— The Hymn of Creation .... Then there was neither non-existence nor existence; there was neither the realm of space, nor the sky which is beyond. What stirred? Where? ... Under whose protection? ... Was it water, deep and unfathomable? ... Then there was neither death nor immortality, there was no distinguishing sign of night and day. That One breathed, breathless, by its own impulse; and there was nothing other than It. In the beginning, darkness was hidden by darkness; all this was an indistinguishable sea. That which became enveloped by the void, that germ came forth through the power of fervent heat.... In the beginning, desire arose in Him, which was the primal seed of mind. Sages, searching in their hearts with wisdom, discovered the bond of being in non-being. Their measuring cord was stretched across? ... Was there a below? Was there an above? ... There were seed-bearers, there were mighty powers: impulse beneath, offering above. But who truly knows? Who here can proclaim it? ... Whence was this creation produced? Whence is this creation? ... The gods came afterwards, with the creation of this universe. Who then knows whence it has arisen? ... This creation, whence it came into being, whether it was sustained or not, He who looks down upon it in the highest heavens, He alone knows... or perhaps He knows not! He alone knows...
