O Great Vishnu, Lord of Dhruva and cause of the universe’s creation, in your incarnation as Matsya, the Fish, you upheld and rescued the sacred Vedas. O Satyavrata, Lord of the earth, we bow to you in your fish form—victory to you, destroyer of demons and accomplisher of the gods’ work! We offer obeisance to you, bestower of nectar, who appeared as the Tortoise. Victory to you, who assumed the primal Boar form to destroy ancient demons. Again, we bow to you who took the form of the Boar to raise up the earth, and who, as Narasimha, tore apart the great demon. Obeisance to Narahari, who with his nails tore the body of the boon-intoxicated demon! You assumed the form of Vamana and bewildered the lordship of the three worlds. In that form, you unsettled Bali; we bow to you, enemy of the thousand-armed, destroyer of wicked kshatriyas. Born from Renuka’s womb, we bow to you as Jamadagni’s son, most skilled in cutting off the heads of wicked rakshasas and the Paulastya. O illustrious son of Dasharatha, obeisance to you of infinite steps! When demons like Kamsa and Duryodhana stained the earth, you, the great Lord, relieved her burden, established dharma, and drove away sin. We bow to Krishna, the divine one, for the destruction of wicked sacrifices and the cessation of animal slaughter. Obeisance to that God who assumed the form of Buddha for this purpose! When the world was filled with mlecchas and oppressed by wicked kings, we bow to you, Lord of gods, who will assume the form of Kalki. These ten incarnations, O God, are truly for the protection of devotees. For the destruction of wicked demons, you are the remover of all suffering. Victory to you, destroyer of devotees’ distress, who have assumed forms among women and water-born beings. Who else but you, O God, is a treasure of compassion, by whom these forms have been assumed? Having thus praised the Lord of Lords, clad in yellow garments, the foremost among the gods bowed down in full prostration. Hearing their hymn, the blessed Supreme Person, wielder of the mace, delighted them and spoke to all the gods: “I am pleased by this hymn; O gods, cast off your distress. I will destroy your suffering, which is exceedingly hard to bear. Ask of me a boon, O gods, even one most difficult to obtain. “I grant, being supremely pleased by this hymn, that whoever, rising in the morning, recites this hymn with devotion to me—making supreme devotion—sorrow will never touch him. Misfortune and the goddess of calamity will not enter his house. No obstacles, no spirits, no planets, nor Brahmarakshasas; nor diseases arising from wind, bile, or phlegm will afflict him. Untimely death will never befall him; his lineage will endure for a long time, and all enjoyments and happiness will arise. “Such blessings will manifest in the house of that mortal who recites this hymn. Why say more? This hymn accomplishes all aims. By its recitation, enjoyment and liberation are not far off for people. O gods, whatever suffering you have, speak it without doubt. I will destroy it—let there be no doubt at all in this.” Hearing the blessed Lord’s words, all the dwellers of heaven, their minds gladdened, again addressed the bull-bannered one. Sūta said: By the words of the blessed Lord, all the gods were satisfied; their minds became joyful, and they addressed him again. The gods spoke, “O God of gods, great Vishnu, cause of creation, maintenance, and destruction, O Vishnu, the Vindhya mountain is obstructing the path of the sun. Because of this opposition, O great Lord, we are all deprived of our share of enjoyment. What shall we do? Where shall we go?” The Blessed Lord replied, “She who is the originator and increaser of all the worlds, the blessed Goddess—her worshipper, radiant in austerity, is the eminent sage Agastya, who resides in Vārāṇasī. O best of gods, Agastya will be the one to subdue that power. Having propitiated that foremost of twice-born, Agastya of great might, go, O gods, to Kāśī and beseech him for the supreme good.” Sūta continued: Thus instructed by Vishnu, the best of the gods, full of faith and reverence, all went to the city of Vārāṇasī. In a moment, the foremost of the gods reached the auspicious city of Kāśī; entering Maṇikarṇikā, clothed and filled with devotion, they bathed. Having satisfied the gods and ancestors by giving offerings according to the prescribed rites, they came to the great and exalted hermitage of the eminent sage. It was a place peaceful and free from wild beasts, dense with various trees, and frequented by peacocks, cranes, swans, and chakravaka birds. There were great wild boars, mongooses, tigers, leopards, deer, antelopes, and also rhinoceroses and sarabhas in abundance. That eminent sage was endowed with supreme prosperity; all approached him, fell prostrate in reverence, and repeatedly bowed. The gods said: “Victory to you, lord of the twice-born, honored and worshipped by gods and demons; salutations to you, O Kumbhayoni, destroyer of Vātāpī’s strength. O illustrious lord of Lopāmudrā, born of Mitra and Varuṇa, O Agastya, treasure of all knowledge, origin of scriptures, salutations to you. At whose rising even the brightest waters of the oceans become serene; to you, salutations. To you who cause the blooming of the Kāśa flowers, who are dear to the dwellers of Lanka, who are adorned with matted locks, together with your disciples, salutations.