The sages once asked, "How do the abodes of the gods exist, and how are the luminaries described?" Eager to hear the truth, they turned to the Sūta, who listened with full attention and prepared to answer. He spoke, drawing upon the wisdom handed down by the great sages, those whose knowledge and insight were profound. He explained, "The abodes of the gods in this world are remembered as the Sun, the Moon, and the planets. These divine abodes are of many kinds: some are celestial, some material, some of fire, some of the atmosphere, and some of the earth. Yet, in the beginning, all of this was unmanifest, veiled in the darkness of night. "In that primordial darkness, the self-born Lord, intent on establishing the order of the world, set about His work. At the beginning of creation, He beheld fire, present within both earth and water. The wind that moves through this world, O King, is itself said to be a form of fire. "There are different kinds of fire: electric and aquatic. Let me describe their qualities. The sun, with its radiant rays, drinks up the waters of the earth and shines brilliantly in the sky. The fire that resides in the stomachs of living beings is also sustained by water. Some forms of brilliance are found in the waters, while others are seen in the clouds above. "The fire that is carried by the wind shines brightly, but the fire within the stomach is said to be without outward luster. As the sun sets, its radiance withdraws to the abodes of the gods. When the sun rises again, the fiery heat reenters it. Brightness and heat are the very energies of the sun and fire. "Know that, in the northern half of the earth, the sun is present, and in the southern half, fire resides. Because of this, the waters are heated by the interplay of day and night. At night, the waters appear bright and shining once more. At sunrise and sunset, the waters are said to enter into the cycles of day and night. "That which is mingled with the earthly and fiery elements is called the pure celestial fire. This fire draws up water through a thousand channels in every direction. All beings, both stationary and moving, as well as the waters from streams and other sources, are involved in this process. Of these channels, four hundred pour forth water in various forms. "The rays of the sun, called 'nectar,' cause the rain to fall. There are many forms of clouds: some are visible, some southern, some formed over lakes, and some from icy formations. There are also white clouds, illusory clouds, clouds in the form of cows, and those that support all life. "The sun divides its channels equally among humans, ancestors, and gods. With its nectar-like rays, it nourishes all the gods in three distinct ways. In the rainy season and in autumn, the sun pours down rain through four streams. "Indra, Dhata, Bhaga, Pusha, Mitra, Varuna, and Yama—these deities preside over the months and the rays. In the month of Magha, Varuna rules; in Phalguna, Pusha; in Jyeshtha, Indra; in Ashadha, Savita, the Sun himself. Parjanya presides over Ashvayuja, and Tvashtri, the Sun, over Kartika. "Varuna has five thousand rays in the work of the Sun. Dhata has eight thousand, and Shatakratu—Indra—has nine thousand rays. Sitra shines with seven rays, and Tvashtri with eight. Vishnu illumines the earth with six thousand rays. "In the rainy season, the Sun appears white in color; in autumn, he takes on a pale hue." Thus, the Sūta revealed the mysteries of the divine abodes and the workings of the luminaries, as remembered by the wise.