destruction sets
in? Tell me this, O grandsire! Indeed, by whom has this universe with its
oceans, its firmament, its mountains, its clouds, its lands, its fire,
and its wind, been created? How were all objects created? Whence this
division into separate orders of existence? Whence are their purity and
impurity, and the ordinances about virtue and vice? Of what kind is the
life of living creatures? Where also do they go who die? Tell us
everything about this and the other world."

"'Bhishma said, "In this connection is cited the old narrative of the
sacred words that Bhrigu said in reply to the questions of Bharadwaja.
Beholding the great Rishi Bhrigu blazing with energy and splendour,
seated on the Kailasa summit, Bharadwaja addressed him in the following
words.

"'"Bharadwaja said, 'By whom was this world with its ocean, its firmament,
its mountains, its clouds, its lands, its fire, and its wind, created?
How were all creatures first created? Whence this distinction of castes?
Whence the purity and the impurity of (behaviour), and whence the
ordinances about virtue and vice, for living creatures? Of what kind is
the life of living creatures? Where do they go who die? It behoveth thee
to tell me everything about this and the other world.' Thus addressed
about his doubts by Bharadwaja, the illustrious and regenerate Rishi
Bhrigu who resembled Brahma itself, replied unto him, saying these words.

"'"Bhrigu said, 'There is a Primeval Being, known to the great Rishis, of
the name of Manasa. He is without beginning and without end. That Divine
Being is incapable of being penetrated by weapons. He is without decay
and is Immortal. He is said to be Unmanifest. He is Eternal, Undecaying,
and Unchangeable. Through Him are creatures born and through Him they
die. He first created a Divine Being known by the name of Mahat.[549]
Mahat created Consciousness. That Divine Being created Space. That
puissant Being is the holder of all created objects. From Space was born
Water, and from Water were born Fire and Wind. Through the union of Fire
and Wind was born the Earth. Self-born Manasa then created a divine Lotus
pregnant with Energy. From that Lotus sprang Brahman, that Ocean of
Veda.[550] The Srutis say that as soon as born, that divine Being uttered
the words, "I am He!" For this He came to be called by the name of
Consciousness. He has all created things for his body and He is their
Creator.[551] These five elements that we see