Sitting in joyful companionship with his fellow sages, the divine sage Narada entered the sacred waters and bathed alongside them. Their hearts were light, and as the waters washed over them, it was as though all their sins and burdens were carried away. Emerging purified, they crossed over together, their spirits uplifted, and settled down to share stories with one another. As they sat, their conversation naturally turned to tales of the virtues and glories of Narayana. Each story celebrated His greatness, and the air was filled with reverence. In the midst of this sacred storytelling, Narada, ever eager for deeper understanding, addressed his companions with humility and respect. "O blessed ones," he began, "you are lords of the universe, eternal and wise. Therefore, I seek your guidance—please tell me, what are the marks of the Blessed Lord? How may one know Hari, whose foot-water became the holy Ganga? What are the signs of true knowledge and of asceticism? O bestowers of honor, enlighten me." With profound devotion, Narada continued his inquiry, offering praise and seeking wisdom: "To Him who dwells in both the higher and lower realms, who possesses qualities yet is beyond all qualities; to the Lord of yogis, the very embodiment of yoga, who is realized through yoga—Viṣṇu Himself; to the Lord of knowledge, who is both the object to be known and the knower, the one of perfect understanding; to the Lord of meditation, whose true form is the wise meditator, the object of meditation, and meditation itself—to that power, to the unborn, ancient, and true Lord who is ever worthy of praise, I bow always. He who is called Rudra at the end of the aeon, whose feet are honored by the wise—to that unborn One I devote myself. Resplendent in His supreme abode, to that primeval Viṣṇu I seek refuge. He is the cause of all bodies, whose very nature is preceded by will—to Him alone I always seek refuge. To the God who delights the earth and the rivers, to that Vāsudeva, I bow always. He who protected His devotee Prahlāda by tearing apart the enemy—to that unborn Lord I offer my honor. To the Creator of the world, actionless, supreme, and ancient Person, I bow. He who remains the one Lord through the diversity of His own forms—to that original Self I bow and worship. In whom all will enter and from whom all emerge—to Him I have sought refuge. Unattached and complete—to Him I have sought refuge. The supreme, pure One cannot truly be known—to Him I have sought refuge. The Self of knowledge, who shines everywhere—to Him I have sought refuge. For the welfare of the gods, to that Kūrma, the Tortoise, I have sought refuge. He who upheld the entire world—to that Varāha, the Boar, I bow. Having torn apart His enemies, I bow to that Narasimha. From Brahma’s world down to the feet, I bow to that unconquered One among the gods. He who shattered the lineage of kshatriyas, I bow to that son of Jamadagni. Having destroyed the host of rakshasas, I bow to Rama Chandra. He who abandoned His own clan, I worship that Shri Krishna. Those who see the pure and spotless Lord, I worship Him. He who established dharma at the beginning of the age, I bow to Him. He cannot be counted even in millions of ages; I worship Him. How can gods, demons, and Manus worship Him? I, insignificant, worship Him. Those who attain purity—how can I, of little understanding, praise Him? Even sinners become purified; faith brings liberation and purification. Those who see Him as the very form of knowledge, to Him I have taken refuge. I worship that primeval, ageless God, the embodiment of knowledge. I salute Hari, the thousand-headed God, whose very essence is feeling." Thus, with deep humility and devotion, Narada expressed his longing to know the marks of the Supreme Lord, pouring forth his praises and seeking wisdom from the wise sages, ever devoted to the Lord who is beyond all yet present in all forms.