She appeared, fair of form and radiant, her beauty surpassing compare, shining with the splendor of a hundred moons. Seated upon a magnificent throne studded with jewels, she was honored and praised as the very cause of all creation. At that very moment, Krishna revealed himself in two wondrous forms. One form was as clear as pure crystal, dazzling with the brilliance of ten million suns. The other shone with the hue of molten gold, his matted locks crowning a transcendent presence. This golden form was clad only in the directions, his throat a deep blue, and serpents adorned him as ornaments. With five faces chanting sacred sounds, he manifested as the eternal light of Brahman, the source of all causes, the most auspicious of all that is auspicious. Praised as the conqueror of death itself, he became known as Mṛtyuñjaya, the Death of death. Then, as Śrī Nārāyaṇa explained, at the appointed time, this divine being once again assumed a dual form. In the midst of these manifestations, there appeared an infant, shining with the radiance of ten million suns. This child, abandoned by father and mother, floated unsupported in the midst of the cosmic waters. He was known as Mahāvirāṭ, the greatest among the great, the grossest among the gross. Yet, he was but a sixteenth part of Krishna’s supreme radiance. Within every pore of Mahāvirāṭ’s skin existed all the worlds in their entirety. The number of these worlds, driven by the force of rajas, could never be counted. In every universe, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and other divine beings resided. Above all these realms lay Vaikuṇṭha, situated outside the cosmic egg. Still higher was a vast sphere spanning fifty crore yojanas. The earth itself was composed of seven continents, each surrounded by seven oceans. Above the earth rose the seven heavenly realms, culminating in Brahmaloka. Beyond the earth was Bhurloka; higher still, Bhuvarloka; then Tapoloka; and, at the summit, Satyaloka. All of these, both within and without, were artificial constructs. Like bubbles upon water, the assemblies of the universe were fleeting and impermanent. In every single pore of Mahāvirāṭ’s hair, a cosmic egg existed. Within each cosmic egg, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and countless others dwelled, along with the guardians of the directions, protectors of the quarters, the stars, planets, and more. In time, the great Virat, gazing upward again and again, became lost in thought. Afflicted by hunger, he wept repeatedly. Then, in that very place, Brahma beheld the eternal light—Krishna himself—smiling, holding a flute, bestower of grace upon his devotees. Pleased, the Lord of boons granted Virat a blessing suited to the moment: “O child, become the abode of countless universes until the time of dissolution. May you be free from disease, death, old age, sorrow, and all afflictions.” Having spoken thus, Krishna softly uttered the great six-syllabled mantra into Virat’s right ear, beginning with Om and ending in the vocative ‘Krishna.’ Having bestowed this mantra, the Lord arranged for the offering of food. It was decreed that in every universe, a Vaiṣṇava should offer food as naivedya, an offering to the attributeless Self, who is also the fullness found even in darkness. Whatever naivedya a person offers, to whichever deity, is thus sanctified by this divine arrangement.