The qualities that dwell within the Lord of beings are wondrous—they exist like clusters of jewels strung upon a thread, subtler than the subtlest, greater than the greatest. He is the One whom words, sacred recitations, and the Upaniṣads strive to declare, yet remain ever unable to fully capture. In the Purāṇas, he is known as the Primeval Person, and among the twice-born, as Brahmā. Within him, all these worlds shimmer and dance, much like birds gliding upon the waters. The gods, yakshas, rakshasas, and serpents all worship him with reverence. The moon and the sun are his eyes; I contemplate that god. The wind is his very breath; I contemplate that god. The four oceans rest within his belly; I contemplate that god. He is the beginningless origin of the universe; I contemplate that god. From his mouth, fire was born; I contemplate that god. From his head, heaven arose; I contemplate that god. The lineage and tradition spring forth from him; I contemplate that god. Long ago, Rudra spoke to the resident of Śvetadvīpa. Among us, Rudra addressed the supreme lord. Just as Vyāsa once questioned me, so too did the blessed Bhava inquire. “O Hari,” Rudra asked, “tell me, lord of gods! Who is the god of gods, who is the ruler? By what virtues, by what disciplines, and by what righteous worship? From which god was the world born, and who sustains the world? Tell me of creation and dissolution, of lineage, and the cycles of Manus. O Hari, tell me all this, and whatever else there may be.” Then, Hari spoke to Rudra, revealing the eighteen branches of knowledge. Hari said, “Indeed, I am the god of the gods, the lord of all worlds and their rulers. O Rudra, when I am worshipped, I grant the highest state. I am the seed of the world’s existence; indeed, O Shiva, I am the creator of the universe. Through my descents, beginning with the Fish and others, I protect the entire world. I am the creator of heaven and all else; indeed, I myself am heaven and the others. I am the knower, the hearer, the thinker, the speaker, and that which is to be spoken. I am meditation, the offering of worship, and I am indeed the sacred diagrams. O Shambhu, I am all knowledge; O Shiva, I am the essence of Brahman. I am directly righteous conduct; I am dharma, and truly, I am the Vaishnava path. O Rudra, I am restraint, discipline, and the various vows. Long ago, Garuda the bird worshipped me on earth through austerity. And my mother Vinata, O Hari, was made a slave by the serpents. I will free her from slavery, just as I have become your vehicle. Just as I am the composer of the Purana collections, so you should act—thus spoke Vishnu. You will free your mother Vinata from the slavery of the serpents. You will become a mighty being, a vehicle, and the destroyer of poison. Whatever form of mine has been described will also manifest for you. Just as I am renowned as the fortune of the gods, O son of Vinata—just as I am to be praised, so too are you, in your Garuda form.