“Bhrigu said, ’The sky thou seest above is Infinite.  It is the abode of persons crowned with ascetic success and of divine beings.  It is delightful, and consists of various regions.  Its limits cannot be ascertained.  The Sun and the Moon cannot see, above or below, beyond the range of their own rays.  There where the rays of the Sun and the Moon cannot reach are luminaries[552] which are self-effulgent and which possess splendour like that of the Sun or the fire.  Know this, O giver of honours, that possessed of far-famed splendour, even these last do not behold the limits of the firmament in consequence of the inaccessibility and infinity of those limits.  This Space which the very gods cannot measure is fall of many blazing and self-luminous worlds each above the other.  Beyond the limits of land are oceans of water.  Beyond water is darkness.  Beyond darkness is water again, and beyond the last is fire.  Downwards, beyond the nether regions, is water.  Beyond water is the region belonging to the great snakes.  Beyond that is sky once more, and beyond the sky is water again.  Even thus there is water and sky alternately without end.  Even such are the limits of the Divinity represented by water.  The very gods are unable to ascertain limits of fire and wind and water.  The nature of fire, wind, water, and land, is like that of space.  They are distinguished through want of true Knowledge.  Sages read in diverse scriptures the limits that have been declared of the three worlds and the ocean.  Who is there, however, that would set limits to what cannot be grasped by vision and what is inaccessible (in all its parts)?  If even it becomes possible to ascertain the limits of the firmament which is the track of the gods and beings crowned with ascetic success, it can never be possible to set limits to that which is limitless and known by the name of the Infinite, to that which correspond with the name by which it is known, viz., what has been called the high-souled Manasa?  When again His form is sometimes contracted and sometimes expanded, how can any one else except one that is equal to Him, be able to comprehend His limits?  From the Lotus (of which I have already spoken) was first created the Omniscient lord, Brahman, endued with form, of essence comprised of Righteousness, and the Creator of all mobile and immobile things.

“Bharadwaja said, ’If Brahman sprang from the Lotus, then it is the Lotus that should be regarded as the First-born and not Brahman.  Why, however, is Brahma said to be the first?  Do thou remove that doubt of mine.’

“Bhrigu said, ’The Earth it is that is called the Lotus.  It was created for giving a seat unto that form of Manasa which became Brahman.  Reaching up to heaven itself, the Sumeru became the pericarp of the Lotus.  Remaining within it, the puissant Lord of the Universe created all the worlds.’”

SECTION CLXXXIII