Narayaneeyam: Dasakam: 8

Dashakam VIII

Shloka: 1

Praakrta Prakshayaante---------------------------At the end of the Praakrita-Pralaya

Aadime Braahme Kalpe Hi-------------------------in the very first kalpa known as ‘Brahma-kalpa’

Brahmaa Labdha janmaa evam taavat---------------Brahma, who came in to existence in this manner

Aapya Vedaan Bhooyah tvattah eva------------------Having got the Vedas from ‘You’ ‘Yourself’/ got the knowledge of Vedas from “You”

Chakre Srshtim---------------------------------------------Performed the function of the creation

Poorvakalpopamaanam--------------------------------in a manner comparable to that in the earlier kalpa

1.   Sarga, the elemental creation, is defined as follows

The elemental creation of sixteen principles of matter - namely the five gross elements (pancha-bhutas), the five objects of sense perception (tan-matras), the five knowledge acquiring senses (jnanendriyas) and the mind - is known as sarga."

The five gross elements (pancha-bhutas) are earth, water, fire, air and ether; the five objects of sensual perception (tan-matras) are sound, form, taste, smell, and touch; and the five knowledge acquiring senses (jnanendriyas) are the eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin. Together with the mind, these sixteen principles are created by the first purusha incarnation, Maha-Vishnu. Within these sixteen principles eight other principles exist subtly, making there a total of twenty-four principles of material existence.

2.    Visarga - the secondary creation is defined as follows

"The secondary creation by Brahma carried out through the interaction of the three modes of nature is known as visarga."

By manipulating the sixteen original principles of material existence and by the interaction of the three modes of material nature (sattva, rajas and tamas), Lord Brahma carries out a subsequent creation

At the end of a Praakrta pralaya, which lasts for 100 Brahmic years, primary creation or sarga takes place. After this, Brahma creates all beings and this is known as Visarga

Sarga takes place only after Praakrta pralaya, but Visarga takes place after every Naimittika Pralaya, when a new day in Brahma’s life begins.

Shloka: 2

Sah yam Ninnaaya bahushah ahaani-------------------------He (Brahma)/ that Brahma, having spent many times, days

Ahaani—days

Chaturyuga-Sahasra-mitaani---------------------------------- extending over a period of 1000 Chaturyugas

Taavanimitaah Rajaneeh cha------------------------------------and an equal number of nights too

Asau Nidraati Nileeya tvayi----------------------------------------he sleeps merging in “You” alone

Samam svarshtaihi --------------------------------------------------along with his own creations

Atah Asya Raatrim Aahuh ------------------------------------------therefore, his night is said to be

Naimittika-pralayam-------------------------------------------------‘Naimittika-Pralaya’

Shloka: 3

Bhavatprasaadaat sah Punah Karoti--------------------------by “Your” grace, he (Brahma) again performs

Shrshtim Anudinam ---------------------------------------------the act of creation everyday

Aharmukha-krtyatulyaam--------------------------------------like the morning duty of people like us

Api Tu Tadaa Paraayushaam-----------------------------------However, then, for those immortal ones

Praagbraahma-kalpa-janushaam------------------------------who ever born in the previous Braahma-kalpa

Shrshtihi Asti Supta-prabodhanasamaa-----------------------creation is like waking up from sleep

Brahma Days (Kalpas)A kalpa is a single daytime period in the life of Brahma, the creator god. Two kalpas are a day and a night of Brahma.Each kalpa is composed of 1,000 maha yugas. A kalpa is thus equal to 4.32 billion human years.2000 Chaturyugas= one day and night of BrahmaAt the end of Brahma's daytime period, the Three Worlds (Bhuloka, Bhuvarloka, Swarloka) and the seven underworlds (of the nagas) are temporarily dissolved (pralaya); that is, the same folks can be reincarnated when the next day of Brahma begins.The Vishnu Purana states that at the end of the daytime period of Brahma, a dreadful drought occurs that lasts 100 years, and all the waters are dried up. The sun changes into seven suns, and the three worlds (Bhurloka or Earth, Bhuvarloka or the lowest heaven, and Svarloka or the next higher heaven) and the underworlds are burned bare of life. The inhabitants of Bhuvarloka and Svarkloka flee to the next higher heaven, Maharloka, to escape the heat; and then to the next higher heaven, Janaloka.Then mighty clouds form and the three worlds are completely flooded with water. The lord Vishnu reposes on the waters in meditative rest for another whole kalpa (4.32 billion years) before renewing the creation.The destruction that takes place at the end of a daytime of Brahma is referred to as naimittika, which is incidental or occasional. The characteristic of this destruction is that the three worlds continue to exist but are made uninhabitable. The souls of individuals also continue to exist to be reincarnated in the next daytime of Brahma.Brahma YearsA year of Brahma is composed of 360 day/night cycles of Brahma, or 720 kalpas, or 8.64 billion human years.

50 years of Brahma’s life =   1 para-ardha100 years of Brahma’s life=  2 para-ardhas (para-ardha-dvaya)
Brahma LifeThe lifespan of Brahma is 100 Brahma years, or 72,000 kalpas, or 311.04 trillion human years.At the end of the life of Brahma, all worlds are completely dissolved (mahapralaya). No one is reincarnated from these worlds ever again.ManvantarasAnother cycle that overlaps the others is that of manvantaras. Each kalpa is reigned (ruled) over by a succession of 14 Manus, and the reign of each Manu is called a manvantara. A single manvantara is approximately 71 maha yugas.
"Each Manvantara is followed by a Deluge, which destroys the existings continents and swallows up all living beings, except the few who are preserved for the repeopling of the earth."Our Position in HistoryWe are located in the fifty-first Brahma year of the life of our Brahma. First fifty Brahma’s years are over (one Para-ardha). One day in Brahma’s life is called a Kalpa. So 18000 Kalpas are over. The First among them are : “Braahma Kalpa”                                                                                                          The Last one is : “Paadma Kalpa.”Within that Brahma year, we are in the first Brahma day, called the Sweta-Varaha kalpa (Lord incarnating as a boar and lifting the earth from the ocean)Within that Brahma day, we are in the seventh manvantara, and in the 28th maha yuga of that manvantara. This would place us at about the 454th maha yuga of the 1,000 maha yugas that comprise this day of Brahma.Within this maha yuga, we are in Kali Yuga. The 5100th year of Kali Yuga will correspond to the year 2,000 A.D. That means that we are fairly early in Kali Yuga and this age will continue more than 426,000 more years.

Shloka: 4

Asau Adhuna Vartate Hi------------------------- he (Brahma) has now been in existence

Ativrtya ekam Paraardham----------------------having crossed one paraardha

Panchaashadabdam Svavayo dharoopom----------which is fifty years half of his own life span

He Bhooman Kathayaami-------------------------------O infinite being, I shall narrate

Bhavadvilaasaan-------------------------------------------- “Your” sportive activities

Antya-Raatri-janitaan tatra-------------------------------which took place at the end of the last of those nights

Pashchaat Dinaavatarane cha-----------------------------and then at the beginning of the next day

O Lord of limitless glory! Who are in the 3 worlds is capable of describing “Your” sportive activities? However though of limited knowledge, I shall describe “Your” divine sports of creation and sustenance (maintenance, support) during the kalpa. I shall begin with the Naimittika-Pralaya that occurred at the end of Paadma kalpa, the last day of the first Para-ardha (50 years). This is the only way to get rid of my miseries

Shloka: 5

Atha Sarojayohihi---------------------------then the lotus-born Brahma

Dinaavasaane Sushuptikaamah--------------------at the end of the day being desire of sleep

Sannililye Tvayi----------------------------------------merged in “You”

Jaganti cha Sameeyuh Tvajjatharam-----------------the worlds too merged in “Your” abdomen

Tadaa Idam Vishvam Aasa Ekaarnavam--------------then, this Universe became one big ocean

At the end of the day of Brahma, who created the 3 worlds and all the animate and inanimate beings therein with a good deal of effort during the just gone-by Paadma-kalpa which is comprised of one thousand Chatur-yugas, by the night time fell, being extremely tired and eager to get some sleep, he merged in “You” in deep slumber (sleep) and all the creations of him also have entered in “Your” abdomen with the Universe becoming one big ocean or in deluge.

Shloka: 6

Bhuvane Jalaikasheshe tvam---------------when the entire Universe was nothing but water

Aananda Saandraanubhava-svaroopah-------------“You” of the form of Supreme Bliss itself

Svayoganidraa-Parimudritaatmaa--------------------being absorbed in Yogic slumber

Sheshe sma Phaniraaji sheshe ------------------------were reclining on Sesha, the king of serpants

Veshe tava eva--------------------------------------------who is none but another form of “Yours”

The Serpant King, Adisesha endowed with 1000 hoods is also “Your” own manifestation indeed! “You”, who are of the nature of Existence-Knowledge-Bliss (sat-chit-Ananda), did rest wrapped in yogic slumber reclining on Sesha, the King of Serpants, when the whole Universe was engulfed in casual waters.During this Naimittika-Pralaya, Lord reclines on the serpent king Adisesha, with all the worlds dissolved and merged in Him

Shloka: 7

Tatra Aadau--------------------------------------------------At the very beginning of the Pralaya

Tvayaa Parisuptashakti Vrajena--------------------------By “You” in whom the multitude of powers had been becalmed on account of merger in “You”

Akhilajeevadhaamnaa -------------------------------------and who had become the abode of all Jeevas (beings)

Aadishata Kaalaakhyashaktim-----------------------------and who had commanded “Your” power called “Time”

Prabodhaya Pralayaavasaane iti--------------------------- thus: “wake me up at the end of the deluge”

Prasuptam tatra aadau Kila-------------------------------sleep was resorted to then on Adisesha, it is said

 The word “Kila” signifies that the puranas and ithihasas are the only authorities on this subject.

During Naimitikapralaya, the gross bodies alone gets destroyed and not their subtle bodies. Complete emancipation by merging with the Lord is attainable only if the subtle bodies too are destroyed.  It was because of the bondage of the subtle bodies with their past karma that these beings had to take birth in this kalpa. It should not be assumed that all beings will get united with Lord (saayujua) and gets liberated during Pralaya. He just withdraws the created jeevas in to Himself likethe spider withdraws into itself the web created by it. He entered in the yogic slumber ordering His power in the form of “Time” to wake Him up at the end of Pralaya, in order to create them again at the commencement of the next kalpa.

Shloka: 8 

He  Vishvanatha! Evam----------------------------------------O Lord of the Universe! In this manner

Tvayi Adviteeye Prasupte-------------------------------------- when “You”, one without a second, were in Yogic slumber

Sahasram Chaturyugaanaam cha----------------------------- for one thousand chatur-yugas

Punah Kaalaakhyashaktih---------------------------------------- then, “Your” power called ‘Time’

Prathama-Prabuddhaa---------------------------------------------having woken up first

Praabodhayat tvaam kila------------------------------------------awakened “You”, it is said

The hinted implication is that Time acted in the manner she did even as a virtuous wife, following her dharma goes to sleep only after her husband, sleeps by his side gets up before him at dawn, attends upon him and wakes him up according to his bidding for performance of his morning duties. This means that the Lord is the controller of the power of Time too.

Shloka: 9

He Jalagarbhashaayin------------------------------------------O Lord who reclines inside the casual waters!

Tvam cha Vibhudya Vilokya-----------------------------------And “You”, on waking up and beholding (seeing, visual perception)

Akhilaan Lokaan----------------------------------------------------all the worlds

Praleenaan Sookshmaatmatayaa------------------------------merged in “You” in the subtle form

Dadaatha drshtim teshu Vishveshu eva--------------------cast “Your” glance at those worlds themselves

Nijaantah sthiteshu----------------------------------------which were inside “You”

 (All beings were merged in their subtle form in “Your” abdomen like a tree latent in its seed)

Shloka: 10

Ayi tatah Tvadeeyaat Naabhirandhraat-----------------------------O Lord! Then from the opening of “Your” navel

Udanchitam Kinchana Divyapadmam---------------------------------there emerged an indescribably divine lotus

Mukulaayamaanam--------------------------------------------------------------- in the shape of a bud

Nileena-nishshesha-Padaartha-maalaa-Sankshepa-roopam ---------------which was the subtle form of all objects that had merged in  ‘You’

Shloka: 11

Tat Etat Ambhoruha -Kudmalam-------------------------------that aforesaid (already described) lotus-bud

Praroodham Toyapathe te Kalebaraat----------------------which arose in the casual waters from “Your” body

Nireetam bahih--------------------------------------------------having gradually come out above the waters

Nyakrntat Dhvaantam alam-----------------------------------removed the darkness completely

Svadhaamabhih Sphuradbhih Paritah--------------------------by its own brilliance spreading all around

Shloka: 12

Tasmin Nitaraam Vichitre------------------------------------------ In that most wonderful

Saroje Samphullapatre---------------------------------------------Lotus, the petals of which had fully opened up

Bhavadveeryadhrte--------------------------------------------------and which was supported by “Your” Yogic prowess/ supported by “Your” power of Yoga

Sah Padmajanmaa Vidhih Svayam---------------------------------the lotus-born Brahma, who by himself

Prabuddhaakhilavedaraashih Aaviraaseet------------------------knew all the Vedas, appeared

Padmaja (Lotus-born), well known as Brahma, the creator of the 3 worlds

Shloka: 13

He Paraatman -----------------------------------------------O Lord! Form of Supreme Consciousness

Vaataalayavaasa ! Vishno! -------------------------------- Lord of Guruvaayoor! All-Pervading Lord

Tvam Anantabhoomaa--------------------------------------“You” of infinite glory

Asmin Paadmakalpe-----------------------------------------who is in this Paadma-kalpa

Utthaapita-Padmayonih ittham---------------------------awakened the lotus-born Brahma in this manner

Nanu Nirundhi mama Rogaraashim-----------------------Pray, eradicate my ailments

In each Mahaakalpa, Brahma is born from a particular limb of the Supreme Lord. The present Sveta-Varaaha-Kalpa is a part of the Padma Mahaakalpa. In this Maahakalpa Brahma was born from a lotus in the navel of the Supreme Lord. The Mahaabhaarata says---“In the first Mahaa kalpa Brahma was born from the mind of the Supreme, in the second from the eye, in the third from the word, in the fourth from the ear, in the fifth from the nose, in the sixth from the scrotum (a pouch of skin containing the testicles) and in the present seventh from the navel.