Brahmana said I shall now tell you truly about all that which has a beginning, middle, and end, and which has name and characteristics, together, the means of apprehension.

It has been said that the Day came first. Then came Night. The Months are said to have the lighted fortnights first. The constellations have Shravana for their first; the Seasons have that of dews (viz., Winter) for their first.

Earth is the source of all smells; and Water of all tastes. The Solar light is the source of all colours; the wind of all sensations of touch.

Likewise of sound the source is space (or Ether). These are the qualities of elements. I shall, after this, describe that which is the first and the highest of all entities.

The sun is the first of all luminous bodies. Fire is said to be the first of all the elements, Savitri is the first of all branches of learning. Prajapati is the first of all the celestials.

The syllable Om is the first of all the Vedas, and the vital air Prana is the first of all winds. Savitri is the first of all religious observances.

The Gayatri is the first of all metres, goat is the first of all (sacrificial) animals, Kin are the first of all quadrupeds. The twice-born ones are the first of all human beings.

The hawk is the first of all birds. Of sacrifices the first is the pouring of clarified butter on the fire. Of all reptiles the first, O foremost of twice-born ones, is the snake.

The Krita is the first of all the cycles; there is no doubt in this. Gold is the first of all precious things.

Barely is the first of all plants. Food is the first of all things to be eaten or swallowed. Water is the first of all liquid substances to be drunk.

Of all immobile objects without distinction, Plaksha is said to be the first, that ever holy field of Brahman.

Of all the Prajapatis I am the first. There is no doubt in this, Of inconceivable soul, the self consistent Vishnu is said to be my superior.

Of all the mountains the great Meru is said to be the first-born. Of all the cardinal and subsidiary points of the horizon, the eastern is said to be the foremost and first-born.

Ganga having three courses is said to be first-born of all rivers. Likewise, of all wells and reservoirs of waters, the ocean is said to be the first born.

Ishvara is the Supreme Lord of all the celestials and Danavas and ghosts and Pishachas and snakes and Rakshasas, and human beings and Kinnaras and Yakshas.

The great Vishnu, who is full of Brahma, than whom there is no higher being in the three worlds is the first of all the universe.

Of all the modes of life, that of the householder is the first. Of this there is not doubt. The Unmanifest is the source of all the worlds as well as is the end of every thing.

Days end with the sun's setting and Nights with the sun's rising. The end of pleasure is always sorrow, and the end of sorrow is always pleasure.

All collections have expenditure for their end, ana all ascents have falls for their end. All associations have dissociations for their end, and life has death for its end.

All action ends in destruction, and all that is born is certain to meet with death. Every mobile and immobile thing in this world is fickle.

Sacrifice, gift, penances, study, vow, observances, all these have destruction to their end. Of knowledge, there is no end.

Hence, one who has a tranquil soul, who has subjugated his senses, who is freed from the sense of mineness, who is devoid of egoism, is freed from all sins by pure knowledge.