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ShareThe great sages approached Manu, who was seated with a collected mind, and, having duly worshipped him, spoke as follows: 'Divine one, do declare to us precisely the sacred laws of each of the (four chief) castes (varna). For thou, alone knowest the purport and the knowledge of the soul, in this whole ordinance of the Self-existent.'
He, being thus asked by great sages, duly honoured them, and answered...
This (universe) existed in the shape of Darkness, unperceived, destitute of distinctive marks, unattainable by reasoning, unknowable, wholly immersed, as it were, in deep sleep.
Then the divine Self-existent indiscernible, (but) making (all) this, the great elements discernible, appeared with irresistible power, dispelling the darkness. He, desiring to produce beings of many kinds from his own body, first created the waters, and placed his seed in them. That (seed) became a golden egg, in that (egg) he himself was born as Brahman, the progenitor of the whole world.
The waters are called narah, (for) the waters are, indeed, the offspring of Nara; as they were his first residence (ayana), he thence is named Narayana.
From that cause, which is indiscernible, eternal, and both real and unreal, was produced that male (Purusha), who is famed in this world (under the appellation of) Brahman.
The divine one resided in that egg during a whole year, then he divided it into two halves; And out of those two halves he formed heaven and earth, between them the middle sphere, the eight points of the horizon, and the eternal abode of the waters.
Moreover, the great one, the soul, and all (products) affected by the three qualities, and, in their order, the five organs which perceive the objects of sensation. But, joining minute particles even of those six, which possess measureless power, with particles of himself, he created all beings.
From The Laws of Manu translated by George Bühler
