Shiva Purana

siva.sh/siva-purana/saturda-samhita/1/23

एकार्णवे संव्यतीते दिव्यवर्षसहस्रके ।। स्रष्टुकामः प्रजा ब्रह्मा चिन्तयामास दुःखितः ।।२३।।

sanskrit

After a thousand divine years had elapsed and the entire universe had become one vast ocean, Brahmā desirous of creating subjects thought in sorrow.

english translation

ekArNave saMvyatIte divyavarSasahasrake || sraSTukAmaH prajA brahmA cintayAmAsa duHkhitaH ||23||

hk transliteration by Sanscript