Listen, O wise one, as the Supreme Being revealed the truth of his all-encompassing nature. He declared: “I am Viṣṇu, the preserver; I am Brahmā, the creator; I am also Śakra, the lord of the gods. I am Vaiśravaṇa, the king of wealth, and Yama, the lord of the departed. I am Śiva, the auspicious one, and Soma, the moon. I am Kaśyapa, the sage, and Prajāpati, the lord of creatures. I am Dhātā and Vidhātā, the ordainers of destiny, and I am the very sacrifice itself, O best of Brahmins. Fire is my mouth, the earth is my feet, the moon and sun are my eyes. The sky forms my head, space is my body, the directions are my ears, and water springs from my sweat. With the directions and space as my frame, the wind dwells within my mind. I have been honored with countless sacrifices, many of which were performed with generous gifts. Those who know the Vedas worship me, established in the sacred rites; and upon the earth, the kings and rulers, longing for heaven, worship me as well. In the same way, the Vaiśyas, eager to attain the heavenly realms, worship me—whose ornaments are the great mountains Meru and Mandara, whose dominion spreads to the four oceans. It is I alone who, taking the form of Śeṣa, uphold the earth. In ancient times, when I assumed the form of the Boar, this world belonged to me. When the earth was sinking into the cosmic waters, O sage, I raised her up by my power. And, O best of twice-born, becoming the submarine fire, I drank up those waters. When the waters are full, I absorb them and then release them again. The Brahmins are my mouth, the Kṣatriyas my arms, and the Vaiśyas have found refuge in my thighs. The Śūdras are my feet, each in their proper place and strength. The Ṛgveda, Sāmaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda—all these arise from me and return into me. Ascetics, intent on peace, self-controlled, and seeking knowledge, ultimately attain me. Those who are free from desire, anger, and hatred, who are unattached, pure, established in goodness, without pride, and always skilled in spiritual knowledge—such Brahmins, ever meditating upon me, worship me. I am the consuming fire, I am the consuming light. I am the radiant sun, I am the powerful wind. All the stars visible in the sky, O best of twice-born, and all the oceans and treasure-houses in every direction—know that these are my very pores. My desires, anger, joy, fear, and delusion—know these, O sage, as the forms of my clothing, my bed, and my dwelling. All these are my forms, and people attain them through virtuous deeds. Truth, charity, severe austerity, and nonviolence toward all beings—these are prescribed by me for those who dwell within my body. Those whose knowledge is subdued by me do not act from desire. Those who study the Veda properly and worship with various sacrifices—such twice-born souls, with peaceful minds and conquered anger, attain me. But I am not attained by those who perform evil deeds. Know me as the great fruit for humans of noble mind, not for the wretched and ignoble, who are overcome by greed and lack self-restraint. I am exceedingly difficult to attain for those deluded by false practices. Whenever righteousness declines, O noble one, and unrighteousness rises, then I manifest myself. The demons, attached to violence, become invincible even for the gods. When fierce rakṣasas arise in the world, I am born in the homes of the virtuous. Entering a human body, I bring peace to all. Having created gods, humans, gandharvas, serpents, and rakṣasas, and all stationary beings, I withdraw them by my own power. When it is time to act, I reflect and create the body anew. I enter a human form to establish the boundaries of righteousness. In the Krita age, righteousness is white; in the Treta age, my form is dark; in the Dvapara, it is red; and in the Kali age, it is black, with three parts of unrighteousness arising. When the end time arrives, I become time itself—fierce and all-consuming—and destroy the three worlds, all that is moving and unmoving. I am threefold righteousness, the soul of the universe, the bringer of happiness to all worlds—undivided, all-pervading, infinite, master of the senses, mighty in stride. I alone turn the wheel of time; that form of mine is Brahma, the pacifier and the cause of all beings' endeavors. Thus, my self is firmly established, O best of sages, in all beings—yet none truly knows me. In all worlds, my devotees worship me everywhere. Whatever hardship you have endured in me, O twice-born, is for the arising of your happiness and welfare. Whatever you have witnessed in this world, moving or unmoving, is all established by me, the soul who nurtures all beings. I am called Nārāyaṇa, bearer of the conch, discus, and mace. For a thousand ages, O sage among Brahmins, I sleep as the soul of the universe, deluding all worlds. Thus, O best of sages, I am time in all things; as an infant, I take infant form, until Brahmā awakens. And I have granted you, O foremost of Brahmins, the boon in the form of Brahmā, repeatedly satisfied and honored by hosts of Brahmin sages. When all that is stable and moving was dissolved into a single ocean, you emerged, unknown to me; then the world was revealed to you. When you entered within my body and beheld the entire world, you were amazed and did not comprehend. Thus spoke the Supreme, revealing the mystery of his boundless and all-pervading self.