Radiant and unassailable, the sovereign of all the gods appeared before the son of Aṅga, her presence gracious and her words gentle. She addressed him, saying, “O protector of the earth, whatever supreme boon you desire, speak it. Your austerity has pleased me, and I am ready to grant your wish.” Cākṣuṣa replied with reverence, “O Goddess, Lord of the gods, you know all that is desired and sought for in the mind. Worshipped by the gods, you are the indwelling controller and know all things. Yet, by my good fortune, your vision has appeared to me. Therefore, O Goddess, I ask—grant me the kingdom for the duration of a manvantara.” The Goddess responded, “The kingdom of this manvantara is granted to you, O best of kings. Your sons will be mighty and endowed with great virtues. Your rule will be free from obstacles, and liberation at the end is certain.” Having bestowed this supreme boon upon Manu, the Goddess became invisible, praised with devotion by those present. By her grace and refuge, King Manu—the sixth Manu—was honored as a universal monarch. Surrounded by all the enjoyments befitting such a ruler, his sons were powerful, ready for action, and capable of bearing great responsibilities. They were devoted to the Goddess, heroic, and possessed of strength and valor. Elsewhere, they were respected and brought happiness to the kingdom. Thus, through worship of the Goddess, Cākṣuṣa Manu became a distinguished Manu, and in the end, attained the auspicious state of liberation. Śrī Nārāyaṇa then continued, “The seventh Manu is known as Vaivasvata Manu, the lord Śrāddhadeva, enjoyer of supreme bliss and honored among kings. Vaivasvata Manu, through the grace of the Supreme Goddess and his austerity, became the ruler of the manvantara. The eighth Manu is called Sāvarṇi, renowned on earth. In a previous birth, he worshipped the Goddess and received her boon. Born as the lord of the manvantara, he was honored by all kings, of great valor and courage, devoted to the worship of the Goddess.” Nārada, eager to know more, asked, “How did Sāvarṇi, in a previous birth, worship the Goddess for the sake of becoming Manu? Please tell me this, O you who are worthy to relate it.” Śrī Nārāyaṇa replied, “During the Svārociṣa manvantara, in the lineage of Caitra, there was a king named Suratha, famed for his strength and valor. He appreciated virtues, was a master archer, honored, the best among poets, accomplished, wealthy, and generous to those who asked. A crusher of enemies, proud and skilled in all weapons, he was strong. Yet, kings arose against him and destroyed his clan. His enemies, with their armies, besieged his city, proud of his honor and wealth. King Suratha, surrounded by his army, left his city, determined to destroy all his enemies. But in battle, he was defeated. His ministers and counselors seized all the wealth from his treasury. All his riches were taken, and the radiant king was expelled from his city. Mounting his horse, he entered the forest, seeking game. Alone in the desolate wilderness, he wandered, his mind disturbed. Eventually, he came to the peaceful hermitage of a sage, filled with tranquil creatures and surrounded by groups of the sage’s disciples. Suratha stayed for some time in the hermitage of the eminent sage Sumedhas, who possessed far-reaching vision. One day, the king approached the sage after his worship, bowed quickly, and respectfully asked, ‘O sage, sorrow troubles me constantly. Even though I know the truth and have no heirs, even though I have been conquered and my kingdom taken, attachment to them still arises in my mind. What should I do? Where should I go? How can I find peace? I seek your grace—tell me, best of those who know the Vedas.’ The sage answered, ‘Listen, O king, to the supreme and wondrous account, the incomparable greatness of the Goddess who grants all desires. The Great Goddess pervades the universe, arising from Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva. She forcibly seizes the minds of beings. She restrains the minds for the sake of delusion, creates the universe, and always sustains it. At the time of dissolution, she withdraws everything in the form of Shiva. The Great Goddess, giver of desires, is the dark night of time, difficult to overcome. She is Kāli, destroyer of the universe; Kamalā, the abode of lotuses. In her, all the world is born and established. Into her, all will dissolve; therefore, she is the Supreme beyond the supreme. Whoever receives the grace of the Goddess alone overcomes delusion—never otherwise, O lord of the earth.’ King Suratha listened intently and then asked, ‘Who is that Goddess you spoke of? Tell me, best of those who know time. Who deludes beings, and what is the cause? From what does the Goddess arise? What is her form? What is her nature? Tell me everything, kindly and completely.’ The sage replied, ‘O king, I will describe to you the true nature of the Goddess—listen as I recount how the Goddess arose and by whom, she who pervades the universe. When the god Nārāyaṇa, lord of yoga, had withdrawn the universe, the Blessed One lay asleep upon the serpent Śeṣa, spread out on the ocean. Then, overcome by deep sleep, the god of gods Janārdana, from the dirt of whose ears arose the demons Madhu and Kaiṭabha...