The blessed Lord, radiant and majestic, stood holding his trident—the supreme repository of splendor. Around his form hung a wondrous garland, so beautiful and miraculous that it reached down to his feet. Though he was the immeasurable Self, the mass of radiance, Janārdana himself, he was at that moment clothed in yellow garments, his mind somewhat veiled by Māyā. As Janārdana approached, he beheld the shining Lord—God blazing in the pure, tranquil waters. Rising up, the Blessed Lord addressed the god of gods, the Grandsire, Brahma, acknowledging his greatness. This Lord, without beginning or end, inconceivable, was the great master of all worlds, the lord of beings, the yogi, pure and auspicious. He was the one whom ascetics, absorbed in Brahman, perceive; the solitary, partless, auspicious one who had become Time itself. It was he who had given Brahma the Vedas; now, Śaṅkara himself approached. Janārdana spoke: “Know me, O Grandsire, as the one called Vāsudeva. May you have divine sight, by which you will see the supreme reality.” With this blessing, Brahma perceived the Supreme Lord standing before him and sought refuge in Śiva, the father of all. With joined palms, Brahma praised the god using the Atharvaśiras hymn, and in that act, he attained supreme delight, speaking as if smiling. Brahma said, “I myself previously brought forth the imperishable for the creation of the worlds. Choose a boon, O Soul of the Universe; I am the granter of boons to you, O sinless one.” Beholding Viṣṇu, the Person, Brahma bowed and spoke to the Bull-bannered One, “I desire you alone as a son, or one who is truly like you. I do not know your highest nature in its true reality, O auspicious one. Be gracious; I bow to your lotus feet, having sought refuge.” Then, seeing Janārdana, Brahma addressed his son: “Divine knowledge, lordly and pure, will arise in you, O sinless one. So do this, O lord of gods, by me, O ancestor of the worlds. Hari, the lord, will be the bearer of your yoga and welfare.” Touching Brahma, Hari spoke: “Choose a boon, for we two are not truly different in essence.” He spoke with a pleased voice, gazing at the four-faced one. Brahma replied, “I behold the supreme self; may devotion to you arise in me. You are the agent of all actions; I am the subordinate deity. You are Soma; I am Surya. You are night; I am day. You are knowledge; I am the knower. You are maya; I am the lord. The god who is I, completely without parts, is also the supreme Narayana. Protect this entire world, with gods, asuras, and humans. You are the one abode, unmanifest, of infinite power.” Then Brahma entered the great lotus, which had arisen from the navel of the Lord. At that moment, the two great demons, the brothers Madhu and Kaitabha, appeared together. They arose from between the ears of the god of gods, the wielder of the mighty Śārṅga bow.