I bow in reverence to the ageless Lord, who once stood measuring ten fingers, the One whose mystery is deeper than the deepest secrets. Again and again, I offer my salutations to that Supreme Person who bestows His own divine abode upon the worthy. It was to this sacred realm that the great sages—accompanied by Narada, Sanandana, and others—ascended, having purified their souls from all sin. Indeed, it is said that one whose heart is cleansed of all impurities attains the blessed realm of Vishnu. O Sanaka, you who are all-knowing and supremely qualified, tell me of these wonders. By Him—this Supreme Lord—the entire universe, both moving and unmoving, is pervaded. Taking on the distinctions of various qualities, He revealed Himself in three divine forms. In the midst of these, O sage, lies the seat known as Rudra, the force that brings about the dissolution of worlds. Some always proclaim Vishnu as the ultimate truth, while others uphold Brahma as supreme. But that which is the essence of both being and non-being is sung as knowledge and ignorance. When ignorance is fully developed, it becomes the source of all suffering. But when the intellect is absorbed in unity, that is called knowledge. If this unity is truly perceived—if the intellect recognizes non-difference—it brings about liberation from worldly existence. Yet, all that exists, both moving and unmoving, appears different. This entire world arises through the association with ignorance, which acts as a limiting adjunct. Just as the power of burning pervades an ember, so does this principle pervade all. Some call her Bhārati, others Girijā, and she is also known as Ambikā. She is revered as Kaumārī, Vaiṣṇavī, Vārāhī, Indrī, and Śāmbhavī. The great sages declare her to be Prakṛti—the primal nature—and also the Supreme. She pervades the world in all its forms, both manifest and unmanifest. She alone is the cause of creation, preservation, and destruction. Therefore, the Supreme God is known as eternal. He is the protector, beyond all worlds, the Supreme Person. That which is higher than the highest is the imperishable, supreme state. He who transcends all, known as Kālapurusha, is meditated upon by yogis as the Supreme of the supreme. He is the highest, known only through true knowledge, whose very nature is consciousness and bliss. Alas, fools call Him merely ‘body’—what a sad delusion born of ignorance! He assumes three forms, serving as the cause of creation, preservation, and dissolution. He alone is the Self of blissful form; there is truly none other, O sage. The Supreme Lord abides both as the distinct and the non-distinct. Since she is the cause of the universe’s manifestation, the wise call her Prakriti. Thus, Prakriti, Purusha, and Time—these three principles—are firmly established. That pure, supreme abode is the highest state of Vishnu. He is the all-pervading one, the originator of worlds, the support and very form of all qualities. From Him arose Mahat, the great principle; from Mahat came intellect (buddhi), and from intellect, the sense of ‘I’ (aham) emerged. From the subtle elements were born all beings, for the sake of the world. In due order, each one became the cause for the next. Thus, creatures born in animal wombs—cattle, birds, and wild beasts—came into being. And after them, the lotus-born one created the class of human beings.