Upon a couch of exquisite splendor, covered with fine fabrics and gleaming with the radiance of a rainbow, sat a lady of incomparable beauty. She was adorned in red garlands and garments, her body anointed with fragrant red perfumes. Her eyes were deep and red, shining bright like a flash of lightning, and her face was lovely, radiant, with lips and teeth of vivid red. Her brilliance surpassed even millions of Lakṣmīs, her entire form glowing like the orb of the sun. In her hands she held a noose, a goad, and the gifts of desired boons. This was Śrī Bhuvaneśvarī, never before seen by any of us, her gentle smile gracing her supremely lovely visage. She was attended by flocks of birds, all devoted to reciting the sacred hrīṃ mantra. Reddish in hue, she embodied compassion, a maiden blossoming in the fullness of youth. Her beauty was adorned with every kind of ornament, her lotus-like face radiant with a gentle smile, and her full, uplifted breasts surpassed even the buds of lotuses. She wore ornaments set with countless gems, golden armlets, bracelets, and a crown, all enhancing her splendor. Her lotus face was further adorned with golden earrings shaped like the Śrīcakra. She was called Hṛllekhā Bhuvaneśī, ever devoted to the recitation of her own names. Always 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, she sat at the center of a hexagon, upon the king of yantras. When we beheld her, awe struck us all—we wondered, “Who is this lovely lady? What is her name? We do not know, standing here.” From afar, she shone with a thousand radiant eyes, endowed with a thousand hands and a thousand beautiful faces. We realized, “She is not an apsaras, nor a gandharvī, nor a divine maiden,” and our hearts were filled with doubt. Then, Lord Viṣṇu, seeing her gentle smile, resolved in his mind and spoke to the Mother from his own deep 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, attainable through yoga, yet elusive; she is the supreme will of the Highest Self, embodying both the eternal and the transient. 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 are devoted to her service, 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? 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. 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.” Viṣṇu continued, “This is the noble lady who was seen in the great ocean, the great Goddess in child form, joyfully rocking me. Lying on a banyan leaf, on a firm and steady couch, placing her big toe in her hand and setting 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. Indeed, she is our mother; listen, I will tell you that which I experienced before, as recognition has arisen.” Then Vishnu began to compose a hymn to the Goddess. Brahma spoke: After Vishnu, Janardana, said this, he addressed us again: “Let us go to her side, bowing again and again. This great Māyā, the bestower of boons, will surely grant us blessings; let us approach her presence and praise her, fearless, at her feet. If the attendants standing at the door prevent us, we will remain there and recite hymns to the Goddess with focused minds.” When Hari spoke these words, both of us became exceedingly delighted and firmly resolved, eager to approach her. Uttering 'Om,' all three of us quickly descended from the celestial chariot, exited to the doorway, and were filled with apprehension in our minds. Then the Divine Goddess, seeing all those stationed at the door, smiled and immediately made the three of us assume the form of women. We became young women, beautiful and adorned with lovely ornaments, filled with utmost wonder, and again reached her presence. She, seeing us standing there in female form at her feet, gazed upon us—her graceful body radiant—with eyes full of love. We bowed before that great Goddess, standing in front of her, looking at one another, appearing as women adorned with beautiful ornaments.