After bestowing that supreme mantra, the Lord addressed Virāṭ once more. Hearing the words of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the great Virāṭ responded with deep reverence. “O Lord,” he said, “for as long as my life endures—be it but a moment or an age—I offer myself to you. Truly, anyone in this world who possesses devotion to you is ever-liberated, even while living. Without devotion to Kṛṣṇa, what is the use of recitation, austerity, sacrifice, or ritual worship? For one bereft of such devotion, life itself is wasted. “As long as the self dwells in the body, it is endowed with power. And you, O greatly fortunate one, are the Self of all, transcending nature itself.” Having spoken thus, the sage Nārada, who stood nearby, fell silent in awe. Śrī Kṛṣṇa then spoke, his voice filled with assurance: “Even when countless Brahmās reach their dissolution, you shall not fall from your state, O Virāṭ. By a portion of yourself, become Virāṭ in every separate universe, my son. On the forehead of Brahmā, and among the eleven Rudras, you will abide. Among these Rudras, Kālāgnirudra is the one who brings about the destruction of the universe. By my boon, you will always possess unwavering devotion to me. My beautiful mother, too, rests upon my chest.” After these words, the Lord ascended to heaven and spoke with Brahmā and Śaṅkara. Śrī Kṛṣṇa continued, “Listen: within the pore of the great Virāṭ, and within that of the small creator, a wondrous event occurs. Go, child—O Mahādeva—be born from the forehead of Brahmā.” When the Lord of the worlds, son of the creator, had spoken thus, he too became silent. Within the pore of the great Virāṭ, in the cosmic egg, in the sphere of water, there appeared a youthful, dark-complexioned being, clad in yellow garments, lying serenely upon a watery couch. From his navel, a lotus blossomed, and from that lotus, Brahmā was born. The lotus-born Brahmā tried to reach the end of the stalk of Padmanābha, but could not find its limit. Returning to his own place, Brahmā meditated upon the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. There, lying on the watery couch and enveloped by the cosmic egg, Śrī Kṛṣṇa remained, while in Goloka he was surrounded by the cowherds and the cowherd maidens. The mind-born sons of Brahmā—Sanaka and his brothers—came into being. Viṣṇu manifested in Pātāla, on the left side of the small creator. In the navel-lotus of the small creator, Brahmā then fashioned the universe. Thus, in every pore, the entire universe exists individually. This, dear child, is the auspicious narration of Kṛṣṇa. At this, Nārada spoke: “O Lord, now please describe the origin of the Prakṛtis. Who worshipped whom, and how was this made known among mortals? Tell me of her protective hymn, her praise, her meditation, her power, and her auspicious deeds.” Nārāyaṇa replied: “Sāvitrī, during the act of creation, is remembered as Nature in a fivefold form. She was worshipped, celebrated, and her power is supremely wondrous. The portions and aspects of this Nature, and their auspicious deeds, are manifest as Vāṇī, Vasundharā, Gaṅgā, Ṣaṣṭhī, and Maṅgalacaṇḍikā. All these are equal to me in brilliance, form, and quality. Their deeds, though briefly told, are meritorious and exceedingly beautiful.