The Divine Mother, the supreme Prakriti, addressed the assembled deities with serene confidence: “I drink up all waters, consume fire, and still the wind. Today, as I desire, so I act. O lotus-born Brahma, let there be no doubt in your mind about the reality of all principles; their existence should never be questioned. Sometimes, as with a pot that exists neither in a lump of clay nor in its shards, there is a state of prior non-existence or dissolution. If you wonder, ‘Where has the earth gone?’ when it is not present, know that its atoms have arisen and are manifest in another form. The fundamental principle is described in seven ways: as eternal, as momentary, as void, as both permanent and impermanent, as agent, as ego, and as the foremost. O Creator, receive the great principle and its offspring, the ego, and then create all beings as before. Let them go to their proper abodes, once fashioned, and dwell there; let each perform their appointed tasks, inspired by divinity. Accept, O Brahma, this power—beautiful and lovely-faced, named Mahāsarasvatī, endowed with the quality of passion and most excellent. Clad in white garments, adorned with divine ornaments, and seated upon a splendid seat, she will be your companion in all your creative play. This noble lady will always remain by your side; do not disregard her power, for she is worthy of worship and dear to me. Go now with her at once to the world of truth, and from the fourfold seed, bring forth all beings at this very moment. The subtle bodies, together with living beings and their actions, remain established in time; cause them to exist as before. By the causes known as time, action, and inherent nature, the entire universe—moving and unmoving—should come into being, endowed with their own qualities as before. Always honor and worship Viṣṇu, for he is ever superior due to the predominance of the quality of sattva. Whenever a difficult task arises for you, Hari will descend upon the earth and accomplish it. Taking birth among animals or elsewhere, or assuming a human form, Janārdana will destroy the daityas. This Bhava, too, will be your powerful ally; after creating all the gods, enjoy yourself as you wish. Brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, and vaiśyas, intent and attentive, will worship all of you with various sacrifices and proper offerings. By the utterance of my name in all sacrifices, you gods will always be satisfied and content. Śiva, who is beyond all qualities, must also be honored and diligently worshipped in all sacrificial rites. Whenever fear arises for the gods from the daityas, then my powers, manifesting in splendid forms—Vārāhī, Vaiṣṇavī, Gaurī, Nārasiṃhī, Sadāśivā, and others—will destroy them, and you, O lotus-born, must accomplish their tasks. Always recite this nine-syllabled mantra, together with its seed and meditation; by it, O lotus-born, you will accomplish all tasks. Know, O wise one, that this is the supreme of mantras; it should always be held in your heart for the attainment of all desires and purposes. Having thus spoken, the Mother of the Universe, smiling beautifully, addressed Hari: ‘Viṣṇu, go and accept this enchanting Mahālakṣmī. She will always reside upon your chest—of this there is no doubt. For your delight, I have given you this auspicious power, bestower of all things. Never disregard her; she is always to be honored. This union, known as Lakshmi-Narayana, has been established by me. Sacrifices have been performed by me for the sake of life and for the gods in every way. One must always act in harmony and without opposition with these three. You, the Creator, Shiva, and these gods are all born from my qualities. All will certainly be respected and worshipped by everyone, without doubt. Those humans of deluded mind who create division will go to hell because of that division; there is no doubt about this. He who is Hari is directly Shiva, and Shiva himself is Hari. Whoever establishes a distinction between these two becomes destined for hell. Similarly, the Creator is to be understood in the same way; do not deliberate further on this. There are differences of qualities—listen, O Viṣṇu, I will tell you. Let the primary quality of sattva be yours for contemplation of the Supreme Self. Even in secondary roles, the two are known as possessing rajas and tamas. Always, in transformations and various distinctions, together with Lakshmi, you should enjoy with her, being endowed with the quality of rajas. The seed of speech, the king of desire, and the third, the seed of maya—this mantra, O beloved of Rama, given by me, grants the highest reality. Having received it, recite it always and enjoy as you wish. You will have no fear of death, O Viṣṇu, nor any fear arising from time. As long as this play of mine continues, so it shall be. When I withdraw, I will take back everything, both moving and unmoving in the universe. Then, surely, you all will merge into me. This mantra must always be remembered; it grants desires and also liberation. It should be performed together with the chant of udgitha by one desiring auspiciousness. After establishing Vaikuntha, O Supreme Person, you must reside there. Enjoy as you wish, contemplating me, the Eternal One.” Having thus spoken to Vasudeva, the supreme Prakriti, possessed of the three qualities, bestowed her blessings and instructions upon the gods.