प्रजापतिः पुरा सृष्ट्वा अपः सलिलसंभवः। तासां गोपायने सत्त्वानसृजत्पद्मसंभवः॥
prajāpatiḥ purā sṛṣṭvā apaḥ salilasaṃbhavaḥ| tāsāṃ gopāyane sattvānasṛjatpadmasaṃbhavaḥ||
English Meaning
The lord of creatures sprang from water, first created water. And the lotus-born one generated creatures for protecting that element.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)