Text: ॐ आत्मा वा इदमेक एवाग्र आसीन्नान्यत्किंचन मिषत् । स ईक्षत लोकान्नु सृजा इति ॥ १ ॥ (All) this was only one A’tman at first. There was nothing else active. He thought He thought I shall create worlds. Shankara’s Commentary: A’tman is from the root which means ’to obtain;’ ’to eat,’ or ’to enjoy;’ or ’to pervade all.' The A’tman is the highest, omniscient, omnipotent, devoid of all the attributes of Samsûra, such as hunger etc....
Text: स इमाँ ल्लोकानसृजत । अम्भो मरीचीर्मापोऽदोऽम्भः परेण दिवं द्यौः प्रतिष्ठाऽन्तरिक्षं मरीचयः ॥ पृथिवी मरो या अधस्तात्त आपः ॥ २ ॥ He created these worlds-Ambhah, Marichih, Maram and A’pah; the Ambhah beyond the Dyuloka, its support; Marichayah (rays) being the Anta-riksha; Mara, the earth and below the earth the waters (âpah). Shankara’s Commentary: Having thus thought over, he, the Atman, created these worlds. Just as an intelligent carpenter etc., constructs palaces etc....
Text: स ईक्षतेमे नु लोका लोकपालान्नु सृजा इति ॥ सोऽद्भ्य एव पुरुषं समुद्धृत्यामूर्छयत् ॥ ३ ॥ He thought "These indeed are the are the worlds; I shall create the protectors of the worlds." He gathered the Purusha from out of the waters only and fashioned him. Shankara’s Commentary: Having thus created the four worlds, the places where all living beings were to enjoy the fruits of their action, He, the Lord, thought again, Indeed these worlds, Ambhas etc....
Text: तमभ्यतपत्तस्याभितप्तस्य मुखं निरभिद्यत यथाऽण्डं मुखाद्वाग्वाचोऽग्निर्नासिके निरभिद्येतं नासिकाभ्यां प्राणः ॥ प्राणाद्वायुरक्षिणी निरभिद्येतमक्षीभ्यां चक्षुश्चक्षुष आदित्यः कर्णौ निरभिद्येतां कर्णाभ्यां श्रोत्रं श्रोत्रद्दिशस्त्वङ्निरभिद्यत त्वचो लोमानि लोमभ्य ओषधिवनस्पतयो हृदयं निरभिद्यत हृदयान्मनो मनसश्चन्द्रमा नाभिर्निरभिद्यत नाभ्या अपानोऽपानान्मृत्युः शिश्नं निरभिद्यत शिश्नाद्रेतो रेतस आपः ॥ ४ ॥ He brooded over him. Of him so brooded over, the mouth came forth, just as is the case with an egg when it is hatched; from his mouth, speech ; and from speech, fire....