Astonished and filled with supreme delight, he bowed reverently at the feet of Hari. With a heart overflowing with devotion, he praised the One whose form is eternal bliss, offering words that were both cherished and fitting for such a divine presence. He declared, “I bow to Vāsudeva, who stands without support, the destroyer of peoples. I bow to Janārdana, the inconceivable and indescribable. I bow to Janārdana, who is the very essence of all realities and the embodiment of peace. I bow to Janārdana, whose form transcends even the highest. I bow to Janārdana, who is the one supreme form among all. I bow to Janārdana, who is everything, eternal, and the best of all. I bow to Janārdana, who is both formless and of many forms. I bow to Janārdana, the original god, the lord of all. “Ocean of compassion, save me! My mind calls out to you—salutations unto you.” Then, the Lord—He who bears the conch, discus, and mace—spoke with supreme affection. He said, “There is no doubt—I am pleased with such devotees and always protect them. In the form of devotion to the Lord, I forever safeguard the worlds. “I wish to hear of this, for my heart is filled with curiosity. Know that even in billions of ages, the greatness of such devotees cannot be fully described. Free from desire and peaceful, these are truly the best of my devotees. Those who are inclined toward non-possession are known as my devotees. Those who are devoted to the devotees of Vishnu—indeed, they are the foremost among the Bhāgavatas. Those whose minds are fixed on Gaṅgā and Viśveśvara are also the highest among the Bhāgavatas. “Those who rejoice upon seeing worship, those free from slandering others, those receptive to virtues in this world—all these are regarded as Bhāgavatas. Those who are impartial toward both enemies and friends, those eager to serve the virtuous, those devoted to the speaker of My words, those devoted to pilgrimage, and those devoted to the very names of Hari—indeed, they are the foremost among the Bhāgavatas. “Those who dig ponds and wells, those devoted to the cow and the Gāyatrī, those whose bodies are thrilled with goosebumps at My remembrance, those whose ears are marked with My sacred wood, those who possess the earth from My root, those who speak the meaning of the Vedas, those who bear the three lines, and those adorned with rudrākṣa beads—these are all the highest among the Bhāgavatas. “Above all, those who possess supreme devotion to Hari are the highest among devotees. Those who delight in virtue everywhere, those who act with equal-mindedness, and those who are devoted to meditation on Shiva are truly recognized as the highest among devotees.” Thus, the Lord revealed the qualities of His dearest devotees, showering His grace and wisdom upon the one who had approached Him with such awe and devotion.