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May my speech be established in my mind; may my mind be established in my speech. O Self-luminous Divine, reveal Thyself to me. May you both referring to speech and mind be the carriers original: "anisthah"; literally the two pins of an axle that keep the wheels of knowledge moving of the Veda the sacred knowledge of the scriptures to me. May what I have heard not depart from me. I shall join together day and night through this study. I shall speak of the Divine Law original: "rtam"; the inherent order of the universe; I shall speak of the Truth.
May That protect me; may That protect the speaker. May It protect me; may It protect the speaker—protect the speaker.
In the beginning, this universe was the Atman the Supreme Self or Soul alone. There was nothing else whatsoever that winked original: "mishat"; refers to any living or moving thing. He thought: "Let me now create the worlds." 1
He created these worlds: Ambhas the celestial waters beyond the sky, Marici the region of light or the atmosphere, Mara the earth, the realm of mortals, and Apas the subterranean waters. That which is beyond the heavens is Ambhas; the heavens are its support. The atmosphere is Marici. The earth is Mara. The waters that are below it are Apas. 2
He thought: "Here are the worlds. Let me now create the guardians of the worlds." From the waters alone, He drew forth the Purusha the Primal Person or Cosmic Man and gave him a form. 3
He brooded over him original: "abhyatapat"; performing a creative heat or intense contemplation. From him, thus brooded over, the mouth burst forth, like an egg. From the mouth came speech; from speech came Agni Fire. The nostrils burst forth; from the nostrils came the breath; from the breath came Vayu the Air. The eyes burst forth; from the eyes came sight; from sight came Aditya the Sun. The ears burst forth; from the ears came hearing; from hearing came the Quarters of Space. The skin burst forth; from the skin came hairs; from the hairs came herbs and trees. The heart burst forth; from the heart came the mind; from the mind came the Moon. The navel burst forth; from the navel came the Apana the downward-pulling life breath; from the Apana came Death. The virile member burst forth; from the member came seed; from the seed came the Waters. 4
These deities, having been created, fell into this great ocean referring to the vast sea of worldly existence. He [the Creator] subjected them to hunger and thirst. They said to Him: "Command for us a dwelling place where we may be established and eat food." 1
He brought a cow to them. They said: "Indeed, this is not sufficient for us." 2