In that sacred place, Vishnu beheld Mahāmāyā, the great goddess, and through her grace received a powerful mantra. As he remembered that supreme Shakti, his form was transformed into a feminine aspect. Filled with a desire to perform a grand sacrifice to Ambikā, the Mother Goddess, the Lord of Lakṣmī left that celestial realm and summoned Maheśvara, the great Lord Shiva. He invited all the prominent deities: Brahmā, Varuṇa, Śakra (Indra), Kubera, Pāvaka (Agni), Yama, and the renowned sages—Vasiṣṭha, Kaśyapa, Dakṣa, Vāmadeva, and Bṛhaspati. Vishnu prepared abundant and splendid materials for the sacrifice, all sattvic in nature and pleasing to the mind. He arranged for the construction of a spacious pavilion by skilled artisans and selected twenty-seven priests, each steadfast in their vows. The altar and broad sacrificial platforms were built with care. The Brāhmaṇas began to recite mantras dedicated to the Goddess, each imbued with her seed syllables. Following the prescribed rituals, they offered oblations into the well-prepared fire with earnest desire. When the sacrifice was complete and the sacred fire established, a bodiless, celestial voice resounded. This melodious voice addressed Vishnu: “O Viṣṇu, you shall always be the foremost among the gods, O Hari. Among all the deities, you will be honored, worshipped, and capable; even Brahmā and Indra will revere you. Through devotion, humans everywhere will gain strength, and you will be the grantor of boons to all mankind. You will fulfill the wishes of the gods, being their supreme Lord; in every sacrifice, you will be chief and worshipped by all sacrificers. People will worship you, and you will become the bestower of boons; the gods, troubled by demons, will seek refuge in you. You will be the refuge of all, O supreme person, in all the Puranas and the extended Vedas. You will be the most worshipped, your fame will spread, and whenever righteousness declines on earth, you will descend to protect it. Your incarnations will be renowned, each as a part of you, and honored by the great souls in every form. In all worlds, you will be celebrated; in every incarnation, your power will accompany you. She, the goddess, will act through my portion, accomplishing all tasks—as Varahi, Narasimhi, and in many diverse forms. With various weapons, auspicious forms, adorned in all ornaments, united with these powers, O Vishnu, you will always fulfill divine tasks, O Madhava. You will accomplish all this by the boons I grant; you must never disregard them, even slightly. These powers must be worshipped with effort and honored in every way; in the land of Bharata, they will grant all desires. Humans will worship them, even in their images; your fame and theirs will spread everywhere. Across the seven islands and the earth, they will be renowned, and humans will worship you, O highly fortunate one. Desiring their wishes, people will always worship you, O Hari—in images, with offerings, and in many forms. They will worship you with Vedic mantras and by reciting your names; your greatness, O Madhusudana, will be known in both earthly and heavenly realms. Through worship, O Lord of gods, humans will attain prosperity.” Vyasa then explained that, having granted these boons, the goddess born of the sky ceased her speech. The Blessed Lord Hari, his heart overflowing with joy, completed the sacrifice according to the prescribed rites. After dismissing the gods, the sons of Brahma, and the sages, the Lord—whose banner bears Garuda—departed for Vaikuntha with his attendants. The gods and sages returned to their abodes, astonished, discussing these wondrous events among themselves. Joyful, they went to their pure hermitages. Upon hearing that divine, clear, and delightful voice, devotion arose in all hearts for the Primal Nature. The twice-born sages, filled with devotion, performed worship of Her as prescribed in the scriptures, which bestow all desired fruits. Janamejaya, the king, then spoke: “O twice-born one, I have heard in detail of the sacrifice performed by Hari and of the glory of the Mother. Tell me of it in full. Having heard the deeds of the Goddess, I wish to perform an excellent sacrifice; by your grace, O best of Brahmins, may I too become purified.” Vyasa replied: “Listen, O King, and I shall recount the supreme deeds of the Goddess, narrating the ancient history and Purana in full detail. In the land of Kosala, there was a foremost king, born of the Solar dynasty, the illustrious son of Pushya, known as Dhruvasandhi. He was righteous, true to his word, devoted to the welfare of all social orders and stages of life, and ruled the prosperous city of Ayodhya, observing pure vows. In his kingdom, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and other twice-born, each engaged in their proper duties, lived righteously. There were no thieves, slanderers, or cheats; deceitful, ungrateful, or foolish people did not dwell among men. While this noble king ruled, O best of Kurus, he had two wives, both beautiful and bestowers of pleasure. Manorama, the chief wife, was radiant and exceedingly wise; Lilavati, the second, was also endowed with beauty and virtues.