O dear one, he journeyed to the sacred realm of Śvetadvīpa, following in your footsteps, for you had gone there before. In that exalted land, he beheld Janārdana, the god of gods, the One whom the Vedas eternally seek. By your grace, O lord of yogis, I too was granted vision of you, abiding in that most secret place, hidden from all but the gods. You, who ever follow the path of liberation, perceive all worlds at will. From Śvetadvīpa, he traveled onward to Vaikuṇṭha, that supreme abode honored by all the worlds. O Nārada, know that all these worlds shine only by the radiance of Him who dwells there. Within Vaikuṇṭha, the ponds brimmed with lotuses, their waters alive with the laughter and play of celestial women. At the entrance, doorkeepers stood adorned with four arms and brilliant ornaments, guardians of that holy place. Entering within, he saw the god of gods Himself, four-armed and resplendent. That Lord was worshipped by divine forms bearing the conch, discus, mace, and lotus. He was adorned with a golden waistband, a sacred thread, bracelets, and armlets, radiating majesty. Day and night, perfected beings served Him with their hands, never ceasing in their devotion. Salutations to Vāsudeva, the sole witness of all the worlds! Homage to Hari, who rests upon Vāsuki and dwells in Śvetadvīpa! Salutations to Nṛsiṃha, to the One worshipped by Dhruva, to the Lord of Sāṃkhya and Yoga! Praise to Nābhi, sustainer, creator, and dissolver of the worlds; to Kṛṣṇa, maker of the Vedas, who appears as Buddha and Kalki; to Nara-Nārāyaṇa, to Śiśiviṣṭa, to Viṣṇu; to Ṛbhu, called Suvrata, to Sudhāmā, to Ajita; to Yajña, enjoyer of sacrifice, most mighty, seeker of the path; to the worshipful, the witness, the unborn, with countless heads, feet, and arms; to the Lord of the eightfold nature, to Brahman of infinite power; to the lotus-eyed, the knower of the field, the radiant One; to the true, the steadfast in truth, to Vaikuṇṭha, to Acyuta; to the One with ghee-like radiance, to Viṣṇu, the infinite, to Kapila; to Ekaśṛṅga, to Śuciśravas, to the source of the scriptures; to Him whose form encompasses earth, atmosphere, and heaven, the slayer of demons, the qualityless One—salutations to You! Protect me, Lord, O cherished refuge of all who seek shelter. Then Āraṇeya, full of compassion for those who bow before Him, spoke: "Obtain knowledge and devotion; you are wise, bearing my own form. For the sake of the world, I Myself have taken my stand as the soul of the universe. Just as the wind pervades all worlds and the sun fills all with light and sound, so too do I pervade all. Yet, devotion to Me, the supreme refuge of all, is rare in this world. "Nara and Nārāyaṇa, the great sages, remained steadfast in their austerities until the end of the age. The Bhāgavata scripture was composed; study that, and go forth upon the earth. And my beloved, whose heart is afflicted by separation from you—please comfort him." Having received these words, he turned back the way he had come and returned to his father’s presence. Upon regaining his son, the father's heart overflowed with joy, and he withdrew from his austerities. United with the son of Āraṇa, he returned to his own hermitage. There, he composed a divine Saṃhitā, filled with wondrous and varied narratives for the benefit of all.