The Nine Creations

Verse 1 (vishnu.1.5.1)

श्रीमैत्रेय उवाच । यथा ससर्ज देवोऽसौ देवर्षिपितृदानवान् । मनुष्यतिर्यग्वृक्षादीन् भूव्योमसलिलौकसः

śrīmaitreya uvāca yathā sasarja devo 'sau devarṣipitṛdānavān manuṣyatiryagvṛkṣādīn bhūvyomasalilaukasaḥ

Shri Maitreya said: Tell me how that god created the gods, sages, ancestors, and danavas; men, animals, trees and the rest — those dwelling on earth, in the sky, and in the waters.

Verse 2 (vishnu.1.5.2)

यद्गुणं यत्स्वभावं च यद्रूपं च जगद् द्विज । सर्गादौ सृष्टवान् ब्रह्मा तन् ममाचक्ष्व विस्तरात्

yadguṇaṁ yatsvabhāvaṁ ca yadrūpaṁ ca jagad dvija sargādau sṛṣṭavān brahmā tan mamācakṣva vistarāt

O twice-born, with what qualities, what nature, and what forms Brahma created the world at the beginning of creation — tell me that in detail.

Verse 3 (vishnu.1.5.3)

श्रीपराशर उवाच । मैत्रेय कथयाम्य् एष शृणुष्व सुसमाहितः । यथा ससर्ज देवोऽसौ देवादीन् अखिलान् विभुः

śrīparāśara uvāca maitreya kathayāmy eṣa śṛṇuṣva susamāhitaḥ yathā sasarja devo 'sau devādīn akhilān vibhuḥ

Shri Parashara said: O Maitreya, I shall tell you; listen attentively, how that all-pervading god created all the gods and the rest.

Verse 4 (vishnu.1.5.4)

सृष्टिं चिन्तयतस् तस्य कल्पादिषु यथा पुरा । अबुद्धिपूर्वकः सर्गः प्रादुर्भूतस् तमोमयः

sṛṣṭiṁ cintayatas tasya kalpādiṣu yathā purā abuddhipūrvakaḥ sargaḥ prādurbhūtas tamomayaḥ

As he, that Lord, contemplated creation at the beginning of the kalpa, just as before, there first arose an unintelligent creation, consisting of darkness (tamas).

Verse 5 (vishnu.1.5.5)

तमो मोहो महामोहस् तामिस्रो ह्य् अन्धसंज्ञितः । अविद्या पञ्चपर्वैषा प्रादुर्भूता महात्मनः

tamo moho mahāmohas tāmisro hy andhasaṁjñitaḥ avidyā pañcaparvaiṣā prādurbhūtā mahātmanaḥ

Tamas, Moha, Mahamoha, and that called Andha-tamisra — this fivefold ignorance (avidya) arose from that great being.

Verse 6 (vishnu.1.5.6)

पञ्चधावस्थितः सर्गो ध्यायतोऽप्रतिबोधवान् । बहिर् अन्तश् चाप्रकाशः संवृतात्मा नगात्मकः

pañcadhāvasthitaḥ sargo dhyāyato 'pratibodhavān bahir antaś cāprakāśaḥ saṁvṛtātmā nagātmakaḥ

This creation, existing in five forms, was without any capacity for awakening; unillumined both outwardly and inwardly, self-enclosed, consisting of immobile beings such as trees.

Verse 7 (vishnu.1.5.7)

मुख्या नगा यतश् चोक्ता मुख्यसर्गस् ततस् त्व् अयम्

mukhyā nagā yataś coktā mukhyasargas tatas tv ayam

Since these immobile beings, the trees, are called 'mukhya' (chief), this creation is therefore called the 'mukhya sarga' (chief creation).

Verse 8 (vishnu.1.5.8)

तं दृष्ट्वासाधकं सर्गम् अमन्यद् अपरं पुनः

taṁ dṛṣṭvāsādhakaṁ sargam amanyad aparaṁ punaḥ

Seeing that this creation was ineffective, he then contemplated yet another.

Verse 9 (vishnu.1.5.9)

तस्याभिध्यायतः सर्गं तिर्यक्स्रोतोऽभ्यवर्तत । यस्मात् तिर्यक्प्रवृत्तः स तिर्यक्स्रोतस् ततः स्मृतः

tasyābhidhyāyataḥ sargaṁ tiryaksroto 'bhyavartata yasmāt tiryakpravṛttaḥ sa tiryaksrotas tataḥ smṛtaḥ

As he meditated upon that creation, the 'Tiryaksrota' (sideways-flowing) creation arose; because its tendency runs obliquely, it is remembered as Tiryaksrotas.

Verse 10 (vishnu.1.5.10)

पश्वादयस् ते विख्यातास् तमःप्राया ह्य् अवेदिनः । उत्पथग्राहिणश् चैव तेऽज्ञाने ज्ञानमानिनः

paśvādayas te vikhyātās tamaḥprāyā hy avedinaḥ utpathagrāhiṇaś caiva te 'jñāne jñānamāninaḥ

These, known as animals and the rest, are mostly filled with tamas, without true knowledge; they follow wrong paths, and, though ignorant, believe themselves knowing.

Verse 11 (vishnu.1.5.11)

अहंकृता अहंमाना अष्टाविंशद्वधात्मकाः । अन्तःप्रकाशास् ते सर्वे आवृताश् च परस्परम्

ahaṁkṛtā ahaṁmānā aṣṭāviṁśadvadhātmakāḥ antaḥprakāśās te sarve āvṛtāś ca parasparam

Possessed of self-conceit and false pride, marked by twenty-eight kinds of disability — all of them are inwardly conscious, yet mutually enveloped in ignorance.

Verse 12 (vishnu.1.5.12)

तम् अप्य् असाधकं मत्वा ध्यायतोऽन्यस् ततोऽभवत् । ऊर्ध्वस्रोतस् तृतीयस् तु सात्त्विकोर्ध्वम् अवर्तत

tam apy asādhakaṁ matvā dhyāyato 'nyas tato 'bhavat ūrdhvasrotas tṛtīyas tu sāttvikordhvam avartata

Considering that too ineffective, he then contemplated yet another; the third, called Urdhvasrotas, sattvic and upward-tending, then came into being.

Verse 13 (vishnu.1.5.13)

ते सुखप्रीतिबहुला बहिर् अन्तश् च नावृताः । प्रकाशा बहिर् अन्तश् च ऊर्ध्वस्रोतोद्भवाः स्मृताः

te sukhaprītibahulā bahir antaś ca nāvṛtāḥ prakāśā bahir antaś ca ūrdhvasrotodbhavāḥ smṛtāḥ

Abounding in happiness and love, unobstructed both outwardly and inwardly, luminous both outwardly and inwardly — these are remembered as arising from the Urdhvasrotas.

Verse 14 (vishnu.1.5.14)

तुष्ट्यात्मकस् तृतीयस् तु देवसर्गस् तु स स्मृतः । तस्मिन् सर्गेऽभवत् प्रीतिर् निष्पन्ने ब्रह्मणस् तथा

tuṣṭyātmakas tṛtīyas tu devasargas tu sa smṛtaḥ tasmin sarge 'bhavat prītir niṣpanne brahmaṇas tathā

This third creation, consisting essentially of contentment, is known as the divine creation; when it was accomplished, satisfaction arose in Brahma.

Verse 15 (vishnu.1.5.15)

ततोऽन्यं स तदा दध्यौ साधकं सर्गम् उत्तमम् । असाधकांस् तु ताञ् ज्ञात्वा मुख्यसर्गादिसंभवान्

tato 'nyaṁ sa tadā dadhyau sādhakaṁ sargam uttamam asādhakāṁs tu tāñ jñātvā mukhyasargādisaṁbhavān

Knowing those creations, arising from the Mukhya creation onward, to be ineffective, he then contemplated another, superior, effective creation.

Verse 16 (vishnu.1.5.16)

तथाभिध्यायतस् तस्य सत्याभिध्यायिनस् ततः । प्रादुर्भूतस् तदाव्यक्ताद् अर्वाक्स्रोतस् तु साधकः

tathābhidhyāyatas tasya satyābhidhyāyinas tataḥ prādurbhūtas tadāvyaktād arvāksrotas tu sādhakaḥ

As he, meditating thus, truly contemplating, from the Unmanifest there then arose the effective creation called Arvaksrota.

Verse 17 (vishnu.1.5.17)

यस्माद् अर्वाग् व्यवर्तन्त ततोऽर्वाक्स्रोतसस् तु ते । ते च प्रकाशबहुलास् तमोउद्रिक्ता रजोऽधिकाः

yasmād arvāg vyavartanta tato 'rvāksrotasas tu te te ca prakāśabahulās tamoudriktā rajo'dhikāḥ

Because they tended forward and downward, they are called those of the Arvaksrota; and they are abundant in illumination, yet also predominant in tamas and abundant in rajas.

Verse 18 (vishnu.1.5.18)

तस्मात् ते दुःखबहुला भूयो भूयश् च कारिणः । प्रकाशा बहिर् अन्तश् च मनुष्याः साधकास् तु ते

tasmāt te duḥkhabahulā bhūyo bhūyaś ca kāriṇaḥ prakāśā bahir antaś ca manuṣyāḥ sādhakās tu te

Therefore they are abundant in sorrow, acting again and again; luminous both outward and inward — these are men, the effective creation.

Verse 19 (vishnu.1.5.19)

इत्य् एते कथिताः सर्गाः षड् अत्र मुनिसत्तम । प्रथमो महतः सर्गो विज्ञेयो ब्रह्मणस् तु सः

ity ete kathitāḥ sargāḥ ṣaḍ atra munisattama prathamo mahataḥ sargo vijñeyo brahmaṇas tu saḥ

Thus, O best of sages, these six creations have been described here; of these, the first is to be understood as the creation of Mahat, belonging to Brahma.

Verse 20 (vishnu.1.5.20)

तन्मात्राणां द्वितीयश् च भूतसर्गस् तु स स्मृतः । वैकारिकस् तृतीयस् तु सर्ग ऐन्द्रियकः स्मृतः

tanmātrāṇāṁ dvitīyaś ca bhūtasargas tu sa smṛtaḥ vaikārikas tṛtīyas tu sarga aindriyakaḥ smṛtaḥ

The second is remembered as the creation of the elements, that of the Tanmatras; the third creation, the Vaikarika, is remembered as that of the senses.

Verse 21 (vishnu.1.5.21)

इत्य् एष प्राकृतः सर्गः संभूतो बुद्धिपूर्वकः । मुख्यसर्गश् चतुर्थस् तु मुख्या वै स्थावराः स्मृताः

ity eṣa prākṛtaḥ sargaḥ saṁbhūto buddhipūrvakaḥ mukhyasargaś caturthas tu mukhyā vai sthāvarāḥ smṛtāḥ

Thus this is the elemental (Prakrita) creation, which comes about preceded by intellect. The fourth is the Mukhya (chief) creation — the immobile beings are known as the 'chief' ones.

Verse 22 (vishnu.1.5.22)

पञ्चमस् तु च यः प्रोक्तस् तैर्यग्योन्यः स उच्यते । ततोर्ध्वस्रोतसां षष्ठो देवसर्गस् तु स स्मृतः

pañcamas tu ca yaḥ proktas tairyagyonyaḥ sa ucyate tatordhvasrotasāṁ ṣaṣṭho devasargas tu sa smṛtaḥ

The fifth, which is spoken of, is called Tairyagyonya, the animal creation; then the sixth, of the Urdhvasrotas, is remembered as the divine creation.

Verse 23 (vishnu.1.5.23)

ततोऽर्वाक्स्रोतसां सर्गः सप्तमः स तु मानुषः

tato 'rvāksrotasāṁ sargaḥ saptamaḥ sa tu mānuṣaḥ

And then the seventh creation, of the Arvaksrotas, is the human creation.

Verse 24 (vishnu.1.5.24)

अष्टमोऽनुग्रहः सर्गः सात्त्विकस् तामसश् च सः । पञ्चैते वैकृताः सर्गाः प्राकृतास् तु त्रयः स्मृताः

aṣṭamo 'nugrahaḥ sargaḥ sāttvikas tāmasaś ca saḥ pañcaite vaikṛtāḥ sargāḥ prākṛtās tu trayaḥ smṛtāḥ

The eighth creation is the Anugraha (derivative) creation, which is both sattvika and tamasa. These five are called the Vaikrita (secondary) creations; three are remembered as Prakrita (elemental).

Verse 25 (vishnu.1.5.25)

प्राकृतो वैकृतश् चैव कौमारो नवमः स्मृतः । इत्य् एते वै समाख्याता नव सर्गाः प्रजापतेः

prākṛto vaikṛtaś caiva kaumāro navamaḥ smṛtaḥ ity ete vai samākhyātā nava sargāḥ prajāpateḥ

The Prakrita and the Vaikrita, and the ninth, called Kaumara — thus these nine creations of Prajapati have been enumerated.

Verse 26 (vishnu.1.5.26)

प्राकृता वैकृताश् चैव जगतो मूलहेतवः । सृजतो जगदीशस्य किम् अन्यच् छ्रोतुम् इच्छसि

prākṛtā vaikṛtāś caiva jagato mūlahetavaḥ sṛjato jagadīśasya kim anyac chrotum icchasi

The Prakrita and the Vaikrita creations are the root causes of the world. Of that Lord of the world as he creates, what else do you wish to hear?

Verse 27 (vishnu.1.5.27)

श्रीमैत्रेय उवाच । संक्षेपात् कथितः सर्गो देवादीनां मुने त्वया । विस्तराच् छ्रोतुम् इच्छामि त्वत्तो मुनिवरोत्तम

śrīmaitreya uvāca saṁkṣepāt kathitaḥ sargo devādīnāṁ mune tvayā vistarāc chrotum icchāmi tvatto munivarottama

Shri Maitreya said: O sage, you have told me in brief the creation of the gods and the rest; O best of sages, I wish to hear it from you in detail.

Verse 28 (vishnu.1.5.28)

श्रीपराशर उवाच । कर्मभिर् भाविताः पूर्वैः कुशलाकुशलैस् तु ताः । ख्यात्या तया ह्य् अनिर्मुक्ताः संहारेऽप्य् उपसंहृताः

śrīparāśara uvāca karmabhir bhāvitāḥ pūrvaiḥ kuśalākuśalais tu tāḥ khyātyā tayā hy anirmuktāḥ saṁhāre 'py upasaṁhṛtāḥ

Shri Parashara said: Those beings, conditioned by their former deeds, good and bad, remain bound by that same character, and are gathered up again even at the time of dissolution.

Verse 29 (vishnu.1.5.29)

स्थावरान्ताः सुराद्यास् तु प्रजा ब्रह्मंश् चतुर्विधाः । ब्रह्मणः कुर्वतः सृष्टिं जज्ञिरे मानसास् तु ताः

sthāvarāntāḥ surādyās tu prajā brahmaṁś caturvidhāḥ brahmaṇaḥ kurvataḥ sṛṣṭiṁ jajñire mānasās tu tāḥ

O brahmin, the fourfold creatures — the gods and the rest, down to the immobile beings — were born as mind-born sons of Brahma as he engaged in creation.

Verse 30 (vishnu.1.5.30)

ततो देवासुरपितॄन् मनुष्यांश् च चतुष्टयम् । सिसृक्षुर् अम्भांस्य् एतानि स्वम् आत्मानम् अयूयुजत्

tato devāsurapitṝn manuṣyāṁś ca catuṣṭayam sisṛkṣur ambhāṁsy etāni svam ātmānam ayūyujat

Then, wishing to create the gods, asuras, ancestors, and men — these four — he yoked his own self to these waters.

Verse 31 (vishnu.1.5.31)

युक्तात्मनस् तमोमात्रा उद्रिक्ताभूत् प्रजापतेः । सिसृक्षोर् जघनात् पूर्वम् असुरा जज्ञिरे ततः

yuktātmanas tamomātrā udriktābhūt prajāpateḥ sisṛkṣor jaghanāt pūrvam asurā jajñire tataḥ

Of him, his self thus engaged, the portion of tamas became predominant in that creation-seeking Prajapati; and from his hindquarters, first, the asuras were then born.

Verse 32 (vishnu.1.5.32)

उत्ससर्ज ततस् तां तु तमोमात्रात्मिकां तनुम् । सा तु त्यक्ता ततस् तेन मैत्रेयाभूद् विभावरी

utsasarja tatas tāṁ tu tamomātrātmikāṁ tanum sā tu tyaktā tatas tena maitreyābhūd vibhāvarī

He then cast off that body, made wholly of the portion of tamas; and that, once abandoned, O Maitreya, became night.

Verse 33 (vishnu.1.5.33)

सिसृक्षुर् अन्यदेहस्थः प्रीतिम् आप ततः सुराः । सत्त्वोद्रिक्ताः समुद्भूता मुखतो ब्रह्मणो द्विज

sisṛkṣur anyadehasthaḥ prītim āpa tataḥ surāḥ sattvodriktāḥ samudbhūtā mukhato brahmaṇo dvija

Then, desiring to create further, situated in another body, he felt joy; and, O twice-born, the gods, predominant in sattva, arose from Brahma's mouth.

Verse 34 (vishnu.1.5.34)

त्यक्ता सापि तनुस् तेन सत्त्वप्रायम् अभूद् दिनम् । ततो हि बलिनो रात्राव् असुरा देवता दिवा

tyaktā sāpi tanus tena sattvaprāyam abhūd dinam tato hi balino rātrāv asurā devatā divā

That body too, once cast off by him, became largely of sattva — Day; hence the asuras are powerful at night, and the gods by day.

Verse 35 (vishnu.1.5.35)

सत्त्वमात्रात्मिकाम् एव ततोऽन्यां जगृहे तनुम् । पितृवन् मन्यमानस्य पितरस् तस्य जज्ञिरे

sattvamātrātmikām eva tato 'nyāṁ jagṛhe tanum pitṛvan manyamānasya pitaras tasya jajñire

Then he took up yet another body, consisting purely of sattva; and, regarding it as dear to him like a father, the Pitrs (ancestors) were born from it.

Verse 36 (vishnu.1.5.36)

उत्ससर्ज पितॄन् सृष्ट्वा ततस् ताम् अपि स प्रभुः । सा चोत्सृष्टाभवत् संध्या दिननक्तान्तरस्थिता

utsasarja pitṝn sṛṣṭvā tatas tām api sa prabhuḥ sā cotsṛṣṭābhavat saṁdhyā dinanaktāntarasthitā

Having created the Pitrs, that Lord then cast off that body too; and, once cast off, it became the twilight, standing between day and night.

Verse 37 (vishnu.1.5.37)

रजोमात्रात्मिकाम् अन्यां जगृहे स तनुं ततः । रजोमात्रोत्कटा जाता मनुष्या द्विजसत्तम

rajomātrātmikām anyāṁ jagṛhe sa tanuṁ tataḥ rajomātrotkaṭā jātā manuṣyā dvijasattama

Then he took up another body, consisting of the portion of rajas; and from that, O best of the twice-born, men were born, predominantly abounding in rajas.

Verse 38 (vishnu.1.5.38)

ताम् अप्य् आशु स तत्याज तनुं सद्यः प्रजापतिः । ज्योत्स्ना समभवत् सापि प्राक्संध्या याभिधीयते

tām apy āśu sa tatyāja tanuṁ sadyaḥ prajāpatiḥ jyotsnā samabhavat sāpi prāksaṁdhyā yābhidhīyate

That body too Prajapati at once abandoned; and it became moonlight, which is also called the 'former twilight.'

Verse 39 (vishnu.1.5.39)

ज्योत्स्नागमे तु बलिनो मनुष्याः पितरस् तथा । मैत्रेय संध्यासमये तस्माद् एते भवन्ति वै

jyotsnāgame tu balino manuṣyāḥ pitaras tathā maitreya saṁdhyāsamaye tasmād ete bhavanti vai

At the coming of moonlight, men grow strong, and likewise the ancestors at the time of twilight; O Maitreya, this is why it is so.

Verse 40 (vishnu.1.5.40)

ज्योत्स्ना रात्र्यहनी संध्या चत्वार्य् एतानि वै विभोः । ब्रह्मणस् तु शरीराणि त्रिगुणोपाश्रयाणि तु

jyotsnā rātryahanī saṁdhyā catvāry etāni vai vibhoḥ brahmaṇas tu śarīrāṇi triguṇopāśrayāṇi tu

Moonlight, night, day, and twilight — these four indeed are the bodies of the all-pervading Brahma, resting upon the three gunas.

Verse 41 (vishnu.1.5.41)

रजोमात्रात्मिकाम् एव ततोऽन्यां जगृहे तनुम् । ततः क्षुद् ब्रह्मणो जाता जज्ञे कोपस् तया ततः

rajomātrātmikām eva tato 'nyāṁ jagṛhe tanum tataḥ kṣud brahmaṇo jātā jajñe kopas tayā tataḥ

Then he took up yet another body, consisting purely of rajas; from that, hunger was born to Brahma, and from hunger, anger was born.

Verse 42 (vishnu.1.5.42)

क्षुत्क्षामान् अन्धकारेऽथ सोऽसृजद् भगवान् प्रभुः । विरूपाः श्मश्रुला जातास् तेऽभ्यधावन्त तं प्रभुम्

kṣutkṣāmān andhakāre 'tha so 'sṛjad bhagavān prabhuḥ virūpāḥ śmaśrulā jātās te 'bhyadhāvanta taṁ prabhum

Then, in the darkness, that blessed Lord created beings emaciated by hunger, misshapen, and bearded, who, as soon as they were born, rushed toward that Lord.

Verse 43 (vishnu.1.5.43)

मैवं भो रक्ष्यताम् एष यैर् उक्तं राक्षसास् तु ते । ऊचुः खादाम इत्य् अन्ये ये ते यक्षास् तु जक्षणात्

maivaṁ bho rakṣyatām eṣa yair uktaṁ rākṣasās tu te ūcuḥ khādāma ity anye ye te yakṣās tu jakṣaṇāt

Those who said, 'Let it not be so — let this one be protected!' became the Rakshasas; the others, who said, 'Let us devour him!' — they, from that devouring, became the Yakshas.

Verse 44 (vishnu.1.5.44)

अप्रियान् अथ तान् दृष्ट्वा केशाः शीर्यन्त वेधसः । हीनाश् च शिरसो भूयः समारोहन्त तच्छिरः

apriyān atha tān dṛṣṭvā keśāḥ śīryanta vedhasaḥ hīnāś ca śiraso bhūyaḥ samārohanta tacchiraḥ

Then, seeing them displeasing, the hairs of the Creator fell out; and, having fallen from his head, they climbed back up again upon that same head.

Verse 45 (vishnu.1.5.45)

सर्पणात् तेऽभवन् सर्पा हीनत्वाद् अहयः स्मृताः । ततः क्रुद्धो जगत्स्रष्टा क्रोधात्मानो विनिर्ममे । वर्णेन कपिशेनोग्रा भूतास् ते पिशिताशनाः

sarpaṇāt te 'bhavan sarpā hīnatvād ahayaḥ smṛtāḥ tataḥ kruddho jagatsraṣṭā krodhātmāno vinirmame varṇena kapiśenogrā bhūtās te piśitāśanāḥ

Because they crept, they became serpents; and because they had fallen, they are remembered as 'ahi' (also 'serpent'). Then the creator of the world, grown angry, fashioned beings whose very essence was wrath — fierce, tawny-coloured beings, devourers of flesh.

Verse 46 (vishnu.1.5.46)

ध्यायतोऽङ्गात् समुद्भूता गन्धर्वास् तस्य तत्क्षणात् । पिबन्तो जज्ञिरे वाचं गन्धर्वास् तेन ते द्विज

dhyāyato 'ṅgāt samudbhūtā gandharvās tasya tatkṣaṇāt pibanto jajñire vācaṁ gandharvās tena te dvija

As he meditated, Gandharvas at once arose from his limbs; because they were born imbibing speech, they, O twice-born, are called Gandharvas.

Verse 47 (vishnu.1.5.47)

एतानि सृष्ट्वा भगवान् ब्रह्मा तच्छक्तिचोदितः । ततः स्वच्छन्दतोऽन्यानि वयांसि वयसोऽसृजत्

etāni sṛṣṭvā bhagavān brahmā tacchakticoditaḥ tataḥ svacchandato 'nyāni vayāṁsi vayaso 'sṛjat

Having created these, the blessed Brahma, impelled by that same creative power, then freely created other birds from among the birds themselves.

Verse 48 (vishnu.1.5.48)

अवयो वक्षसश् चक्रे मुखतोऽजाः स सृष्टवान् । सृष्टवान् उदराद् गाश् च पार्श्वाभ्यां च प्रजापतिः

avayo vakṣasaś cakre mukhato 'jāḥ sa sṛṣṭavān sṛṣṭavān udarād gāś ca pārśvābhyāṁ ca prajāpatiḥ

From his chest he made the sheep, from his mouth the goats; and Prajapati created cattle from his belly, and from his two flanks —

Verse 49 (vishnu.1.5.49)

पद्भ्यां चाश्वान् समातङ्गान् रासभान् गवयान् मृगान् । उष्ट्रान् अश्वतरांश् चैव न्यङ्कून् अन्याश् च जातयः

padbhyāṁ cāśvān samātaṅgān rāsabhān gavayān mṛgān uṣṭrān aśvatarāṁś caiva nyaṅkūn anyāś ca jātayaḥ

and from his feet, horses, elephants, donkeys, wild oxen, deer, camels, mules, antelopes, and other species.

Verse 50 (vishnu.1.5.50)

ओषध्यः फलमूलिन्यो रोमभ्यस् तस्य जज्ञिरे । त्रेतायुगमुखे ब्रह्मा कल्पस्यादौ द्विजोत्तम । सृष्ट्वा पश्वोषधीः सम्यग् युयोज स तदाध्वरे

oṣadhyaḥ phalamūlinyo romabhyas tasya jajñire tretāyugamukhe brahmā kalpasyādau dvijottama sṛṣṭvā paśvoṣadhīḥ samyag yuyoja sa tadādhvare

Herbs bearing fruit and root sprang forth from his body-hairs. O best of the twice-born, at the beginning of the kalpa, at the dawn of the Treta age, Brahma, having created the animals and the herbs, duly yoked them to sacrifice.

Verse 51 (vishnu.1.5.51)

गौर् अजः पुरुषो मेषा अश्वाश्वतरगर्दभाः । एतान् ग्राम्यान् पशून् आहुर् आरण्यांश् च निबोध मे

gaur ajaḥ puruṣo meṣā aśvāśvataragardabhāḥ etān grāmyān paśūn āhur āraṇyāṁś ca nibodha me

The cow, the goat, man, the sheep, the horse, the mule, and the donkey — these they call the domestic animals; now hear from me of the wild ones.

Verse 52 (vishnu.1.5.52)

श्वापदो द्विखुरो हस्ती वानरः पक्षिपञ्चमाः । औदकाः पशवः षष्ठाः सप्तमास् तु सरीसृपाः

śvāpado dvikhuro hastī vānaraḥ pakṣipañcamāḥ audakāḥ paśavaḥ ṣaṣṭhāḥ saptamās tu sarīsṛpāḥ

The beast of prey, the two-hoofed, the elephant, the monkey, and birds as the fifth; aquatic creatures as the sixth, and creeping things as the seventh.

Verse 53 (vishnu.1.5.53)

गायत्रं च ऋचश् चैव त्रिवृत्साम रथन्तरम् । अग्निष्टोमं च यज्ञानां निर्ममे प्रथमान् मुखात्

gāyatraṁ ca ṛcaś caiva trivṛtsāma rathantaram agniṣṭomaṁ ca yajñānāṁ nirmame prathamān mukhāt

From his first mouth, he fashioned the Gayatri metre, the Rig-verses, the Trivrit Saman, the Rathantara chant, and the Agnishtoma among the sacrifices.

Verse 54 (vishnu.1.5.54)

यजूंषि त्रैष्टुभं छन्दः स्तोमं पञ्चदशं तथा । बृहत् साम तथोक्थं च दक्षिणाद् असृजन् मुखात्

yajūṁṣi traiṣṭubhaṁ chandaḥ stomaṁ pañcadaśaṁ tathā bṛhat sāma tathokthaṁ ca dakṣiṇād asṛjan mukhāt

From his southern mouth, he created the Yajus formulas, the Trishtubh metre, the fifteen-versed Stoma, the Brihat-saman, and the Uktha.

Verse 55 (vishnu.1.5.55)

सामानि जगतीछन्दः स्तोमं सप्तदशं तथा । वैरूपम् अतिरात्रं च पश्चिमाद् असृजन् मुखात्

sāmāni jagatīchandaḥ stomaṁ saptadaśaṁ tathā vairūpam atirātraṁ ca paścimād asṛjan mukhāt

From his western mouth, he created the Saman chants, the Jagati metre, the seventeen-versed Stoma, the Vairupa chant, and the Atiratra rite.

Verse 56 (vishnu.1.5.56)

एकविंशम् अथर्वाणम् आप्तोर्यामाणम् एव च । अनुष्टुभं स वैराजम् उत्तराद् असृजन् मुखात्

ekaviṁśam atharvāṇam āptoryāmāṇam eva ca anuṣṭubhaṁ sa vairājam uttarād asṛjan mukhāt

From his northern mouth, he created the twenty-one-versed Stoma, the Atharvan Veda, the Aptoryama rite, the Anushtubh metre, and the Vairaja chant.

Verse 57 (vishnu.1.5.57)

उच्चावचानि भूतानि गात्रेभ्यस् तस्य जज्ञिरे । देवासुरपितॄन् सृष्ट्वा मनुष्यांश् च प्रजापतिः

uccāvacāni bhūtāni gātrebhyas tasya jajñire devāsurapitṝn sṛṣṭvā manuṣyāṁś ca prajāpatiḥ

From his limbs were born beings both high and low; and having thus created the gods, asuras, ancestors, and men, that Prajapati —

Verse 58 (vishnu.1.5.58)

ततः पुनः ससर्जादौ स कल्पस्य पितामहः । यक्षान् पिशाचान् गन्धर्वान् तथैवाप्सरसां गणान्

tataḥ punaḥ sasarjādau sa kalpasya pitāmahaḥ yakṣān piśācān gandharvān tathaivāpsarasāṁ gaṇān

then, at the very beginning, that grandfather of the kalpa again created the Yakshas, Pishachas, Gandharvas, and likewise the hosts of Apsarases —

Verse 59 (vishnu.1.5.59)

नरकिंनररक्षांसि वयःपशुमृगोरगान् । अव्ययं च व्ययं चैव यद् इदं स्थाणुजङ्गमम्

narakiṁnararakṣāṁsi vayaḥpaśumṛgoragān avyayaṁ ca vyayaṁ caiva yad idaṁ sthāṇujaṅgamam

Nagas, Kinnaras, Rakshasas, birds, beasts, deer, and serpents — whatever exists here, imperishable or perishable, immobile or moving —

Verse 60 (vishnu.1.5.60)

तत् ससर्ज तदा ब्रह्मा भगवान् आदिकृद् विभुः । तेषां ये यानि कर्माणि प्राक्सृष्ट्यां प्रतिपेदिरे । तान्य् एव प्रतिपद्यन्ते सृज्यमानाः पुनः पुनः

tat sasarja tadā brahmā bhagavān ādikṛd vibhuḥ teṣāṁ ye yāni karmāṇi prāksṛṣṭyāṁ pratipedire tāny eva pratipadyante sṛjyamānāḥ punaḥ punaḥ

all of that the blessed Brahma, all-pervading, the original creator, then created; and whatever deeds each of these beings undertook in a previous creation, those same deeds they take up again, being created again and again.

Verse 61 (vishnu.1.5.61)

हिंस्राहिंस्रे मृदुक्रूरे धर्माधर्माव् ऋतानृते । तद्भाविताः प्रपद्यन्ते तस्मात् तत् तस्य रोचते

hiṁsrāhiṁsre mṛdukrūre dharmādharmāv ṛtānṛte tadbhāvitāḥ prapadyante tasmāt tat tasya rocate

Harmfulness and harmlessness, gentleness and cruelty, righteousness and unrighteousness, truth and falsehood — conditioned by these, beings proceed accordingly; therefore that tendency is pleasing to each of them.

Verse 62 (vishnu.1.5.62)

इन्द्रियार्थेषु भूतेषु शरीरेषु च स प्रभुः । नानात्वं विनियोगांश् च धातैवं व्यसृजत् स्वयम्

indriyārtheṣu bhūteṣu śarīreṣu ca sa prabhuḥ nānātvaṁ viniyogāṁś ca dhātaivaṁ vyasṛjat svayam

Among the objects of the senses, among beings, and among bodies, that Lord, the Ordainer, himself thus assigned diversity and their respective functions.

Verse 63 (vishnu.1.5.63)

नामरूपं च भूतानां कृत्यानां च प्रपञ्चनम् । वेदशब्देभ्य एवादौ देवादीनां चकार सः

nāmarūpaṁ ca bhūtānāṁ kṛtyānāṁ ca prapañcanam vedaśabdebhya evādau devādīnāṁ cakāra saḥ

And he, at the very beginning, fashioned the names and forms of beings, and the manifestation of their functions — of the gods and the rest — from the words of the Veda alone.

Verse 64 (vishnu.1.5.64)

ऋषीणां नामधेयानि यथा वेदश्रुतानि वै । यथा नियोगयोग्यानि सर्वेषाम् अपि सोऽकरोत्

ṛṣīṇāṁ nāmadheyāni yathā vedaśrutāni vai yathā niyogayogyāni sarveṣām api so 'karot

The names of the sages, exactly as heard in the Veda, and, for all beings, functions suited to their proper assignment, he likewise established.

Verse 65 (vishnu.1.5.65)

यथर्तुष्व् ऋतुलिङ्गानि नानारूपाणि पर्यये । दृश्यन्ते तानि तान्य् एव तथा भावा युगादिषु

yathartuṣv ṛtuliṅgāni nānārūpāṇi paryaye dṛśyante tāni tāny eva tathā bhāvā yugādiṣu

Just as, in the turning of the seasons, the various forms characteristic of each season are seen recurring again and again, so too do these same conditions recur at the beginnings of the ages.

Verse 66 (vishnu.1.5.66)

करोत्य् एवंविधां सृष्टिं कल्पादौ स पुनः पुनः । सिसृक्षाशक्तियुक्तोऽसौ सृज्यशक्तिप्रचोदितः

karoty evaṁvidhāṁ sṛṣṭiṁ kalpādau sa punaḥ punaḥ sisṛkṣāśaktiyukto 'sau sṛjyaśaktipracoditaḥ

In this manner he performs such creation, again and again, at the start of each kalpa — endowed with the power to desire creation, impelled by the power inherent in the things to be created.