Salutations were offered to the Supreme Person, the Ancient One who is eternal and ever victorious. Praise was given to Hiraṇyagarbha, the Creator and the Supreme Self, and to Nārāyaṇa, the divine benefactor of the gods. Again and again, reverence was shown to the One who is the soul of all beings, unchanging and immutable. The Awakened and Pure One, the very embodiment of knowledge, was honored with bows. The Infinite, the Immeasurable, the very Cause and Instrument of all, was saluted. Further salutations were made to the Root Nature, to the One whose form is Māyā, the wondrous power of illusion. Homage was paid to the One who is attained through yoga, to Sakarṣaṇa. The Perfected and Worshipful One, who discerns the three qualities of nature, was praised. Again and again, salutations were offered to the One who is both Formless and Formed, to Mādhava. A heartfelt plea was made: “Protect this entire world; you are the savior, the refuge, the ultimate goal.” In response, the Lord, assuming the form of a Boar, bestowed his grace upon all. Having first conceived this form within his mind, the Lord of all creatures released it into being. So vast was his body that the earth, rescued by him, did not sink. With his mind fixed upon creation—after all had been consumed in the previous dissolution—he began anew. From this act, a new creation arose, but it was unconscious and shrouded in darkness. This ignorance, unfolding in five stages, emerged from the Great Soul. Enveloped by darkness, the seed of creation was hidden within the world. These initial forms are known as the principal trees, and this is considered the primary creation. Next, from his contemplation, arose the creation called the “horizontal stream.” Among these are cattle and other well-known beings, those who often stray from the right path. Then came the creation known as the “upward stream,” the divine creation characterized by the quality of sattva. These beings, luminous within and without, are recognized as gods. From the unmanifest then appeared the “downward stream” creation, which is active and effective. Humans, belonging to this order, are endowed with sattva but also afflicted by intense suffering. From the Lord’s deep meditation, the creation beginning with the elements came into being. Thus, the five kinds of creation were described: the principal, the elemental, the horizontal stream, the upward stream, and the downward stream. The second, arising from subtle elements, is called the elemental creation. All these natural creations arose spontaneously, without prior intelligence or planning. The creation known as the horizontal stream, comprising various species, is the fifth. Following this, the creation of those with a downward stream—the humans—is the seventh. The ninth is the creation of youths. These, both the natural and the modified, proceed with a measure of intelligence and order. O best of sages, the principal and other creations unfold according to an inner intelligence. In earlier times, the Lord created Rbhu and Sanatkumara. Yet, their minds remained attached to the Lord alone, and they did not turn their thoughts toward further creation. Instantly, by the supreme creator’s divine illusion, they were deluded by his māyā. Nārāyaṇa, the great yogi, delights in the minds of yogis. Yet, even as he engaged in austerities, he did not attain any fruit. From his eyes—filled with anger—drops of tears fell to the earth. From those sacred tears arose Mahādeva, the great refuge, whose form shone with hues of blue and red.