Prācīnabarhis, the blessed and illustrious lord of creatures, was the one who lovingly raised the fortunate children born to Havirddhāna. Because of Prācīnabarhis, the sacred kuśa grass, with its tips facing east, became renowned throughout the earth. He himself gained fame as a mighty and noble figure, respected by all. In time, Prācīnabarhis married Savarṇā, the wise daughter of the ocean, establishing his household on the far shore of the great darkness. From Savarṇā, Prācīnabarhis had ten sons, all known as the Pracetases. Each was accomplished in the science of archery, and together, they practiced the same righteous conduct. With unwavering resolve, the Pracetases undertook great austerities, dwelling in the waters of the ocean for ten thousand years. They remained steadfast, absorbed in their discipline. Curious about their purpose, the sage Maitreya asked, “For what reason did these great-souled Pracetases perform such austerities in the ocean’s waters, O great sage? Please tell me.” Sage Parāśara replied, “The Pracetases were instructed by their father, whose mind was vast and wise, to perform these austerities for the sake of progeny, as appointed by the lord of creatures. Prācīnabarhis explained to his sons, ‘I have been commanded by Brahmā, the god of gods, that my sons should increase the progeny. I have told you this, and you have agreed.’ He continued, ‘Therefore, my sons, for my satisfaction, diligently promote the growth of progeny; the command of the lord of creatures must be properly honored by you.’ Hearing their father’s words, the sons replied, ‘So be it,’ but then asked, ‘By what action, father, shall we be able to increase progeny? Please explain to us all the means for that.’ Their father answered, ‘By worshiping Viṣṇu, the bestower of boons, one attains desired results without doubt. No mortal achieves it otherwise—what else should I tell you? Therefore, for the increase of progeny, worship Hari, the lord of all beings. If you desire success, worship Govinda. For those who always seek righteousness, wealth, pleasure, and liberation, the blessed, primeval, supreme person is to be worshiped. By worshiping him, the unchanging one, whom the lord of creatures worshiped at the beginning to create the world, you will attain the increase of progeny.’ Thus instructed by their father, the ten Pracetases entered the waters of the ocean and began their austerities with concentrated minds. For ten thousand years, their minds were fixed upon the Lord of the universe, Nārāyaṇa, the supreme refuge of all worlds. With one-pointed devotion, they praised Hari, the god who, when praised, grants the wishes of those who offer him hymns. Sage Maitreya then asked, “The Pracetas, standing in the ocean’s waters, composed a hymn to Viṣṇu. O best of sages, please recount that most auspicious hymn to me.” Sage Parāśara replied, “Listen, Maitreya, to how the Pracetas, absorbed in him, praised Govinda as they lay in the waters of the ocean, just as before.” The Pracetas offered their hymn, saying: “We bow to him who is the eternal foundation of all words, the supreme Lord, the beginning and end of all that exists. To him who is the original, incomparable, infinite, and boundless light, the source of all that is moving and unmoving, we bow. To him whose day and night are the first forms of the formless, the embodiment of time, we offer our salutations. To him who, in the form of Soma, is enjoyed daily by the gods and ancestors, the seed of all, we bow. To him who devours darkness, whose intense nature illuminates the sky with rays, the source of heat, cold, and water—to that Sun-form we bow. To him who, possessing solidity, upholds this entire world, who pervades all as the support of sound and the senses—to that Earth-form we bow. To that Lord whose watery form is the source of the world, the seed of all embodied beings, to Hari, the origin of the universe, we bow. To Viṣṇu, the fire-essence, who is the mouth of all the gods, who consumes the offerings to gods and ancestors, to him we offer our salutations. To the blessed one who, established fivefold in the body, constantly performs activity, who is the source of space—to that Air-form we bow. To him who grants space to all beings, who has infinite forms and is pure—to that Ether-form we bow. To him who is always the supreme abode of all the senses and their creation, who is of the form of sound and the rest, to Kṛṣṇa, the creator, we bow. To him who, as the imperishable and perishable, always receives the objects through the senses, who is the root of knowledge, to Hari, the origin of the universe, we bow. To him who bestows the self upon the objects grasped by the senses, who is of the form of the inner faculty, to the soul of the universe, we bow. To him in whom the entire universe abides, from whom it arises, and in whom it dissolves, who is the abode of dissolution, to the one whose nature is Prakṛti, we bow. He who is pure, who is perceived through delusion as possessing qualities though he is without qualities—to that divine Supreme Person, who is the very form of the Self, we bow. Unchanging, unborn, pure, without qualities, and without blemish—to that highest Brahman, the supreme abode of Vishnu, we bow. Neither long nor short, neither gross nor subtle, neither dark nor red, without affection, shadow, or form, unattached, and bodiless; without space, without contact, without scent or taste, without eyes or ears, unmoving, without speech, hands, or pride; without name or measure, without pleasure, without brilliance, without cause, fearless, free from delusion, without sleep, decay, or death; without passion or sound, immortal, unshaken, uncovered—that which is before and after, that is the supreme abode of Vishnu.” In this way, the Pracetases, absorbed in devotion and austerity, praised the supreme Lord, seeking his grace for the fulfillment of their father’s command and the increase of progeny.