All the moving and unmoving beings in the universe, along with the gods led by Brahma himself, exist within the vastness of creation. To that Supreme Self, the Lord—who is most complete, most praiseworthy, and ever blissful—I bow. Even Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and others, despite their greatness, cannot fully praise him. Nor can the Vedas, nor the wisest among the wise, ever encompass his glory in words. Having spoken thus, the goddess Durga, seated upon a throne adorned with jewels and supported by a lion, concluded her hymn to Krishna, the Supreme Self. Though Durga departed from his house, she never truly leaves it; her presence remains eternal. Sauti then spoke: The goddess, radiant like pure crystal, appeared alone and enchanting. She was clothed in white garments, adorned with every ornament, and stood before the Supreme, Eternal Brahman, offering her praise. Savitri said: The One who is beyond the highest, dark-hued, changeless, and stainless. Having spoken, the smiling goddess sat upon the splendid jeweled throne. Afterward, she appeared before Krishna, the Supreme Self. Krishna, with his five arrows, agitates the minds of all lovers. From the left side of that man, the best of desiring women—Kama’s beloved—arose. Rati, beloved of all, appeared, smiling and virtuous. Having praised Hari, Kama remained there together with Rati in Hari’s presence. Kama then released all his arrows—those that kill, stupefy, cause yawning, and dry up—testing their power. Upon seeing Rati, Brahma’s seed was released. The blazing fire burned up his garment and rose up. Witnessing this increase, Krishna, through his own playful act, created water. He flooded the universe with water arising from a drop from his mouth. From that moment onward, fire is extinguished by water. From those waters, a single man arose—he is known as Varuna. From the left side of that fire, a maiden appeared. From the left side of Varuna, the lord of waters, another maiden was born. The glorious wind arose, born from the breath of the Supreme. From the left side of that wind, a maiden was born. By Krishna’s arrow of desire, another discharge of seed occurred. After a thousand years, it took the form of a water-bubble, within a single pore of whose body the entirety of the universe abides. Yet, he is but a sixteenth part of Krishna, the Supreme Soul. He lay upon the great ocean, like a lotus leaf upon water. From those waters, beings arose, intent on slaying Brahma. The entire earth came into being from that very marrow. For the removal of my doubt, you ought to explain this to me. All the account of the creation at the beginning, as I have related, O twice-born one, began with the establishment of Narayana and Maheshvara. At the very beginning of the Brahma-kalpa, this narrative was told, O twice-born one.