The
Lord then, it is read in the Vedas, O king, placed the sky between Heaven
and Earth separated from each other. Seven thousand and five hundred
Kalpas measure the day of Brahman. Persons conversant with the science of
Adhyatma say that his night also is of an equal duration. Brahmana,
called Mahan, then creates Consciousness called Bhuta and endued with
excellent essence.[1645] Before creating any physical bodies out of the
ingredients called the Great elements, Mahan or Brahma, endued with
penances, created four others called his sons. They are the sires of the
original sires, O Best of kings, as heard by us.[1646] It hath been also
heard by us, O monarch that the senses (of knowledge) along with the four
inner faculties, have sprung from the (five Great elements called)
Pitris, and that the entire universe of mobile and immobile Beings has
been filled with those Great elements.[1647] The puissant Consciousness
created the five Bhutas. These are Earth, Wind, Space, Water, and Light
numbering the fifth. This Consciousness (who is a Great Being and) from
whom springs the third creating, has five thousand Kalpas for his night,
and his day is of equal duration. Sound, Touch, Form, Taste, and
Scent,--these five are called Visesha. They inhere into the five great
Bhutas. All creatures, O king, incessantly pervaded by these five, desire
one another's companionship, become subservient to one another; and
challenging one another, transcend one another; and led by those
immutable and seductive principles, creatures kill one another and wander
in this world entering into numerous orders of Being.
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