O Narada, listen as the mysteries of creation, the divisions of time, and the countless universes are revealed. He alone, Krishna, is the supreme Lord of all universes. Brahma and the other deities are but portions of Him; even Mahāvirāṭ is a portion of a portion of His greatness. This Krishna manifests Himself in two distinct forms: sometimes with two arms, sometimes with four. Everything—from Brahma himself down to the tiniest blade of grass—belongs to the nature of Prakriti. Yet, know that the one root of creation is true, eternal, and everlasting. Though He is without attributes and form, He assumes a form to show grace to His devotees. In His two-armed form, Krishna holds a flute, clad as a youthful cowherd, enchanting all. The creator, Brahma, born from the lotus and whose essence is pure knowledge, fashions the universe. It is by Brahma’s knowledge and austerity that the Lord of all arises, and none is greater than Him. Mahāmāyā, Prakriti, is the supreme goddess endowed with all powers. Savitri, the mother and presiding deity of the Vedas, governs all knowledge and has been revered by the wise since ancient times. Through her service and austerity, she grants all wealth. By her worship and penance, she became sovereign, worthy of reverence by all, and obtained the Lord of all as her husband. Born from Krishna’s left portion, she presides over Krishna’s love, possessing surpassing beauty, fortune, and dignity. In former times, she performed severe austerities on the mountain called Shataśṛṅga. Emaciated and breathless, yet radiant like a digit of the moon, she was granted a rare boon by Krishna: the essence of good fortune, honor, love, and dignity. Thus, she became the most excellent and revered, praised and worshipped by me. Having spoken thus, the Lord of the worlds created that consciousness. The goddesses worshipped by those whose service Savitri received also performed austerities: Sarasvati on Mount Gandhamadana, Lakshmi at Pushkara for a hundred ages, Savitri at Malaya, becoming worthy of worship by the twice-born. In ancient times, Shankara performed penance for a hundred manvantaras, and Vishnu for a hundred manvantaras became the protector. Shesha devotedly performed austerity for a manvantara, and Vayu, purified by a divine hundred ages of penance. In this way, by Krishna’s austerity, all the gods were worshipped. Thus, O Narada, everything has been told to you: the Purana, the Agama, and all their mysteries. Narada then asked, “At the time of dissolution, you described the natural fall. During that dissolution, the earth was not seen. Where did she remain at that time? How did she become blessed, honored, the support of all, and victorious?” Shri Narayana replied, “Manifestation and disappearance occur in all dissolutions.