With deep curiosity, I approached the mysterious figure before me and asked, “Who are you? Who were those radiant men who just departed? What is your purpose here? Please, O best among men, tell me.” The person replied, “Those brilliant men who left earlier are the Ādityas. They are resplendent beings, hastening forth after being meditated upon by Brahmā. They go forth for the sake of creation, to protect it—Brahmā brings forth creation, and these beings are its guardians, O Bhava. There is no doubt in this.” Intrigued, I—Shambhu—asked, “O blessed one, how do you know all this, O supreme among great persons? By what name is all this known? Tell me, for my heart is eager.” Thus addressed by me, Rudra, that person replied, “I am Nārāyaṇa, the eternal god, who rests upon the waters.” He then said, “May you obtain divine sight; look upon me with care.” At his word, I beheld him with new vision. In that moment, I saw him, luminous as the sun, yet no larger than a thumb. From his navel sprang a lotus, and upon that lotus sat Brahmā—and beside him, myself. Witnessing this great soul, joy arose within me, and my mind turned to praise him, O best among the twice-born. O virtuous one, when that divine form appeared, I composed a hymn with deep devotion, recalling his deeds and austerities, and praised the Soul of the Universe: “Salutations to the Infinite, pure of mind, of manifold forms, with a thousand arms; to the Creator, radiant with a thousand rays, of vast body, performer of pure deeds. To Śambhu, remover of all the world’s distress, whose brilliance outshines a thousand suns and winds; to the wielder of the discus, upholder of all knowledge, ever sinless, ever praised by the gods. To the beginningless God, the infallible one, crowned with Śeṣa; Lord, All-pervader, Lord of beings, Great Lord; Lord of the winds, Lord of all, Lord of the world, Lord of the earth, Lord of the universe—ever my salutations. O Lord of the waters, Nārāyaṇa, benefactor of the universe, Lord of the earth, Lord of all, all-seeing; O Moon, Sun, Infallible One, Hero, all-pervading, of inconceivable form, immortal, imperishable. O Nārāyaṇa, whose blazing circle opposes the flames of fire, protector, whose faces are everywhere—salutations to you, remover of the gods’ distress, immortal, imperishable; protect me, O Infallible One, who has sought your refuge. O All-pervader, I see your many faces, with the ancient one at the center—Brahmā, the Lord, the source of the worlds; salutations to you, O Grandfather. Through countless cycles of existence, you, O God of gods, are sometimes revealed to those who seek the true path, whose minds are purified by knowledge—so why do I, a mere babbler, try to address you? He who knows you as the one beyond nature is the knower of all, the foremost among the wise; your qualities cannot be forcibly distinguished among them, for your vast form is also exceedingly subtle. You are beyond speech, beyond mind, beyond the senses; you are not bound by action, nor limited to a single act; you are not subject to worldly bonds—how, then, O God of gods, can you be known? Your form, manifest and unmanifest, incomparable, is attained by those of pure mind, O God, who perform sacrifices that sever worldly bondage; then you are realized as the four-armed one. That supreme form of yours, source of wonder, is not known even by the gods; therefore, Brahmā and others worship your ancient form, as described in the accounts of your incarnations. O great one, not even the lotus-born creator knows your form completely; but I, purified by austerity, know you as the ancient sage, the first being. The lotus-seated one is called my father, and is said to be the source of the ancients; yet, O Lord, not even one like me can know you—those devoid of austerity cannot comprehend you. O God, even Brahmā and the foremost among the wise cannot know you; the ignorant, lacking devotion, desire understanding, but wisdom does not arise in them, nor do they possess the Vedas, even if famed. O Lord, discernment arises for the knowers of the Veda through many births, by your grace; for one who has attained you, there is neither human existence nor the path of gods and gandharvas, nor even liberation. You are Viṣṇu in form, exceedingly subtle; you are also gross, the fulfillment of all duties; O God, you are both gross and subtle, easily attained, but those who act contrary to you fall into hell. What can be said of you, who pervade this universe, ether, self, moon, fire, sun, earth, and wind, assuming forms corresponding to the elements, your own nature pervading all? O Lord, thus accept this praise of mine, especially from your devotee; as you have commanded, create the creation, and grant me omniscience. Salutations to you, O Viṣṇu. Even if a man had four faces or ten million mouths and a pure mind, O best of gods, he could not fully describe your countless and various qualities; be gracious. To one engaged in meditation, with purified intellect, whose mind is devoted solely to you, you always dwell in the heart. Salutations to you; there is no separate existence for anything apart from you. Thus, O Lord, I have openly composed this hymn, knowing you as all-pervading; by the method of traversing the cycle of worldly existence, purify me, O Acyuta, granting me absolute liberation.” Śrī Varāha continued: Thus, when Rudra—whose energy is immeasurable—praised the Lord so, the Lord was pleased. With a voice deep as thunder, he spoke: “Choose a boon, may it be well with you, O god of gods, O consort of Umā. There is no difference between us, O god; we are one and the same.” Rudra replied, “I have been appointed by Brahmā to create beings, O Lord; therefore, grant me knowledge—threefold knowledge—for the generation of beings.” Viṣṇu said, “You are omniscient, without doubt, a repository of eternal knowledge; you will always be the most highly revered among the gods.” Thus addressed, Umāpati joyfully spoke again: “Grant me another boon, O god, one that is renowned among all beings. Assuming a form, O Keśava, worship me; bear me, O Lord of gods, and accept a boon from me, by which I may become more highly worshipped than all the gods.” Viṣṇu replied, “In incarnations for the sake of the gods, when I take human form, I will indeed worship you, and you, in turn, will grant me boons.” He continued, “As you have said, ‘Bear me,’ O god of gods, O consort of Umā, so I, becoming a cloud, will bear you, O god, for a hundred years.” Having spoken thus, Hari himself became a cloud, lifted Maheśvara from the waters, and spoke these words: “O Lord, these eleven primal beings, called the Vairājas, have gone to the earth and are known as the Ādityas.