho nābhito jajñe pulastyaḥ karṇayor ṛṣiḥ aṅgirā mukhato ’kṣṇo ’trir marīcir manaso ’bhavat

Pulaha was born from his navel; the sage Pulastya from his ears; Aṅgirā from his mouth; Atri from his eyes; and Marīci arose from his mind.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.3.12.25)

धर्मः स्तनाद्दक्षिणतो यत्र नारायणः स्वयम् । अधर्म पृष्ठतो यस्मान्मृत्युर्लोकभयङ्करः ॥ २५ ॥

dharmaḥ stanād dakṣiṇato yatra nārāyaṇaḥ svayam adharmaḥ pṛṣṭhato yasmān mṛtyur loka-bhayaṅkaraḥ

Dharma was born from his right breast, wherein Nārāyaṇa Himself resides; Adharma from his back, from whom arose Death, the terror of all beings.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.3.12.26)

हृदि कामो भ्रुवः क्रोधो लोभश्चाधरदच्छदात् । आस्याद्वाक्सिन्धवो मेढ्रान्निऋर्तिः पायोरघाश्रयः ॥ २६ ॥

hṛdi kāmo bhruvaḥ krodho lobhaś cādhara-dacchadāt āsyād vāk sindhavo meḍhrān nirṛtiḥ pāyor aghāśrayaḥ

Lust arose from his heart, anger from his eyebrows, greed from between his lips; from his mouth, speech; from his genitals, the oceans; from his anus, Nirṛti, the abode of all vice.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.3.12.27)

छायायाः कर्दमो जज्ञे देवहूत्याः पतिः प्रभुः । मनसो देहतश्चेदं जज्ञे विश्वकृतो जगत् ॥ २७ ॥

chāyāyāḥ kardamo jajñe devahūtyāḥ patiḥ prabhuḥ manaso dehataś cedaṁ jajñe viśva-kṛto jagat

From his shadow was born Kardama, the powerful husband of Devahūti; and from his mind and body was born this universe, the creation of the creator.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.3.12.28)

वाचं दुहितरं तन्वीं स्वयम्भूर्हरतीं मनः । अकामां चकमे क्षत्तः सकाम इति नः श्रुतम् ॥ २८ ॥

vācaṁ duhitaraṁ tanvīṁ svayambhūr haratīṁ manaḥ akāmāṁ cakame kṣattaḥ sa-kāma iti naḥ śrutam

Self-born Brahmā, O Vidura, we have heard, desired his own slender daughter Vāk, born of his body, who was stealing away his mind, though she herself had no such desire.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.3.12.29)

तमधर्मे कृतमतिं विलोक्य पितरं सुताः । मरीचिमुख्या मुनयो विश्रम्भात्प्रत्यबोधयन् ॥ २९ ॥

tam adharme kṛta-matiṁ vilokya pitaraṁ sutāḥ marīci-mukhyā munayo viśrambhāt pratyabodhayan

Seeing their father's mind thus fixed upon an unrighteous act, his sons, headed by Marīci, respectfully and with due deference, addressed him as follows.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.3.12.30)

नैतत्पूर्वैः कृतं त्वद्ये न करिष्यन्ति चापरे । यस्त्वं दुहितरं गच्छेरनिगृह्याङ्गजं प्रभुः ॥ ३० ॥

naitat pūrvaiḥ kṛtaṁ tvad ye na kariṣyanti cāpare yas tvaṁ duhitaraṁ gaccher anigṛhyāṅgajaṁ prabhuḥ

This is a thing never done by earlier creators before you, nor will others do it hereafter — that you, our father, unable to restrain your own desire, should approach your own daughter.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.3.12.31)

तेजीयसामपि ह्येतन्न सुश्लोक्यं जगद्गुरो । यद्वृत्तमनुतिष्ठन् वै लोकः क्षेमाय कल्पते ॥ ३१ ॥

tejīyasām api hy etan na suślokyaṁ jagad-guro yad-vṛttam anutiṣṭhan vai lokaḥ kṣemāya kalpate

Even for the most powerful, such conduct is not commendable, O spiritual master of the universe; for it is by following whose character that the world becomes fit for its own well-being.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.3.12.32)

तस्मै नमो भगवते य इदं स्वेन रोचिषा । आत्मस्थं व्यञ्जयामास स धर्मं पातुमर्हति ॥ ३२ ॥

tasmai namo bhagavate ya idaṁ svena rociṣā ātma-sthaṁ vyañjayām āsa sa dharmaṁ pātum arhati

Obeisances unto that Personality of Godhead who, by His own effulgence, has manifested this universe, situated within Himself; may He alone be fit to protect dharma.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.3.12.33)

स इत्थं गृणतः पुत्रान् पुरो दृष्ट्वा प्रजापतीन् । प्रजापतिपतिस्तन्वं तत्याज व्रीडितस्तदा । तां दिशो जगृहुर्घोरां नीहारं यद्विदुस्तमः ॥ ३३ ॥

sa itthaṁ gṛṇataḥ putrān puro dṛṣṭvā prajāpatīn prajāpati-patis tanvaṁ tatyāja vrīḍitas tadā tāṁ diśo jagṛhur ghorāṁ nīhāraṁ yad vidus tamaḥ

Hearing his sons speak thus, and seeing before him all the progenitors of beings, Brahmā, the father of all Prajāpatis, ashamed, then abandoned that body; and the directions took hold of it as a terrible fog, which they know as darkness.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.3.12.34)

कदाचिद् ध्यायतः स्रष्टुर्वेदा आसंश्चतुर्मुखात् । कथं स्रक्ष्याम्यहं लोकान् समवेतान् यथा पुरा ॥ ३४ ॥

kadācid dhyāyataḥ sraṣṭur vedā āsaṁś catur-mukhāt kathaṁ srakṣyāmy ahaṁ lokān samavetān yathā purā

Once, while the creator was meditating, the Vedas became manifest from his four mouths, and he thought: How shall I now create the worlds just as they existed before?

Verse 35 (bhagavata.3.12.35)

चातुर्होत्रं कर्मतन्त्रमुपवेदनयैः सह । धर्मस्य पादाश्चत्वारस्तथैवाश्रमवृत्तयः ॥ ३५ ॥

cātur-hotraṁ karma-tantram upaveda-nayaiḥ saha dharmasya pādāś catvāras tathaivāśrama-vṛttayaḥ

The fourfold sacrificial system, the practical expansions of action along with the logical conclusions supplementary to the Vedas, the four legs of religion, and likewise the occupations of the āśramas —

Verse 36 (bhagavata.3.12.36)

विदुर उवाच स वै विश्वसृजामीशो वेदादीन् मुखतोऽसृजत् । यद् यद् येनासृजद् देवस्तन्मे ब्रूहि तपोधन ॥ ३६ ॥

vidura uvāca sa vai viśva-sṛjām īśo vedādīn mukhato ’sṛjat yad yad yenāsṛjad devas tan me brūhi tapo-dhana

Vidura said: Please tell me, O sage whose only wealth is penance, exactly what and by which mouth that lord of all creators created the Vedas and the rest.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.3.12.37)

मैत्रेय उवाच ऋग्यजुःसामाथर्वाख्यान् वेदान् पूर्वादिभिर्मुखैः । शास्त्रमिज्यां स्तुतिस्तोमं प्रायश्चित्तं व्यधात्क्रमात् ॥ ३७ ॥

maitreya uvāca ṛg-yajuḥ-sāmātharvākhyān vedān pūrvādibhir mukhaiḥ śāstram ijyāṁ stuti-stomaṁ prāyaścittaṁ vyadhāt kramāt

Maitreya said: In order, from his front and other mouths, he established the Vedas known as Ṛg, Yajur, Sāma and Atharva, along with the scriptures, sacrificial rites, hymns of praise, and rites of atonement.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.3.12.38)

आयुर्वेदं धनुर्वेदं गान्धर्वं वेदमात्मनः । स्थापत्यं चासृजद् वेदं क्रमात्पूर्वादिभिर्मुखैः ॥ ३८ ॥

āyur-vedaṁ dhanur-vedaṁ gāndharvaṁ vedam ātmanaḥ sthāpatyaṁ cāsṛjad vedaṁ kramāt pūrvādibhir mukhaiḥ

In order, from his front and other mouths, he also created Āyurveda, Dhanurveda, the Gāndharva Veda (the art of music), and the Sthāpatya Veda (the science of architecture).

Verse 39 (bhagavata.3.12.39)

इतिहासपुराणानि पञ्चमं वेदमीश्वरः । सर्वेभ्य एव वक्त्रेभ्यः ससृजे सर्वदर्शनः ॥ ३९ ॥

itihāsa-purāṇāni pañcamaṁ vedam īśvaraḥ sarvebhya eva vaktrebhyaḥ sasṛje sarva-darśanaḥ

The all-seeing Lord created the histories and the Purāṇas, the fifth Veda, from all of his mouths together.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.3.12.40)

षोडश्युक्थौ पूर्ववक्त्रात्पुरीष्यग्निष्टुतावथ । आप्तोर्यामातिरात्रौ च वाजपेयं सगोसवम् ॥ ४० ॥

ṣoḍaśy-ukthau pūrva-vaktrāt purīṣy-agniṣṭutāv atha āptoryāmātirātrau ca vājapeyaṁ sagosavam

From his eastern mouth came the Ṣoḍaśī and Uktha sacrifices; then the Purīṣi and Agniṣṭoma; the Āptoryāma and Atirātra; and the Vājapeya and Gosava.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.3.12.41)

विद्या दानं तपः सत्यं धर्मस्येति पदानि च । आश्रमांश्च यथासंख्यमसृजत्सह वृत्तिभिः ॥ ४१ ॥

vidyā dānaṁ tapaḥ satyaṁ dharmasyeti padāni ca āśramāṁś ca yathā-saṅkhyam asṛjat saha vṛttibhiḥ

Knowledge, charity, penance and truth — these four legs of religion — and likewise the āśramas, in their proper number, together with their respective vocations, he created.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.3.12.42)

सावित्रं प्राजापत्यं च ब्राह्मं चाथ बृहत्तथा । वार्तासञ्चयशालीनशिलोञ्छ इति वै गृहे ॥ ४२ ॥

sāvitraṁ prājāpatyaṁ ca brāhmaṁ cātha bṛhat tathā vārtā sañcaya-śālīna- śiloñcha iti vai gṛhe

The thread ceremony, the vow of the Prājāpatya order, the acceptance of Vedic study, and complete celibacy — as also, in household life, livelihood by lawful vocation, by gathered stock, by unsought gain, and by gleaning scattered grain.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.3.12.43)

वैखानसा वालखिल्यौदुम्बराः फेनपा वने । न्यासे कुटीचकः पूर्वं बह्वोदो हंसनिष्क्रियौ ॥ ४३ ॥

vaikhānasā vālakhilyau- dumbarāḥ phenapā vane nyāse kuṭīcakaḥ pūrvaṁ bahvodo haṁsa-niṣkriyau

The vānaprastha orders — vaikhānasa, vālakhilya, audumbara and phenapa, living in the forest; and in the renounced order — kuṭīcaka first, then bahvoda, haṁsa and niṣkriya.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.3.12.44)

आन्वीक्षिकी त्रयी वार्ता दण्डनीतिस्तथैव च । एवं व्याहृतयश्वासन् प्रणवो ह्यस्य दहृतः ॥ ४४ ॥

ānvīkṣikī trayī vārtā daṇḍa-nītis tathaiva ca evaṁ vyāhṛtayaś cāsan praṇavo hy asya dahrataḥ

Logic, the threefold goal of religion, economy and salvation, sense-livelihood, and the codes of law and order — thus, likewise, came into being the celebrated hymns bhūḥ, bhuvaḥ and svaḥ, and the praṇava (Oṁ) too, from the depths of his heart.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.3.12.45)

तस्योष्णिगासील्लोमभ्यो गायत्री च त्वचो विभोः । त्रिष्टुम्मांसात्स्नुतोऽनुष्टुब्जगत्यस्थ्नः प्रजापतेः ॥ ४५ ॥

tasyoṣṇig āsīl lomabhyo gāyatrī ca tvaco vibhoḥ triṣṭum māṁsāt snuto ’nuṣṭub jagaty asthnaḥ prajāpateḥ

From his body hairs arose the Uṣṇik meter; from the skin of that mighty one, the Gāyatrī; from his flesh, the Triṣṭup; from his sinews, the Anuṣṭup; and from the bones of Prajāpati, the Jagatī.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.3.12.46)

मज्जायाः पङ्क्तिरुत्पन्ना बृहती प्राणतोऽभवत् ॥ ४६ ॥

majjāyāḥ paṅktir utpannā bṛhatī prāṇato ’bhavat

From his marrow arose the Paṅkti meter, and from his life-breath was generated the Bṛhatī.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.3.12.47)

स्पर्शस्तस्याभवज्जीवः स्वरो देह उदाहृत । ऊष्माणमिन्द्रियाण्याहुरन्तःस्था बलमात्मनः । स्वराः सप्त विहारेण भवन्ति स्म प्रजापतेः ॥ ४७ ॥

sparśas tasyābhavaj jīvaḥ svaro deha udāhṛta ūṣmāṇam indriyāṇy āhur antaḥ-sthā balam ātmanaḥ svarāḥ sapta vihāreṇa bhavanti sma prajāpateḥ

The set of consonants became his soul; the vowels are said to be his body; the sibilants and 'ha' are called his senses; and the semivowels his inner strength — thus the seven musical notes came into being through the sportive activity of Prajāpati.

Verse 48 (bhagavata.3.12.48)

शब्दब्रह्मात्मनस्तस्य व्यक्ताव्यक्तात्मनः परः । ब्रह्मावभाति विततो नानाशक्त्युपबृंहितः ॥ ४८ ॥

śabda-brahmātmanas tasya vyaktāvyaktātmanaḥ paraḥ brahmāvabhāti vitato nānā-śakty-upabṛṁhitaḥ

That transcendental sound (śabda-brahma), belonging to Him whose self is both manifest and unmanifest, transcendent, shines forth fully expanded, invested with manifold potencies.

Verse 49 (bhagavata.3.12.49)

ततोऽपरामुपादाय स सर्गाय मनो दधे ॥ ४९ ॥

tato ’parām upādāya sa sargāya mano dadhe

Thereafter, accepting yet another form, he turned his mind to the matter of creation.

Verse 50 (bhagavata.3.12.50)

ऋषीणां भूरिवीर्याणामपि सर्गमविस्तृतम् । ज्ञात्वा तद्धृदये भूयश्चिन्तयामास कौरव ॥ ५० ॥

ṛṣīṇāṁ bhūri-vīryāṇām api sargam avistṛtam jñātvā tad dhṛdaye bhūyaś cintayām āsa kaurava

Knowing, O descendant of Kuru, that the creation had not spread forth even through the great sages of immense power, he pondered once more within his heart.

Verse 51 (bhagavata.3.12.51)

अहो अद्भुतमेतन्मे व्यापृतस्यापि नित्यदा । न ह्येधन्ते प्रजा नूनं दैवमत्र विघातकम् ॥ ५१ ॥

aho adbhutam etan me vyāpṛtasyāpi nityadā na hy edhante prajā nūnaṁ daivam atra vighātakam

Alas, how wondrous this is — that though I am ever engaged in this task, living beings still do not multiply; surely some divine obstruction stands in the way here.

Verse 52 (bhagavata.3.12.52)

एवं युक्तकृतस्तस्य दैवञ्चावेक्षतस्तदा । कस्य रूपमभूद् द्वेधा यत्कायमभिचक्षते ॥ ५२ ॥

evaṁ yukta-kṛtas tasya daivaṁ cāvekṣatas tadā kasya rūpam abhūd dvedhā yat kāyam abhicakṣate

Thus, while he pondered and reflected upon this divine power, his form at that time became twofold, which is spoken of as his body.

Verse 53 (bhagavata.3.12.53)

ताभ्यां रूपविभागाभ्यां मिथुनं समपद्यत ॥ ५३ ॥

tābhyāṁ rūpa-vibhāgābhyāṁ mithunaṁ samapadyata

By that division of form, a union of male and female came about.

Verse 54 (bhagavata.3.12.54)

यस्तु तत्र पुमान् सोऽभून्मनुः स्वायम्भुवः स्वराट् । स्त्री याऽसीच्छतरूपाख्या महिष्यस्य महात्मनः ॥ ५४ ॥

yas tu tatra pumān so ’bhūn manuḥ svāyambhuvaḥ svarāṭ strī yāsīc chatarūpākhyā mahiṣy asya mahātmanaḥ

The one who was there the male became Svāyambhuva Manu, the sovereign; and the woman who was there was known as Śatarūpā, the queen of that great soul.

Verse 55 (bhagavata.3.12.55)

तदा मिथुनधर्मेण प्रजा ह्येधाम्बभूविरे ॥ ५५ ॥

tadā mithuna-dharmeṇa prajā hy edhām babhūvire

Then, through the union of that pair, according to the regulative principles, progeny began steadily to increase.

Verse 56 (bhagavata.3.12.56)

स चापि शतरूपायां पञ्चापत्यान्यजीजनत् । प्रियव्रतोत्तानपादौ तिस्रः कन्याश्च भारत । आकूतिर्देवहूतिश्च प्रसूतिरिति सत्तम ॥ ५६ ॥

sa cāpi śatarūpāyāṁ pañcāpatyāny ajījanat priyavratottānapādau tisraḥ kanyāś ca bhārata ākūtir devahūtiś ca prasūtir iti sattama

He begot five children by Śatarūpā: Priyavrata and Uttānapāda, and, O descendant of Bharata, three daughters — Ākūti, Devahūti and Prasūti, O best of the pure.

Verse 57 (bhagavata.3.12.57)

आकूतिं रुचये प्रादात्कर्दमाय तु मध्यमाम् । दक्षायादात्प्रसूतिं च यत आपूरितं जगत् ॥ ५७ ॥

ākūtiṁ rucaye prādāt kardamāya tu madhyamām dakṣāyādāt prasūtiṁ ca yata āpūritaṁ jagat

He gave Ākūti to the sage Ruci, and the middle daughter, Devahūti, to Kardama; and Prasūti he gave to Dakṣa, from whom the world became filled with progeny.