Markandeyapurana 47.14

47.14

bhūrādyāṃścaturo lokān pūrvaṃvat samakalpayat /
sṛṣṭiñcintayatastasya kalpādiṣu yathā purā //

While he pondered on creation, as of old in the kalpas and other times, he next became manifested as devoid of intelligence, as enveloped in darkness. Darkness, folly, infatuation, gloominess, and blind consciousness—ignorance,[5] composed of these five, became manifested out of the Supreme Soul. Creation irrational became established in five ways while he was meditating. Externally and internally it was destitute of light,[6] its soul was concealed, it consisted of vegetation;[7] and since vegetation is declared to be “primary,”[8] hence this is indeed the Mukhya creation.

On awaking he knew that the earth had disappeared within that water, and then became desirous through reflection to deliver[4] the earth therefrom. He assumed as of old in the kalpas and other times, other bodies such as those of a fish, a tortoise and other animals, and likewise he took the body of a hoar. The lord who is composed of the Vedas and sacrifices assumed a heavenly form composed of the Vedas and sacrifices, and entered the water; he reached everywhere and existed everywhere. And the lord of the world raised the earth out of the lower regions, and set it free in the water, while the Siddhas who abode in Janaloka bent their thoughts on him. The earth floated like an immense boat on that ocean, but does not sink by reason of the amplitude of its size. Then he made the earth level and created the mountains on the earth. Formerly when creation was burnt up by the then world-destroying fire, those mountains on the earth were totally consumed by that fire. The rocks were engulphed in that one ocean, and the water was driven together by the wind; wherever they adhered and remained, there the mountains grew into being. Then he divided the earth, adorned with seven dvīpas; and he fashioned the four worlds, the Bhurloka and the others, as before.