1. Listen to the signs of dissolution. Know that for the body there are two types of dissolution. One is deep sleep and one is death at the time of the end the body.
2. The listeners should know that when the three deities, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva go to sleep, that is what is called the dissolution of the universe through sleep.
3. And know that when the three deities come to an end, that the universe will also come to an end. That time is called the dissolution of Brahma.
4. Two dissolutions are for the body and two are for the universe. In all, there are four dissolutions in the universe. Know that the fifth dissolution is the dissolution which occurs due to the power of discrimination.
5. These are the five dissolutions which have been mentioned in sequence. Now they will be explained so that you may gain experiential understanding.
6. When a living being goes to sleep, at that time the activities in the waking state cease to exist, and suddenly there is either deep sleep or dreams.
7. When the world of the waking state ceases to exist it is called dissolution by sleep. Now, listen to the explanation of the dissolution of death that happens at the time of the end of the body.
8. When diseases grow strong or if some calamity befalls the body, the five vital energies (pranas) give up their functioning and leave their places in the body.
9. At that time, along with the five vital winds, the mind also goes out of the body, leaving it lifeless. There is no need for any speculation about this second type of dissolution.
10. The third dissolution is called the sleep of Brahma. This is when the physical world and the activities of all living beings come to an end.
11. At that time, the subtle bodies of living beings merge into the form of the wind. Then, after the lapse of a long period of time, Brahma again becomes awakened.
12. Once again, the visible world is recreated and living beings are brought to life and scattered throughout the world. Then, after a long period of time, when the entire life cycle of Brahma comes to an end, that is called the dissolution of Brahma.
13. In that dissolution there is no rain for one hundred years, and all living beings die. The earth becomes parched and unstable and begins to break apart into an unlimited number of pieces.
14. The sun puts out twelve times its usual heat and the earth begins to burn in its fire. When the fire reaches deep into the netherworld, the divine serpent Shesha begins vomiting out its poison.
15. Then, when space becomes filled with the flames of the sun, and from underneath the serpent Shesha is spewing out is venomous poison, the Earth cannot escape the burning from both sides.
16. The intensity of the sun’s heat continues increasing, there is loud chaotic commotion in all directions, and the great Mount Meru begins crumbling on all sides making a terrible noise.
17. Even the kingdoms and abodes of the gods get incinerated.
18. Finally, Mount Meru, which is the center of the universe, collapses and its greatness is lost, and the host of gods are whisked around in a great whirling of the wind.
19. When the earth has been burned to ashes, hard rain pours down like water coming from an elephant’s trunk, and the earth gets dissolved in a brief moment.
20. The earth disappears and only water remains. Then the water gets dried up by fire. All of the fire in the universe merges together and completely consumes everything.
21. The great ocean of fire, the fire of the third eye of Shiva, and the fire from the sun and lightening, all come together and totally engulf all of the seven coverings of creation.
22. Like this, all fire from everywhere unites, and in that fire the gods give up their various forms and merge back into their original form that is wind.
23. Then, with great force the wind extinguishes even the "Light of the Universe." The wind then moves around uncontrolled in the expanse of Parabrahman.
24. And then, like smoke that disappears into space, similarly, the wind will disappear. Like this, in sequence, the smaller element dissolves into the greater one.
25. Understand, that when the wind dissolves, the subtle elements and the three attributes also dissolve, and even God, Ishwara, gives up his place and recedes into the attributeless.
26. There, only Supreme Knowledge remains. The Universal Light is extinguished and only pure Essence remains as its True Form (Swaroopa).
27. Anything that has a name is because of the attributes of manifestation (Prakriti). When manifestation is absent, how can one say anything or speak of names?
28. When manifestation exists, one should use the power of discrimination to put it aside. This is called the dissolution through discrimination. Now, all five types of dissolution have been explained to you in a nice way.