Creation

I come to the palace of the creator. I am the glory of the brahmins, the glory of the kings, and the glory of the commoners. I wish to attain that glory. I am the glory of all glories. May I never go to the place of suffering.

This world is an illusion of colors and sounds, a false display created by the tricks of Maya, the mind, and the senses.

Just as a spider spins and then withdraws its web, just as plants grow forth from the earth, just as hair and bodily hair spring from a living person—so does this entire universe emerge from the imperishable Brahman.

This is that truth: just as from a blazing fire thousands of sparks of the same nature leap forth, so too do countless beings and forms arise from the imperishable Brahman—and return to it there.

He arrived at the final knowing: 'Bliss is Brahman.' For from bliss alone all these beings are born; by bliss they are held in life; and into bliss they dissolve at the last. This is the wisdom of Bhṛgu, the son of Varuṇa — knowledge established in the highest expanse of being. Whoever knows this becomes firm and unshakeable. One becomes the possessor of food and the enjoyer of food. One grows great in offspring, in animals, in the luminosity of sacred knowledge, and great in renown.

Om. The knower of Brahman reaches the highest. On this has been declared: Brahman is truth, knowledge, and infinity. Whoever discerns it hidden in the cave of the heart, in the supreme expanse, that one enjoys together with the all-knowing Brahman all desires fulfilled. From that very Self arose space, from space arose wind, from wind fire, from fire water, from water earth, from earth plants, from plants food, from food the human being. This being is indeed made of the essence of food. Its head is this, its right wing is this, its left wing is this, this is its body, this its tail and support. On this a verse is sung.

Know that Prakriti is maya, and the great Lord is the wielder of maya. The entire universe is pervaded by His parts.

This is the lord of all. This is the knower of all. This is the inner controller. This is the womb of all. Verily, this is the origin and dissolution of all beings.

There exists no being on earth, nor among the gods in the heavens, that is free from these three qualities born of nature.

The Blessed Lord said: They speak of an eternal Ashvattha tree whose roots are above and branches below, whose leaves are the Vedic hymns. One who knows this tree knows the Vedas.

Know this, O best of Bharatas — whatever being is born, whether stationary or moving, it arises from the union of the field and the knower of the field.

And whatever is the seed of all beings — that too am I, O Arjuna; there is no being, moving or unmoving, that could exist without Me.

I am the source of all; everything proceeds from Me — knowing this, the wise worship Me, filled with deep feeling.

Just as the great and all-pervading wind ever dwells in space, so understand that all beings dwell in Me.

By Me, whose form is unmanifest, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings rest in Me, yet I do not abide in them.

Know that whatever states are sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic — all arise from Me alone. Yet I am not in them; they are in Me.

Understand that all beings have their source in these two natures. I am the origin of this entire universe, and likewise its dissolution.

This is My lower nature. Know, O mighty-armed one, that beyond this is My higher nature — the life-principle itself, by which this entire universe is upheld.

Earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect, and ego — this is My lower nature, divided eightfold.

The fourfold order of society was created by Me according to the division of qualities and actions. Though I am its creator, know Me to be the imperishable non-doer.