Brahma, the creator of all beings, approached Lord Vishnu with deep reverence and humility. He said, “O Lord, I was born from the lotus that sprang from your navel. Is there anyone greater than you? Please tell me, who is that supreme deity?” He continued, “O Lord of the universe, I know that you are the origin and the cause of all things. You are the creator, the protector, and the destroyer—capable of accomplishing all tasks.” Then, Brahma explained, “O great king, by my will, I create this universe; Hara destroys it at the proper time, but even he always acts according to your command. The sun moves in the heavens, the wind blows both auspicious and inauspicious, fire burns, and the rain-cloud pours—all by your order, O Lord.” Yet, Brahma’s heart was troubled by a doubt. He asked, “But you, O Vishnu, upon which god do you meditate? This is my great doubt, for in all the three worlds, I do not see any god beyond you. Out of compassion, please tell me, for I am your devotee. It is said that the great do not conceal anything.” Hearing these words, Lord Hari smiled gently and replied to Prajapati Brahma, “Listen attentively, O Brahma, and I shall reveal what is in my heart. Although people—gods, asuras, and humans—know you, Shiva, and me as the causes of creation, preservation, and destruction, the learned attribute these acts to our respective powers: you are the creator, I am the sustainer, and Hara is the destroyer.” He continued, “In the creation of the world, the rajasik power abides in you, the sattvik in me, and the tamasik is said to be in Rudra. But without her—without Shakti—none of us can perform our respective acts. I cannot preserve, nor can Shankara destroy, nor can you create, without her presence.” “We are all, O Lord, always dependent on her, in both the seen and unseen ways. Let me give you an example. Upon Shesha, I sleep on a couch, entirely dependent, without doubt; by her will, I always rise at the proper time, subject to the flow of time. I constantly practice austerity, always dependent on her; sometimes, accompanied by Lakshmi, I roam as I please. Sometimes I wage battle with the Daityas, in fierce struggles that shake the worlds.” “You, knower of dharma, have seen with your own eyes that, long ago, in that single ocean, I fought hand-to-hand for five thousand years. Those two wicked asuras, Madhu and Kaitabha, born from earwax and swollen with pride, were slain by the grace of the Goddess. At that time, did you not know the ultimate cause? O greatly fortunate one, why do you ask again and again about the form of Shakti?” “Whenever I wish, I take human form and wander the great ocean—as a tortoise, a boar, a lion, or a dwarf, in every age. No one in the world desires birth among animals; nor did I, of my own will, take birth in the forms of boar or others. Who, abandoning union with the highest, would choose inferior births such as fish? Leaving the bed, seated upon the Garuda throne, I wage great battle, independent.” “O unborn one, once before, my head fell forward due to the slipping of the bowstring; at that time, you took the horse’s head and, with the best artisan, joined it again. I am called Hayānana, the horse-faced one, and this is known to you, creator of the worlds. This is a matter of jest among people; how could it be if I were truly independent?” “Therefore, I am not independent; I am always subject to Shakti. I constantly and ceaselessly meditate upon that Shakti alone. O lotus-born, I know nothing higher than this.” Narada then said, “Thus spoke Vishnu in the presence of the lotus-born Brahma. And thus I too was instructed, O foremost sage. Therefore, you also, O auspicious one, for attaining the goals of life—without doubt, worship the lotus feet of the Goddess in the lotus of your heart. That Goddess will grant you whatever you desire.” Sūta continued, “Thus addressed by Narada, Vyāsa, son of Satyavatī, immersed himself in the lotus feet of the Goddess and went to the mountain for austerity.” The sages, filled with wonder, asked Sūta, “O Sūta, our minds are awash in doubt. As you have told, this is a great marvel, astonishing to the world. The head of Mādhava departed from his body and became supreme; from that, Hayagrīva was born, the creator of all, Janārdana. Even the Veda praises that God, upon whom all the gods depend, the primordial deity, Lord of the universe, the cause of all causes. How was his head cut off by divine arrangement at that time? Tell us all this in detail, O wise one.” Sūta replied, “Let all the sages listen attentively to the deeds of the god of gods, Vishnu, of supreme brilliance. Once, after waging a fierce battle for ten thousand years, the eternal god Janārdana became exhausted. In that auspicious place, the Lord fashioned a lotus seat, holding his strung bow, resting it at his neck, and sat upon the earth. Placing the weight on the tip of the bow, the Lord of Lakshmi fell asleep; due to exhaustion and divine arrangement, he entered deep slumber there.” “Then, after some time, all the gods with Indra, along with Brahma and Shiva, prepared to perform a great sacrifice. They went together to Vaikuntha to see Lord Janārdana, the lord of sacrifices, for the accomplishment of their divine purpose. Not finding him there, they perceived with the eye of knowledge where the Blessed Vishnu was, and the gods went to that place. There they saw the Lord, overcome by yogic sleep, unconscious, the all-pervading Vishnu; and the gods stood there in awe and reverence.