O sage, we wish to hear of that supreme and auspicious chant of Brahman, by which Keshava was worshipped through recitation by the sage Kaṇḍu. Know that Vishnu is the Supreme—beyond the beyond, limitless and transcendent over all. He is the supreme Self, the ultimate Brahman, the highest among the highest, and even beyond what is beyond. He is the cause, yet abides in the cause of causes; he is the reason for even that, the ultimate cause of all causes. Though he is the effect, he manifests here in many forms as the doer of all actions. He is Brahman, the Lord, the very essence of all beings—the imperishable master of creatures, the unfailing one. He is the eternal, unborn Vishnu, unattached to all that is subject to decline. Just as he is the imperishable, unborn, eternal Brahman, the supreme person, so may passions and other faults be calmed within me. Hearing the sage’s recitation of the supreme Brahman-chant, O best of twice-born, and recognizing his firm and highest devotion, the Supreme Person was deeply pleased. With supreme affection for his devotee, the Lord—who is always fond of those who love him—approached Kaṇḍu and spoke, O destroyer of Madhu. With a voice deep as thunder, resounding in all directions, the Lord ascended Garuḍa, the mighty son of Vinatā, and appeared before the sage. He spoke: “O sage, speak your highest wish, whatever is in your mind. I have come as the granter of boons. Choose your boon, O steadfast one.” Hearing these words from the Lord of gods, the wielder of the discus, Kaṇḍu suddenly opened his eyes and beheld Hari standing before him. He saw the Lord radiant like the flax flower, with eyes wide as lotus petals, holding conch, discus, and mace, adorned with a crown and armlets. With four arms, noble limbs, clad in yellow garments, auspicious and marked with the Śrīvatsa, adorned with a garland of forest flowers, the Lord stood before him. The Lord was endowed with all auspicious marks, adorned with every jewel, his divine body anointed with celestial sandalwood, decorated with heavenly garlands. Overwhelmed with wonder, his hair standing on end, the sage prostrated himself flat upon the ground and offered his respects. “Today my birth is fulfilled, today my austerity is fruitful,” exclaimed Kaṇḍu, the foremost of sages, and began to praise the Lord: “O Nārāyaṇa, O Hari, O Krishna, bearer of the Śrīvatsa mark, Lord of the universe, seed of the universe, abode of the universe, witness of the universe—salutations to you! Unmanifest, victorious, source of all, supreme among Purushas, lotus-eyed Govinda, lord of the worlds, I bow to you. Hiranyagarbha, lord of fortune, lord of the lotus, eternal one, earth’s womb, steadfast ruler, master of the senses, I bow to you. Without beginning or end, immortal, unconquered, victorious, best among the victorious, undefeated, indivisible, Shri Krishna, abode of fortune, I bow to you. Creator of rain and righteousness, difficult to cross, firmly established, destroyer of suffering and distress, Hari who lies upon the waters, I bow to you. Lord of beings, unmanifest, master of beings, undisturbed by the elements, dwelling within beings, soul of beings, womb of beings, I bow to you. Sacrifice, sacrificer, supporter of sacrifice, giver of fearlessness, womb of sacrifice, golden-limbed, born of Prishni, I bow to you. Knower of the field, sustainer of the field, indweller of the field, destroyer of the field, creator of the field, sovereign, soul of the field, beyond the field, creator of the field, I bow to you. Abode of qualities, dwelling of qualities, refuge of qualities, bringer of qualities, enjoyer of qualities, delighting in qualities, renouncer of qualities, I bow to you. You are Vishnu, you are Hari, wielder of the discus, you are the victorious one, you are Janardana, you are the elements, you are the Vaṣaṭ call, you are the future, you are the lord of becoming. You are the creator of beings, you are the unmanifest, you are Bhava, supporter of beings, you are the originator of beings; the gods call you the unborn, the lord. You are infinite, knower of deeds, you are nature, you are Vrishakapi, you are Rudra, hard to overcome, unfailing, you are the lord. You are the maker of the universe, the victorious one, you are Shambhu, of bull form, you are Shankara, you are Ushanas, you are truth, you are austerity, you are the people. You are the conqueror of the universe, you are refuge, you are the protector, you are the imperishable, you are Shambhu, you are self-born, you are the eldest, you are the supreme goal. You are the sun, you are Om, you are life-breath, you are the dispeller of darkness, you are the rain-giver, you are renowned, you are the creator, you are the lord of the gods. You are the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas; you are the self, so regarded; you are fire, you are wind, you are water, you are the earth. You are the creator, likewise the enjoyer, the offerer, you are the offering, the sacrifice, you are the lord, you are all-pervading, the best, you are the infallible lord of the worlds. You are all-seeing, glorious, subduer of all, destroyer of enemies; you are day, you are night, the wise call you the year. You are time, you are its divisions and measures, you are the moment, the instant, the atom; you are child, you are old man, you are male, female, and neuter. You are the source of the universe, you are the eye, you are the steadfast one, you of pure fame; you are eternal, you are unconquered, you are Upendra, you are supreme. You are the giver of happiness to all the worlds, you are the limbs of the Veda, you are imperishable; you are the knower of the Veda, you are the creator, the arranger, you are composed. You are the ocean to its depths, you are the sustainer, you are again the wealth; you are the healer, you are self-controlled, you are beyond the reach of the senses. You are the leader, the chief, you are the Suparna, you are the first-born; you are the support, you are the greatest, you are self-controlled, you are the unfallen one. You are restraint, you are discipline, you are exalted, you are four-armed; you alone are the inner self of food, you are called the supreme self. You are the teacher, you are the greatest teacher, you are the left, you are auspicious; you are the fig tree, you are the scripture, you are manifest, you are the lord of creatures.” Thus did the sage Kaṇḍu, filled with devotion and awe, worship the Supreme Person with heartfelt praise, his austerities and birth now truly fulfilled by the vision of the Lord.