O best among those who know Brahman, please tell me: what is the highest dharma, the supreme duty, among all the paths of righteousness? The most secret of all dharmas, the highest wisdom, is the knowledge of the Self—unsurpassed and subtle. Once, a great king, having entrusted his kingdom to his son, devoted himself wholly to the practice of yoga. His heart was deeply set on Brahman and on righteousness, and with this unwavering dedication, he even conquered Purandara, the mighty Indra. When Indra was defeated, he sought refuge with Vishnu, the imperishable Lord, longing for protection. Indra prayed within himself, "May a son be born to me who will bring about the destruction of the lords of the Daityas." With this wish, the gods sought sanctuary in Vishnu—the unmanifest, the protector, the supreme shelter, Hari himself. Vasudeva, the beginningless and endless One, the very essence of bliss and pure space, responded to their prayers. Hari, the self of all yoga, appeared before his mother, the goddess. Feeling utterly fulfilled by his presence, she began to praise Keshava with devotion: "O embodiment of victory, pure through countless aeons, form of bliss—salutations to you, Vasudeva; I bow to you. Salutations to Varaha; again, salutations to you. O Lord, source of the universe, again, salutations to you. Salutations to Shiva, the one whose form is singular and unique." Pleased by her devotion, Vishnu smiled with delight and granted her a boon. She chose him alone to be born as her son, for the welfare of the gods. Granting this immeasurable boon, Vishnu vanished from her sight. Thus, the mother of the gods, Aditi herself, bore Narayana as her embryo. Meanwhile, in the city of Bali, son of Virocana, terrible omens began to appear. The aged asura Prahlada, after bowing to the grandsire Brahma, inquired with concern, "What are these omens? What should we do? Why have they arisen?" After bowing to Hrishikesha, Prahlada received the explanation: The mother of the gods has conceived for the destruction of the asuras and for the sake of the dwellers of heaven. Vasudeva has entered her womb for the sake of the gods. Vishnu himself has entered the body of Aditi today, by his own will. That great yogi, the ancient person Hari, has descended. He, whose form is the very essence of being, is now born as a portion of Vishnu. Along with him, Maya—blessed Lakshmi—and Janardana have also descended. From a single portion of Vishnu, even Brahma, the sustainer of existence, is born. Therefore, seek refuge in him alone, and you will attain peace. He is the refuge of the entire universe and protects it in accordance with righteousness. From Kaśyapa and Aditi, the mother of the gods, Vishnu was thus born. He appeared radiant, dark as a raincloud, adorned with divine splendor. Upendra, surrounded by Indra, the foremost gods, Brahma, and the seers, demonstrated the highest conduct to all three worlds, just as taught by the sage Bharadvāja. Whatever standard he established, the world followed. Through great sacrifices, they worshipped Vishnu, the lord of all sacrifice, who pervades everything. The Brahmarshis gathered at the sacrificial ground of this great-souled one. Then, assuming the form of Vāmana, Vishnu arrived at the place of sacrifice, ready to fulfill the purpose for which he had descended.