nāsadīya sūktam

At that time, there was neither non-existence nor existence; there was no realm of air, nor the sky beyond it. What was concealed, and where, and under whose protection? Was there water, deep and unfathomable?

There was neither death nor immortality then; there was no distinction between night and day. That One breathed by its own power, without air; other than that, there was nothing beyond it.

Darkness was hidden in darkness in the beginning; all this was an indistinguishable sea. That which was covered by void—that One—was brought forth by the power of heat.

In the beginning, desire arose, which was the primal seed of the mind. The sages, searching within their hearts with wisdom, discovered the connection between the existent and the non-existent.

Their cord was extended across; was there a below, or was there an above? There were impregnators, there were great forces; self-sustaining power was below, and energy was above.

Who truly knows, and who can here proclaim, whence this creation was born? The gods came after the creation of this universe; who then knows from where it has arisen?

He from whom this creation arose—whether He held it together or did not—He who is the overseer of this universe in the highest heaven, He alone knows, or perhaps even He does not know.