Markandeya, filled with deep reverence, spoke to Janardana, the bearer of the world, declaring, “By this alone I am fulfilled, O Lord.” He expressed to Acyuta that the supreme state attained by beholding Him would never render his vision fruitless. Markandeya vowed to uphold this truth, for his people did not speak falsehood. He was blessed to be endowed with all virtues, long-lived, and to possess his true form. Janardana, the best of sages, proclaimed, “When I am pleased, what is impossible in the three worlds?” With that, Mrikandu disappeared, withdrawing from his austerities. Then, a question arose: what did Hari, the descendant of Bhṛgu, do next? He witnessed the Vaiṣṇava illusion at the flood of the long-lived one. Devotion to Vishnu was directed toward the sage Markandeya. Markandeya entered household life, resolute and peaceful, self-controlled and fulfilled. His wife, with mind, speech, and body, was devoted to her husband. At the end of ten months, she gave birth to a son of supreme brilliance. They performed the birth rites, auspicious and according to prescribed rules. In the fifth year, their son was initiated, and joy filled their hearts. Markandeya instructed him: “O son, the twice-born must always be respectfully greeted, as prescribed. Vedic duties must be performed, preceded by study of the Vedas. What is forbidden must be avoided, such as improper speech and the like. One must not bear hatred toward anyone; one should act for the good of all.” Thus was the great sage Markandeya instructed by his father. Markandeya grew greatly fortunate, compassionate, and devoted to righteousness. He was self-controlled, peaceful, greatly wise, and understood the meaning of all principles. The Lord of the universe was worshipped by the wise Markandeya. Therefore, that sage Markandeya is remembered as Narayana. When the world became a single ocean, Janardana manifested his own power. The intelligent son of Mrikandu, endowed with devotion to Vishnu, remained there as long as Hari himself lay at rest. This duration is said to consist of ten and five twinklings of the eye. Thirty such moments are to be known as one ghatika of time. A month consists of thirty days, joined in two fortnights; by that reckoning, a year is formed, which is a day for the gods. For the ancestors, a day is said to be equal to a month of humans. A divine yuga is twelve thousand years of the gods. A manvantara is counted as seventy-one such divine yugas. The length of the night is said to be equal to that of the day. Consider: whatever is measured by a thousand human years—similarly, a month and a year are to be understood for the Creator. The day of Vishnu is to be known as such, and the night is said to be of equal length. Meditating on the supreme Self, Markandeya remained in the presence of Hari. He created this world, moving and unmoving, in the form of Brahma.