23 - Various Kalpas 

Süta said: 

1. On hearing the words of Brahma, lord Shiva in the form of Brahman spoke to him smilingly, in order to enlighten him. 

2-3. When the Shveta kalpa was current, it was I who existed ‘then. I had white turban, white garlands and white garments. I was white myself with white bones, white hairs, white blood and white complexion ⁹⁶ So The kalpa too was known as Shvetakalpa. 

96. Shvetalohitaḥ --nūtana-Shveta-rūpah ST., of new white complexion. For “lohita” as a synonym of ‘new see Vishva: ‘lohitah syān nave bhaumc’. 

4. Gāyatri, the goddess of Devas, born of me, had white limbs, white colour, white blood. She was known as Brahmāņi. 

5. O lord of Devas, that was why I had been understood by you as the secret deity. By my penance I had assumed the form of Sadyojāta. 

6. The title Sadyojita is a secret Brahma; the twice born who know me, who have assumed secret nature, shall attain nearness to me whence there is no return. 

7-12. When the next kalpa known as lohita, as a result of my colour, came, Gāyatri glorified as a cow, born with red flesh, red bone, red blood, red milk, red eyes and red udders was known as Brahmāņi. Since the colour was changed into red and since the lord was Vama, I was known as Vámadeva. O deity of great strength, then also I, who was in a different colour, was recognised by you who had practised self-control by resorting to yoga. I was then known as Vāmadeva. The twice-born who realise my Vāmadeva form shall go to Rudra’s world whence there is no return. 

13. When the yuga gradually changed and I became yellow in colour, the kalpa was known as Pita--the name assigned by me. 

14. Gāyatrī, the goddess of Devas born of me was named Brahmāņi. She was yellow in body, yellow in blood and yellow in colour. 

15-17. O deity of great strength, there too, I was realized by yogins devoted to the practice of yoga, through your yogic mind. I was realized by you in the form of Tatpuruşha. Hence, it was, (deity born of the golden egg. I got the Tatpuruşha form Persons endowed with penance, devoid of impurities, who are in contact with Brahman and who know me as Rudra, and Rudrāņi as Gayatri the mother of the Vedas goes to Rudra’s world whence there is no return. 

18-21. When I became terrible and black in colour The kalpa was known as Krishna after the colour assumed by me. There I resemble Kala (god of death). I am Kāla (Time), the reckoner of the worlds, O Brahma, I was then known by you as Ghora (the terrible) with terrible exploits. O lord of Devas, Gayatri, born of me, was black in body, black in blood, black in form and was named Brahmānī. Hence to those who know me that I have assumed the ghora form, I, the changeless one, shall be Aghora (non-terrible) and Shänta (quiescent). 

22-25. O Brahma, when I assumed the universal form I was realized by you by means of the yogic trance. Gayatrī, the sustainer of the worlds⁹⁷, also assumed the universal form. To those who know me as having assumed this universal form, I shall always become auspicious and gentle. That Kalpa too will be known as Vishvarūpa (= of universal form). 

97. Sarvabhakşha- “resorted to by all”. ST. interprets differently: sarvam pätālajātam bhakşhayati nāśhayati så---one who consumes all the products of the nether regions. 

26-29. These four who are of all kinds of forms will be come popular as my sons. Since they are of different colours, their subjects too will be of different colours or castes (Varņas), and allowed the use of Gayatri. Man’s aim of life will be four fold: virtue, wealth, desire and liberation. All living beings will come under four groups,⁹⁸ four stages of life. The feet of Dharma will be four⁹⁹ since my sons are four in number. 

98. chatvarah-four classes of living beings as mentioned by ST: jarayuja-aņdaja-shvedaja-udbhijjarūpäh”. 

99. The four feet of righteousness, according to ST. comprise dayā (compassion), dānam (charity), tapah (penance), satyam (truth). 

30. Hence the universe consisting of the mobile and immobile beings is stationed in the four yugas. Since it is stationed in the four yugas it shall have four feet. 

31-32. There are eight worlds: Bhūh, Bhuvaḥ, Svar, Mahar, Janar, Tapas, Satya and Vishņu. These are established in the eight substratums each of which is imperishable. Bhuḥ, Bhuvaḥ, Svar and Mahaḥ constitute the four substratums. 

33. The first is Bhūh, the second Bhuvah. The third Svar and Mahar is the fourth. 

34-35. The fifth is Janaḥ, the sixth Tapas, the seventh Satya whence people do not return to this world. The world of Vişhnu is the eighth. It is also the spot whence a return to this world is difficult. Beyond that is the world of Skandha and Umä endowed with all attainments. 

36-39. Beyond that is the world of Rudra--the splendid region of yogins. The twice-born who are devoid of ego, who have neither lust nor anger and whose winds are devoted to yoga alone can enter it. Since Gayatri was seen by you as four footed, the worlds are also four, viz. the world of Umā, Kumāra, Maheśhvara and Vişhnu.¹⁰⁰ Again, since Gayatri was seen as four-footed, the animals shall also be four-footed. Their udders too will be four. 

100. pädānta--the ultimate region, i.e. the world of Vişhnu. 

40-41. Since the Soma-juice, which is the life of living beings, accompanied by Vedic chants, fell off from my mouth, the cows came to be known as those whose udders are sucked. Hence the nectar in the form of the Soma-juice is known as the life of living beings. Hence too, the animals became quadrupeds; the whiteness of their milk is also due to that. 

42-44. Since the great Goddess was seen as biped in the course of the rites, Gayatri the creator of the worlds is also of the same nature. Hence all human beings are bipeds, endowed with two breasts. Since the great goddess, the unborn deity of great strength, was seen by you as supporting all living beings, therefore, the subjects will have all kinds of form. 

15-51. The unborn deity shall have great splendour and universal form and from his face there will come out the Fire-God whose energy will be unfailing. Hence, the pure and all-pervading fire-god has the form of living body. The pure souled men of two births who see me as endowed with the faculties of overlordship, sense-control and omnipresence become liberated from rajas and tamas. Eschewing physical body, they attain my vicinity and never return to this earth. 

O brahmins, lord Brahmă who was thus addressed by Rudra bowed to him. Becoming purified in the mind he spoke to him again. “O lord, you are aware of the greatness of Gayatri as well as the glory of the Supreme lord (Maheshvara). O lord, may you kindly grant me the highest abode of Gayatrī and that of yourself”. The lord then granted the boon to him, Hence, he who knows the multiformity or the universality of the supreme lord as also of Gayatri attains identity with Brahman, as stated to Brahmā by the lord himself.