Manava Dharmashastra 1.11.4

1.11.4

yathā tattvāni strīpuruṣasaṃyogaṃ vinotpannāni prathamamevaṃ pūrvaka rmavaśena brahmā'pi svamahimnaiva | ayonijaṃ tasya śarīraṃ daṃśamaśakādivat | tadvisṛṣṭaḥ (ślo. 11) | tena pradhānena visṛṣṭaḥ | tanmayatvāttaccharīrasya tadvisṛṣṭa ityucyate | śeṣaṃ pūrvavat | yadatrārthatattvaṃ tadasmābhiruktameva | arthavādā ete yathākathaṃcidguṇavādena nīyante |

Verse 11
‘The Being produced by that’ (verse 11)—produced by Primordial Matter; the body of Brahmā is described as ‘produced by that’ in the sense that it consists of Primordial Matter. The rest is as before.

The real meaning of these verses we have already explained; that is to say, they are mere ‘arthavāda,’ ‘eulogistic descriptions’ and as such are with difficulty construed figuratively. (11).

Verse 9
In the production of the earth and other Elemental Substances, Primordial Matter becomes solidified all over, and assumes the form of an egg; this is what is meant by the words ‘that became the egg’ (verse 9). Just as the Principles are, in the beginning, produced without any intercourse between the male and the female, in the same manner (without intercourse between male and female) was Brahmā also born, under the influence of his previous acts; his body is due to his own powers, and is not born out of any womb; just as the bodies of the mosquito and other insects are not born of wombs.