The sage Mārkaṇḍeya, swept away by the great flood, struggled desperately to stay afloat. He wandered here and there, his mind battered by distress, seeking a way to escape the engulfing waters. Yet, despite his efforts, he began to sink, unable to find any savior. As he floundered, bewildered and exhausted, the Supreme Person, pleased by Mārkaṇḍeya’s unwavering meditation, looked upon him with compassion and spoke to him. “Child,” the divine voice called, “you are weary and young, steadfast in your devotion to me. Come, come quickly, Mārkaṇḍeya, to my side. Do not be afraid, for you have come before me. O steadfast sage, you are but a child, afflicted by fatigue.” Hearing these words, Mārkaṇḍeya was overtaken by anger and astonishment. He wondered aloud, “Who is this, who calls me by name, as if mocking my austerity, as if challenging my body, famed for thousands of years? Such conduct is not proper, even among the gods; yet Brahmā and the lord of gods call me long-lived. Who is this, with dreadful intent, who today seeks my death, calling me Mārkaṇḍeya, and wishes to bring about my end?” Having spoken thus, the sage became anxious. “Is this a dream I have seen, or has some delusion come upon me?” he pondered. Yet as he reflected, a thought arose that dispelled his sorrow: “I will seek refuge in the god, the Supreme Person, with devotion.” With his mind fixed upon the divine, Mārkaṇḍeya set out to seek refuge. Once again, he beheld the vast banyan tree standing upon the waters. Upon a branch of that expansive tree, he saw a golden, wondrous, and beautiful divine couch, crafted by Viśvakarman. It was adorned with vajra and beryl, shining with jewels and coral, embellished with padmarāga and other gems, and decorated with many precious stones. The couch was spread with diverse coverings, resplendent with jewels of every kind, filled with marvelous wonders, and encircled by a radiant halo. Upon this couch stood the Lord, Kṛṣṇa, in the form of a child, shining with the brilliance of ten million suns, radiant and splendid. He had four arms, a beautiful form, eyes wide as lotus petals, the mark of Śrīvatsa on his chest, and he held the conch, discus, and mace. His chest was adorned with a garland of forest flowers, he wore divine earrings, his neck was graced with heavy necklaces, and he was decorated with celestial gems. Seeing the Lord, Mārkaṇḍeya’s eyes widened in astonishment. His body bristled with joy, and bowing to the Lord, he spoke, “Alas! In this dreadful, single ocean, with all beings destroyed, how does this child alone stand here, utterly without fear?” Though Mārkaṇḍeya was a great sage, knowing past, present, and future, he did not recognize the Lord at that moment, his perception clouded by divine māyā. Unable to perceive the true nature of the child, he spoke in distress, “In vain is the power of my austerity, in vain my knowledge, in vain my actions; in vain is my long life, and in vain even my humanity. I do not know, as I lie asleep, this divine child upon the couch.” Thus reflecting, the sage drifted, bewildered and seeking protection, overwhelmed and falling into despair. Then, the child shone with his own glory, like the rising sun, filled with all radiance, so brilliant that Mārkaṇḍeya could barely gaze upon him. Seeing the sage approach, the divine child smiled and spoke with a voice like the deep roll of thunderclouds. “Child, I know you are weary, and have come to me for refuge; quickly enter my body, for I have arranged your rest.” Hearing these words, the sage was bewildered and said nothing. Powerless, he entered the child’s open mouth. Within the belly of the divine child, Mārkaṇḍeya, the best of sages, beheld the entire earth, surrounded by many peoples. He saw the oceans of salt, sugarcane juice, wine, clarified butter, curds, milk, and water; he beheld those seas, as well as the continents Jambu, Plakṣa, and Śālmalī. He saw Kuśa, Krauñca, Śāka, and Puṣkara, the regions such as Bhārata, and all the mountains as well. He beheld Meru, the golden mountain adorned with all kinds of jewels, its peaks decorated with gems and filled with many caves. Meru was crowded with many kinds of sages, thick with diverse forests and groves, inhabited by various creatures, and endowed with wonders. Tigers, lions, boars, chauri-oxen, buffaloes, elephants, deer, monkeys, and other animals roamed there, making it exceedingly delightful. The mountain was attended by gods beginning with Indra, by perfected beings, celestial bards, serpent-spirits, sages, yakshas, apsarases, and other hosts of divine beings. Thus, Mārkaṇḍeya saw the splendid Sumeru as he wandered within the body of the boy. He saw Himavat, Hemakūṭa, Niṣadha, Gandhamādana, Śveta, Durdhara, Nīla, Kailāsa, and Mandara mountains. He saw Mahendra, Malaya, Vindhya, Pāriyātra, Arbuda, Sahya, Śuktimān, Maināka, and Vakraparvata mountains as well, and many other earth-supporting ranges, all adorned with jewels. He saw Kurukṣetra, the Pāñcālas, Matsyas, Madras, Kekayas, Bāhlīkas, Śūrasenas, Kāśmīras, Taṅgaṇas, and Khasas. He saw the mountain-dwellers, Kirātas, those with ear-ornaments, the desert peoples, the outcastes, and all other outcaste tribes—all within the divine child’s body. Thus, Mārkaṇḍeya, the great sage, witnessed the entire cosmos within the Lord, marveling at the wonders hidden in the heart of the Supreme Person.