When four thousand divine cycles elapse, the dissolution of the universe sets in. The Manifest disappear into the Unmanifest. All creatures, mobile and immobile, meet with destruction. Fire, Earth, Wind, all disappear. Darkness covers the universe which becomes one endless expanse of water.
सम्प्रक्षालनकालेऽतिक्रान्ते चतुर्युगसहस्रान्ते अव्यक्ते सर्वभूते प्रलये सर्वभूतस्था वरजङ्गमे ज्योतिर्धरणिवायुरहितेऽन्धे तमसि जलैकार्णवे लोके॥