Radiant as a thousand suns, the Queen of the Gods manifested before the six royal sons. Her divine presence purified their very souls, and their hearts overflowed with devotion. Bowing with reverence and emotion, the princes praised her, exclaiming, “Great Lady, Victorious One, Supreme Abode of Compassion! O goddess, who is revealed through Vagbhava and delighted by his worship, whose form is the sacred syllable ‘klīṃ’, you are the giver of joy to those devoted to ‘klīṃ’. You gladden the mind of Kāmarāja and are pleasing to the Lord himself. O great Māyā, supreme in bliss, you bestow the highest sovereignty. In the forms of Vishnu, Surya, Shiva, Indra, and others, you increase all enjoyment.” As the royal sons offered their heartfelt praises, the blessed goddess—her face aglow with grace—spoke auspicious words to them. “Royal sons,” she said, “you are truly great-souled and steadfast in your austerities. Through your worship of me, you have become pure in mind and free from blemish. Ask, without delay, for any boon you desire.” The goddess continued, “I am pleased and will grant whatever is fixed in your hearts.” The royal sons replied, “O goddess, may our kingdom be free from thorns and our lineage long-lived. May our enjoyments be unobstructed as we wish, may we be blessed with fame, brilliance, and wisdom. Let there be unimpeded prosperity for all—this is the boon we seek.” The goddess replied, “So be it, for all of you, whatever is in your minds. Now, listen to another word, spoken with respect: All of you will become lords of the Manvantaras. With long-lasting progeny and many enjoyments, you will have abundant union. With unbroken strength and sovereignty, fame, brilliance, and glory, you royal sons will attain these by my grace, each in turn.” Śrī Nārāyaṇa then said: Thus, having granted them these boons, Bhrāmarī, the Mother of the Universe, swiftly vanished from their sight, while the princes continued to praise her with devotion. In that very lifetime, those royal princes enjoyed supreme sovereignty and the pleasures of the earth, endowed with great power. They established unbroken lineages upon the earth, founding their dynasties and becoming lords among the Manus. In subsequent existences, each attained the status of Sāvarṇi Manu. The first was Dakṣa Sāvarṇi, known as the ninth Manu, who became mighty and unconquerable by the grace of the Goddess. The second was Meru Sāvarṇi, the tenth Manu, who became lord of a Manvantara by the Goddess’s favor. The third, Sūrya Sāvarṇi, was the eleventh Manu, endowed with great energy and perfected by his own austerity. Candra Sāvarṇi became the fourth, and the twelfth Manu, a mighty king who, by worshiping the Goddess, became lord of a Manvantara. The fifth was Rudra Sāvarṇi, the thirteenth Manu, possessed of great strength and might, who became lord of the world. The sixth, Viṣṇu Sāvarṇi, was the fourteenth Manu, accomplished in deeds and renowned among the worlds by the Goddess’s boon. These fourteen Manus, radiant with brilliance and strength, are ever honored and praised throughout the worlds by virtue of their worship of the Goddess and by her grace. At this point, Nārada inquired, “Who is this Goddess Bhrāmarī? How was she born, and what is her nature? Tell me that wondrous story, O wise one, which destroys sorrow. I never tire of drinking the nectar of the Goddess’s stories, for those who do are untouched by death.” Śrī Nārāyaṇa replied, “Listen, Nārada, and I will tell you the deeds of the Mother of the Universe, whose form is inconceivable and unmanifest, wondrous and bestowing liberation. Whatever deeds belong to the blessed Goddess, all are for the sake of the worlds, performed with unfeigned compassion, just as a mother acts for her child.” He continued: “Long ago, there was a great demon named Aruṇa, immensely powerful, who dwelled in Pātāla among the Daityas. He was a fierce enemy of the gods and exceedingly wicked. Desiring to conquer the gods, Aruṇa undertook intense austerities directed toward the Lotus-born, thinking, ‘He will become our protector.’ Aruṇa journeyed to the slopes of Himavat, where the waters of the Gaṅgā are cool and pure. There, subsisting only on fallen leaves, he restrained his breath and absorbed himself in reciting the Gāyatrī. Consumed by desire and enveloped in darkness, he lived for ten thousand years on nothing but water droplets. For another ten thousand years, he survived on air alone, and for ten thousand more, he abstained from all food entirely. Such was the intensity of his austerities that fire arose from his body and burned the entire world, a wondrous sight. The gods trembled, asking, ‘What is this? What is this?’ Terrified, all the worlds sought refuge with Brahmā. Hearing the plea of the gods, the four-faced Brahmā, accompanied by Gāyatrī and mounted on his swan, joyfully set out. He found Aruṇa reduced to mere breath, his veins crowded together, belly shriveled, limbs emaciated, and eyes closed in deep meditation. Yet Aruṇa shone with a brilliance like a second fire. Brahmā said, ‘Choose a boon, good one, whatever is in your heart.’ Hearing these words, which brought satisfaction as if nectar flowed from Brahmā’s mouth, Aruṇa was pleased. Opening his eyes, he beheld before him the lotus-born god, accompanied by Gāyatrī and holding the four Vedas. He saw the eternal Brahmā, holding his rosary and water pot, reciting japa. Rising up, Aruṇa bowed and praised him with many hymns.