As Vishnu approached, he was struck with wonder at the sight of the supreme city before him. With his lotus-shaped eyes, Hari moved to the front of the magnificent mansion. He was radiant, his complexion like the delicate flax flower, clothed in yellow garments, four-armed, seated majestically upon Garuda, the king of birds, and adorned with divine ornaments. At that moment, Lakshmi, ever lovely, fanned him with auspicious fans. Witnessing the eternal Vishnu in such splendor, all those present were filled with amazement. We gazed at one another, standing together upon that excellent seat, when suddenly the chariot sped away, swift as the wind. Our journey brought us to the ocean of nectar, its sweet waters swirling with great waves, teeming with hosts of aquatic beings. The moving waves adorned its surface, and the shores were exceedingly beautiful, graced by mandara, parijata, and other celestial trees. Various seats were arranged there, and wondrous decorations abounded. Garlands of pearls and other beautiful garlands hung everywhere, while aśoka, bakula, kurubaka, and countless other trees lent further charm. Gentle ketakī and campaka trees surrounded us, their fragrance mingling with the calls of cuckoos and divine scents that filled the air. Bees hummed joyously, enlivening the scene, and in the midst of that wondrous island stood a charming couch shaped like Śiva. The couch was exquisitely inlaid with jewels and precious stones, splendid among the celestial palaces. Fine coverings draped it, and a radiant glow, like a rainbow, adorned its surface. Upon this excellent couch sat a lady of unparalleled beauty. She wore red garlands and garments, anointed with red fragrances, her eyes deeply red, and her form radiant as a flash of lightning. Her face was beautiful, lips and teeth shining red, her brilliance surpassing millions of Lakṣmīs. Her whole form shone like the orb of the sun. In her hands she held the noose, the goad, and the boons desired by devotees. She was Śrī Bhuvaneśvarī, never before seen, crowned with a gentle smile and supremely lovely. Around her, flocks of birds recited the hrīṃ mantra in devotion. She was reddish in hue, the embodiment of compassion, a maiden in the bloom of youth, rich in all ornaments of beauty. Her lotus face was adorned with a gentle smile, and her full, uplifted breasts surpassed even the buds of lotuses. She wore ornaments set with many kinds of gems, golden armlets, bracelets, and a crown. Her lotus face was further adorned with golden earrings shaped like the Śrīcakra. She was known as Hṛllekhā Bhuvaneśī, devoted to the recitation of her names, ever praised by her circle of companions. Bhuvaneśī, the great goddess, was surrounded by celestial maidens such as Hṛllekhā and others. Encircled by goddesses like Anaṅgakusumā and more, she sat at the center of a hexagon, upon the king of yantras. Seeing her, we all stood astonished, wondering, “Who is this lovely lady? What is her name? We do not know, standing here.” From afar, she shone with a thousand eyes, radiant, endowed with a thousand hands, and a thousand beautiful faces. There was no doubt of her divine splendor. We pondered, “She is not an apsaras, nor a gandharvī, nor a divine maiden.” Thus, O Nārada, we stood there, filled with doubt. Then Lord Viṣṇu, seeing her gentle smile, resolved in his mind and spoke to the Mother from his own understanding: “This blessed Goddess is indeed the cause of all for us; she is the great wisdom, the great illusion, the complete and imperishable primal nature. The Goddess is difficult to comprehend for those of little intellect—she is attainable through yoga, yet elusive; she is the supreme will of the Highest Self, embodying both the eternal and the transient.” He continued, “The Goddess, ruler of the universe, auspicious, is hard to propitiate for those of little fortune; she holds the Vedas within, has wide eyes, and is the original sovereign of all. She withdraws the entire universe and plays at its dissolution, placing the marks of all living beings within her own body. She, composed of all seeds, now shines forth, O gods; countless powers stand at her side, visible in succession.” Adorned with divine ornaments and anointed with celestial fragrances, all serve her devotedly, as Brahma and Shiva look on. “We are blessed, greatly fortunate, and now fulfilled, for we have attained this vision of the Goddess herself. The austerity performed in the past with effort has yielded this supreme fruit; otherwise, how could we have obtained this vision with reverence?” He declared, “Those who are repositories of merit, generous ascetics, see the blessed, auspicious Goddess; the passionate do not see her. She is indeed the root nature, always united with the Purusha; she reveals the universe, having created it for the Supreme Self. He is the seer, all the universe is the seen, O gods; she is the cause of all for him, the illusion, the sovereign, the auspicious.” Reflecting further, Vishnu said, “Where am I, and where are all the gods, and celestial women like Rambha? By no means do we equal her, not even by a fraction. This is the noble lady who was seen in the great ocean—the great Goddess in child form, joyfully rocking me.” He recalled, “Lying on a banyan leaf, on a firm and steady couch, she placed her big toe in her hand and set it upon her lotus-like mouth. She licked and played, with many childish gestures, delighting, her tender body resting within the fold of the banyan leaf. Singing and rocking, she remained in child form with me; this is now certainly known to me, as if revealed by vision.” Thus, the gods stood in awe, having witnessed the supreme vision of the Goddess, the source of all, the embodiment of wisdom, illusion, and auspiciousness.