O wise one, listen as I recount the wondrous happenings that unfolded in the highest realms. From the divine pore of the Lord of Goloka, a marvelous event took place. In form, in virtue, in attire, and in valor, there arose from the very pores of Śrī Rādhā's body the cowherd maidens—the gopīs—each radiant and adorned with jeweled ornaments, their beauty ever-youthful and unfading. Meanwhile, O Brahmin, a sudden and resplendent manifestation occurred from the body of Kṛṣṇa himself. The sovereign goddess Nārāyaṇī appeared, she who is the embodiment of all powers, the very seed-form of all goddesses, the primal nature, the supreme Lady of all. Her radiance was like molten gold, shining with the brilliance of ten million suns. She stood three-eyed, bearing many kinds of weapons and missiles, her form both awe-inspiring and gracious. It is by her portions and sub-portions that all women have come into being. She bestows prosperity upon those who desire it, especially to householders; she grants liberation to those who seek freedom, and brings happiness to the happy. Among ascetics she is austerity itself, among kings she is beauty, in the moon she is splendor, and among lotuses, she is the most beautiful. By her the self is empowered, and through her the world is endowed with all its power. She is the eternal seed-form from which the tree of worldly existence springs forth. Hunger, thirst, compassion, faith, sleep, drowsiness, forgiveness, fortitude—all these qualities are her manifestations. Having been praised thus, the goddess stood before the Lord of all. In that very moment, the Four-faced One—Brahmā—appeared there with his consort. He bore a water-pot and shone with the glory of ascetic wisdom, foremost among the wise. His wife was fair of form, most beautiful, radiant like a hundred moons. Seated upon a splendid jeweled throne, she was praised as the very cause of all things. At that very moment, Kṛṣṇa revealed himself in two distinct forms. One was clear as pure crystal, shining with the brilliance of ten million suns. The other had the hue of molten gold, with matted locks, transcendent and radiant. This form was clad only in the directions, blue-throated, adorned with serpents as ornaments. With five faces, he chanted the sacred hymns, the eternal light of Brahman. He is the cause of all causes, the most auspicious among all that is auspicious. Praised as the Death of death, he became known as Mṛtyuñjaya, the conqueror of death. Then, Śrī Nārāyaṇa spoke: At the appointed time, that Lord again became twofold in form. In the midst of these divine manifestations, an infant appeared, shining with the brilliance of ten million suns. Abandoned by father and mother and unsupported, he lay in the midst of the cosmic waters. This was Mahāvirāṭ, the god who is the grossest among the gross. He is but one-sixteenth portion of the radiance of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Self. Within each and every pore of Mahāvirāṭ's skin, all the worlds exist in their entirety. Just as the number of worlds cannot ever be counted due to the influence of rajas, so also, in each universe, there are Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and others presiding over creation, preservation, and dissolution. Above all these universes lies Vaikuṇṭha, which is beyond the cosmic egg. Higher still is a sphere, measuring fifty crore yojanas across. And below, the earth is composed of seven continents, each joined with seven oceans, forming the foundation of the created worlds. Thus, the wondrous play of the Lord and his energies unfolded, revealing the sacred order of the cosmos.