From me, all beings arise, and into me they return again. Those ascetics who are intent upon peace, who have mastered themselves and seek true knowledge, ultimately attain me. Freed from desire, anger, and hatred, unattached and pure, established in goodness, without pride, and always skilled in spiritual knowledge—such Brahmins, ever contemplating me, worship me. I am the consuming fire; I am the consuming light. I am the consuming sun and wind; whatever star-forms you see in the sky, know that all the oceans and treasure-houses in every direction are my very pores. My desires, anger, joy, fear, and delusion are the forms of my clothing, bed, and dwelling. Know, O best of sages, that all these are my forms, and people attain them by performing 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 out of desire; those who study the Veda properly and worship with various sacrifices—those twice-born, with peaceful minds and conquered anger, attain me. But those who perform evil deeds cannot reach me. Know me as the great fruit for humans of noble mind—not for the wretched, ignoble, and self-unformed who are overcome by greed. I am exceedingly difficult to attain for the deluded who pursue false practices. Whenever righteousness declines and unrighteousness rises, O noble one, I manifest myself. Demons attached to violence become invincible even for the best of gods. When fierce rakshasas arise in this world, I am born in the homes of those who perform virtuous deeds. Entering a human body, I pacify everything. Having created gods, humans, gandharvas, serpents, rakshasas, and all stationary beings, I withdraw them by my own power. At the time of action, reflecting, I again create the body. Entering a human form for the sake of establishing boundaries, righteousness is white in the Krita age, dark in the Treta, red in Dvapara, and black in Kali. In Kali, three parts of unrighteousness arise. When the end time arrives, becoming time itself, exceedingly fierce, I 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 direct the wheel of time; that form of mine is Brahma, the pacifier of all beings, the cause of all endeavors. Thus my self is rightly established, O best of sages, in all beings, yet no one knows me. In all worlds, my devotees worship me everywhere. Whatever hardship you have attained in me, O twice-born, is all for the arising of happiness and your welfare, O sinless one. Whatever you have seen in the world, moving or unmoving, all that is established by me, the soul who fosters beings. I am called Narayana, bearer of conch, discus, and mace. As long as a thousand ages pass, O sage among Brahmins, so long I sleep as the soul of the universe, deluding all worlds. Thus, O best of sages, I am time here in all things; as an infant, I remain in infant form until Brahma awakens. And I have granted you, O foremost of Brahmins, the boon in the form of Brahma, 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 this world was revealed to you. When you entered within my body and beheld the entire world, you were amazed and did not comprehend. Then, O best of sages, I swiftly expelled you from my mouth. I have told you this, and my true nature is difficult for gods and demons to know. Until that blessed Lord Brahma, great in austerity, becomes aware, you, O best of sages, may dwell here confidently and happily. Then, when the Grandfather of all worlds awakens, I alone, O best of twice-born, will create all beings and bodies. Space, earth, fire, wind, water, and whatever else exists in the world, whether immobile or mobile, will be created here. Having spoken thus, O sages, Mādhava addressed him again, his voice deep as thunder, when a thousand ages had passed. “O sage, tell me truly for what purpose you praised me; choose the best boon, for I shall grant it to you without delay. You are long-lived among the gods, devoted to me, firm in your vows; therefore, O best of Brahmins, you shall again obtain long life.” Hearing these auspicious words and beholding him, the sage at once bowed down with his head, offered obeisance, and spoke again: “O Lord of gods, I have seen your supreme form, O best of Brahmins; this delusion has truly departed upon seeing you, O Hari. So it is, O Lord; by your grace, I desire only this: for the welfare of the worlds and the pacification of various disputes.