thyself into five portions thou hast become the five
vital breaths that act within everybody and cause
every living creature to move. Salutations to
thee in thy form of air! Thou appearest in every
Yuga in the form called month and season and half-year
and year, and art the cause of both creation and dissolution.
Salutations to thee in thy form of Time! Brahmanas
are thy mouth, Kshatriyas are thy two arms, Vaisyas
are thy stomach and thighs, and Sudras live in thy
feet. Salutations to thee in thy form of caste!
Fire constitute thy mouth. The heavens are the
crown of thy head. The sky is thy navel.
The earth is thy feet. The Sun is thy eye.
The points of the compass are thy ears. Salutations
to thee in thy form as the (three) worlds! Thou
art superior to Time. Thou art superior to Sacrifice.
Thou art higher than the highest. Thyself without
origin, thou art the origin of the universe.
Salutations to thee in thy form as Universe!
Men of the world, according to the attributes ascribed
to thee by the Vaiseshika theory, regard thee as the
Protector of the world. Salutations to thee in
thy form of Protector! Assuming the forms of food,
drink, and fuel, thou increasest the humours and the
life-breaths of creatures and upholdest their existence.
Salutations to thee in thy form of life! For
supporting the life-breaths thou eatest the four kinds
of food.[151] Assuming also the form of Agni within
the stomach, thou digestest that food. Salutations
to thee in the form of digesting heat! Assuming
the form of half-man and half-lion, with tawny eyes
and tawny manes, with teeth and claws for thy weapons,
thou hadst taken the life of the chief of the Asuras.
Salutations to thee in thy form of swelling might!
Neither the gods, nor the Gandharvas, nor the Daityas,
nor the Danavas, know thee truly. Salutations
to thy form of exceeding subtility! Assuming
the form of the handsome, illustrious, and puissant
Ananta in the nether region, thou upholdest the world.
Salutations to thy form of Might! Thou stupefiest
all creatures by the bonds of affection and love for
the continuance of the creation. Salutations to
thee in thy form of stupefaction.[152] Regarding that
knowledge which is conversant with the five elements
to be the true Self-knowledge (for which yogins strive),
people approach thee by knowledge! Salutations
to thee in thy form of Knowledge! Thy body is
immeasurable. Thy understanding and eyes are
devoted to everything. Thou art infinite, being
beyond all measures. Salutations to thee in thy
form of vastness! Thou hadst assumed the form
of a recluse with matted locks on head, staff in hand,
a long stomach, and having thy begging bowl for thy
quiver. Salutations to thee in thy form of Brahma.[153]
Thou bearest the trident, thou art the lord of the
celestials, thou hast three eyes, and thou art high-souled.
Thy body is always besmeared with ashes, and thy phallic
emblem is always turned upwards. Salutations
to thee in thy form of Rudra! The half-moon forms