1. Two people were moving around the world without any attachment to anything. To pass the time, one of them began to tell a story.
2. The listener says to the speaker, "Please tell a good story." The speaker said to the listener, "Please listen attentively."
3. There was a man and a woman who loved each other so much that they were only One and there was no difference between them. (Purusha and Prakriti.)
4. After some time passed, it happened that a son was born to them. He was a very good son and he was always engaged in doing all kinds of activities. (The son is Vishnu.)
5. After some time, a son was born to him. This son was much more active than his father. He was more ambitious and active than his father, but was half as wise. (The grandson is Brahma.)
6. This grandson was constantly busy and occupied in activity. He gave birth to many daughters and sons and produced many offspring in various ways.
7. His eldest son, the great grandson, was ignorant and angry. If anybody made a mistake, he would kill them. (Great grandson is Rudra; destructive aspect of Shiva.)
8. The original father sat quietly inactive (Purusha), while his son (Vishnu) was very active. This son was all-knowing and very good natured.
9. The grandson (Brahma) had half of the knowledge of his father. The great grandson (Shiva) did not know anything at all. He was extremely hot tempered, and would bring about destruction as a result of even the smallest mistake.
10. The son (Vishnu) protects everyone. The grandson (Brahma) continuously adds to the number of people, and the great grandson (Shiva) destroys suddenly if any mistake is made.
11. The family (8.4 million species of living beings) proliferated greatly and became very expansive. In this way, a lot of time passed away happily.
12. The family expanded to such an extent that it could not be measured. As time passed, no one in the family respected the elders (the grandfather and grandmother, and the father, son, and grandson.), and there was a lot of doubt and suspicion in the minds of everyone.
13. There were many family disputes and as a result there was a great deal of destruction taking place. Anarchy took over, and there was disagreement and a falling out among all of the elders.
14. Due to excessive ignorance everywhere, everyone was destroyed.
15. The father, son, grandson and great grandson were all annihilated. Nothing remained of the daughters and sons, and their intentions and life stories all became totally extinct.
16. The one who understands this story is sure to be liberated from the birth cycle, and both the listener and the speaker become blessed by the experience.
17. This is truly an unsurpassed story which takes place many times. After the narration of the story, both the speaker and the listener became silent.
18. Now that this story is over it should be explained in such a way that its meaning makes an impression within your mind.
19. What has been remembered has been told. If there are some errors or gaps, the listeners are asked to pardon any shortcomings.
20. Ramdas says that this story goes on forever. Those who listen to it using proper discrimination will uplift the world.
21. The explanation of the signs of the upliftment of the world must now be given. The discourse that indicates selecting the Essence is what uplifts the world.
22. By such discourse, the explanation of experience should be understood, and many puzzling questions about Reality should be resolved. As one's understanding becomes greater and greater, one become doubtless.
23. Upon analyzing the eight bodies, one naturally becomes free of doubt. By continuously listening to explanations one remains content.
24. Where there is confusion about the various principles (mainly the five elements, the three gunas, the elements of the subtle body, etc.) how can there be contentment and peace? For this reason, one should stay away from the confusion of various arguments.
25. One must minutely analyze subtle dialogue. The listeners are asked to listen attentively to the summary of the teaching in the next sub-chapter.