“Bhishma said, ’In this connection is cited the old narrative of the sacred words that Bhrigu said in reply to the questions of Bharadwaja.  Beholding the great Rishi Bhrigu blazing with energy and splendour, seated on the Kailasa summit, Bharadwaja addressed him in the following words.’

“Bharadwaja said, ’By whom was this world with its ocean, its firmament, its mountains, its clouds, its lands, its fire, and its wind, created?  How were all creatures first created?  Whence this distinction of castes?  Whence the purity and the impurity of (behaviour), and whence the ordinances about virtue and vice, for living creatures?  Of what kind is the life of living creatures?  Where do they go who die?  It behoveth thee to tell me everything about this and the other world.’  Thus addressed about his doubts by Bharadwaja, the illustrious and regenerate Rishi Bhrigu who resembled Brahma itself, replied unto him, saying these words.’

“Bhrigu said, ’There is a Primeval Being, known to the great Rishis, of the name of Manasa.  He is without beginning and without end.  That Divine Being is incapable of being penetrated by weapons.  He is without decay and is Immortal.  He is said to be Unmanifest.  He is Eternal, Undecaying, and Unchangeable.  Through Him are creatures born and through Him they die.  He first created a Divine Being known by the name of Mahat.[549] Mahat created Consciousness.  That Divine Being created Space.  That puissant Being is the holder of all created objects.  From Space was born Water, and from Water were born Fire and Wind.  Through the union of Fire and Wind was born the Earth.  Self-born Manasa then created a divine Lotus pregnant with Energy.  From that Lotus sprang Brahman, that Ocean of Veda.[550] The Srutis say that as soon as born, that divine Being uttered the words, ‘I am He!’ For this He came to be called by the name of Consciousness.  He has all created things for his body and He is their Creator.[551] These five elements that we see are that Brahman of great energy.  The mountains are his bones.  The earth is his fat and flesh.  The oceans are his blood.  Space is his stomach.  The Wind is his breath.  Fire is his energy.  The rivers are his arteries and veins.  Agni and Soma, otherwise called the Sun and the Moon, are called his eyes.  The firmament above is his head.  The earth is his two feet.  The cardinal and subsidiary points of the horizon are his arms.  Without doubt, He is incapable of being known and His Soul is inconceivable by even persons crowned with ascetic success.  The Divine Being, who pervades the whole universe, is also known by the name of Ananta (Infinite).  He lives in Consciousness, and is incapable of being known by persons of uncleansed souls.  Asked by thee I have now told thee of Him who created Consciousness for evoking into existence all created objects, and from whom this universe has sprung.’

“Bharadwaja said, ’What is the extent of the firmament, of the points of the horizon, of the surface of this earth, and of the Wind?  By telling me the truth, solve my doubts.’