He who had bestowed the Vedas now approached, the great Śaṅkara himself. Standing before the Grandsire, he declared, “Know me, O Grandsire, as the one called Vāsudeva.” Then, with compassion, he granted divine sight, saying, “May you have the vision by which you will behold that supreme reality.” At once, the Grandsire perceived the Supreme Lord standing before him in all glory. Overwhelmed, the Grandsire sought refuge in that very god, Śiva, the universal father. With hands joined in reverence, he praised him with the sacred Atharvaśiras hymn. Supreme delight arose within him, and, his face radiant as if smiling, he spoke: “It was I who, in the beginning, brought forth the imperishable for the creation of the worlds.” Śiva, the granter of boons, then addressed him: “Choose a boon, O Soul of the Universe; I am the bestower of blessings, O sinless one.” Beholding Viṣṇu, the Supreme Person, the Grandsire bowed low and spoke to the Bull-bannered Lord: “I desire you alone as a son, or one who truly resembles you. O auspicious one, I do not know your highest nature in its true reality. Be gracious; I bow to your lotus feet, seeking refuge.” Then, seeing Janārdana—Viṣṇu—before him, the Grandsire addressed his divine 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.” At that moment, Hari, the Supreme Lord, touched Brahmā and spoke: “Choose a boon, for in truth, we two are not different in essence.” Gazing at the four-faced one with a pleased voice, Hari continued, and Brahmā 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 Sūrya; you are night, I am day. You are knowledge, I am the knower; you are māyā, I am the lord. The god who is I, completely without parts, is also the supreme Nārāyaṇa. Protect this entire world, with gods, asuras, and humans. You are the one abode, unmanifest, of infinite power.” Having received this blessing and knowledge, Brahmā entered the great lotus that had arisen from the navel of the Lord. At that moment, the two great demons, Madhu and Kaitabha, appeared together. They emerged from between the ears of the god of gods, the wielder of the Śārṅga bow. These two demons became a torment to the three worlds, and Brahmā declared, “You ought to destroy them.” With divine command, it was ordained that both Madhu and Kaitabha be slain. Viṣṇu subdued Kaitabha, while Jishnu subdued Madhu. Hari, filled with affection, spoke sweet words: “O mighty one made of splendor, I am unable to bear you.” Then Viṣṇu and the goddess Nidrā, united as one, fell silent. Thereafter, Brahmā, known also as Nārāyaṇa, slept upon the cosmic waters. He, the beginningless, endless, non-dual self, called Brahman, now assumed the Vaiṣṇava disposition and, in that very form, created the universe anew. From his creative power, he brought forth Ṛbhu and Sanatkumāra, the ancient and eternal ones.