12.225
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyāsa said.
pṛthivyāṃ yāni bhūtāni jaṅgamāni dhruvāṇi ca। tānyevāgre pralīyante bhūmitvamupayānti ca ॥12-225-1॥
All beings, both moving and stationary, that exist on the earth, in the end, are dissolved and attain the state of earth.
tataḥ pralīne sarvasmin sthāvare jaṅgame tathā। akāṣṭhā nistṛṇā bhūmir dṛśyate kūrmapṛṣṭhavat ॥12-225-2॥
Then, after everything movable and immovable has dissolved, the earth, devoid of wood and grass, appears like the back of a tortoise.
bhūmer api guṇaṃ gandham āpa ādadate yadā। āttagandhā tadā bhūmiḥ pralayatvāya kalpate ॥12-225-3॥
When the earth's essential quality, fragrance, is completely taken away, then the earth is ready for dissolution.
āpastataḥ pratiṣṭhanti ūrmi-matyo mahā-svanāḥ। sarvam evedam āpūrya tiṣṭhanti ca caranti ca ॥12-225-4॥
The waters from there, full of waves and great sound, fill all this and both remain and move about.
apām api guṇāṃs tāta jyotir ādadate yadā। āpas tadā āttaguṇā jyotiṣy uparamanti ca॥12-225-5॥
O dear, when light takes on the qualities of water, then the waters, having acquired those qualities, cease in the light.
yadādityaṃ sthitaṃ madhye gūhanti śikhino'rciṣaḥ। sarvamevedamarcirbhiḥ pūrṇaṃ jājvalyate nabhaḥ ॥12-225-6॥
The sun, which is situated in the middle, is concealed by the flames of its rays; yet, all this is indeed filled, and the sky blazes with those rays.
jyotiṣo'pi guṇaṃ rūpaṃ vāyurādadate yadā। praśāmyati tadā jyotirvāyurdodhūyate mahān ॥12-225-7॥
Even the wind takes on the qualities and form of the light; when the wind subsides, then the great light is stirred by the wind.
tatastu mūlam āsādya vāyuḥ sambhavam ātmanaḥ। adhaścordhvaṃ ca tiryak ca dodhavīti diśo daśa ॥12-225-8॥
Then, having reached the root, the wind, which is the origin of itself, moves about in the ten directions—downward, upward, and across.
vāyor api guṇaṃ sparśam ākāśaṃ grasate yadā। praśāmyati tadā vāyuḥ khaṃ tu tiṣṭhati nānadat ॥12-225-9॥
When space absorbs even the quality of wind, namely touch, and the wind subsides, then the wind remains in space but does not make any sound.
ākāśasya guṇaṃ śabdam abhivyaktātmakaṃ manaḥ। manaso vyaktam avyaktaṃ brāhmaḥ sa pratisañcaraḥ ॥12-225-10॥
The quality of space is sound; the mind is characterized by manifestation. For the mind, both the manifest and the unmanifest pertain to Brahman; this is the process of reabsorption.
tad-ātma-guṇam-āviśya mano grasati candramāḥ। manasy-uparate'dhyātmā candramasy-avatiṣṭhate ॥12-225-11॥
The self, having assumed the quality, the mind perceives the moon. When the mind ceases, the inner self remains as the essence of the moon.
taṃ tu kālena mahatā saṅkalpaḥ kurute vaśe। cittaṃ grasati saṅkalpastacca jñānam anuttamam ॥12-225-12॥
But over time, resolve brings him under control. Resolve devours the mind and even that unsurpassed knowledge.
kālo girati vijñānaṃ kālo balamiti śrutiḥ। balaṃ kālo grasati tu taṃ vidvānkurute vaśe ॥12-225-13॥
Scripture says: Time destroys knowledge and strength. Time devours strength, but a wise man brings time under his control.
ākāśasya tadā ghoṣaṃ taṃ vidvān kurute''tmani. tadavyaktaṃ paraṃ brahma tacchāśvatamanuttamam ॥ evaṃ sarvāṇi bhūtāni brahmaiva pratisañcaraḥ ॥12-225-14॥
The wise perceive the sound of space within themselves; that is the unmanifest, supreme, eternal, unsurpassed Brahman. Thus, all beings ultimately merge back into Brahman.
yathāvatkīrtitaṃ samyagevametadasaṃśayam। bodhyaṃ vidyāmayaṃ dṛṣṭvā yogibhiḥ paramātmabhiḥ ॥12-225-15॥
As it has been properly declared, this is undoubtedly so; having realized the essence of knowledge, it is to be understood by yogis who are supreme selves.
evaṃ vistārasaṅkṣepau brahmāvyakte punaḥ punaḥ। yugasāhasrayorādāvahno rātryāstathaiva ca ॥12-225-16॥
Thus, expansion and contraction repeatedly occur in Brahman, the unmanifest, at the beginning of a thousand yugas, both at the start of the day and of the night, in the same manner.
