The Pracetas, eager to deepen their understanding, approached the sage and said, “O sage, we wish to hear the supreme hymn to Brahman by which Kaṇḍu worshipped Keśava.” Soma responded, revealing the greatness of Viṣṇu: “Viṣṇu is the supreme, the limitless, the highest of the high, beyond all others, the destroyer of evil. He is the goal of Brahman, supreme even among the supreme, and the ultimate beyond all.” Soma continued, describing Viṣṇu as the cause, the cause of causes, and the reason even for that. In all effects, Viṣṇu descends into the world, assuming every form of agent and action. He is Brahman, the Lord, the imperishable master of all creatures. He is Viṣṇu—eternal, unborn, unchanging, untouched by any defect. Soma then prayed that, as Viṣṇu is Brahman—imperishable, unborn, and eternal, the Supreme Person—so might faults such as passion depart and be calmed within himself. He explained that by reciting this supreme hymn, known as the Supreme Brahman, Kaṇḍu had attained the highest perfection, worshipping Keśava. Turning to the story of Māriṣā, Soma said, “This Māriṣā was formerly as I have described; her story is so important that its telling will bear fruit for you.” He recounted that, previously, Māriṣā was childless. After her husband died, this fortunate wife of Bhīpa devoted herself to pleasing Viṣṇu with unwavering devotion. Viṣṇu, moved by her devotion, appeared before her and said, “Choose a boon, O auspicious one.” Māriṣā bowed and spoke her heartfelt wish: “O Lord, because of my early widowhood, I have been born in vain—unfortunate, fruitless, and without purpose, O Master of the world. May I have worthy husbands in every birth, and by your grace, may I have a son equal to Prajāpati. May he possess noble lineage, character, age, truthfulness, generosity, promptness, reliability, virtue, service to elders, and gratitude. May I be endowed with beauty and wealth, pleasing to all, and, by your grace, may I be born not from a womb, O lotus-eyed one.” Soma explained that, after Māriṣā spoke thus, the Lord of the gods, Hṛṣīkeśa, raised her as she bowed and, being the supreme giver of boons, addressed her: “In a single birth, you will have ten husbands of great valor, renowned for their noble deeds. You will obtain a son of immense strength and power, endowed with the qualities of Prajāpati. He will be the progenitor of lineages in this world, and his offspring will fill the entire three worlds. You, O virtuous one, will be born not from a womb, endowed with beauty and noble qualities, pleasing to the minds of men, by my grace.” Having spoken thus, the god vanished from her sight, and Māriṣā was born, who now became the wife of the Pracetas, the sons of kings. Śrī Parāśara then narrated that, following Soma’s words, the Pracetas accepted Māriṣā as their wife, setting aside their anger toward the trees. From Māriṣā and the ten Pracetas was born Prajāpati Dakṣa, the greatly fortunate one, who had previously been the son of Brahmā. Dakṣa, greatly blessed and wise, produced sons for the purpose of creation, generating offspring from himself. He created both inferior and superior beings, bipeds and quadrupeds, following Brahmā’s command. Dakṣa first created by mind and then produced women. He gave ten to Dharma, thirteen to Kaśyapa, and twenty-seven to Soma, who are associated with the regulation of time. From them were born the gods, demons, serpents, cows, birds, gandharvas, apsaras, danavas, and others. From that time onward, Maitreya, offspring began to arise from sexual union. Previously, progeny had been born from intention, sight, and touch, due to the extraordinary austerities of accomplished ascetics. Maitreya, curious, asked, “I have heard that Daksha was first born from the right thumb; how then, O great sage, was the son of Pracetas born again? This doubt, O Brahman, is very great and dwells in my heart: how did Daksha, the son of Soma, again become the father-in-law?” Parashara explained, “Creation and dissolution are eternal among all beings; neither the sages nor others with divine vision are confused about this. In every age, O best of sages, Daksha and others arise and are again dissolved; the wise are not bewildered by this. Previously, O best of twice-born, there was neither youngest nor eldest among them; austerity alone was esteemed, and brilliance was the cause.” Maitreya then requested, “O Brahman, describe to me in detail the origin of the gods, demons, gandharvas, serpents, and rakshasas.” Parashara responded, “Daksha was formerly instructed by Svayambhu to create beings. Listen, O great sage, to how he created living creatures. Daksha first created beings by mind alone: gods, sages, gandharvas, asuras, and serpents. When those beings did not multiply, Daksha reflected for the sake of creation. Desiring to create various beings through lawful union, Daksha took Asikni, the daughter of Virana, a prajapati endowed with great austerity and sustaining the worlds. For the purpose of creation, Daksha begot a thousand powerful sons in Asikni. Seeing them, Narada, wishing to increase the progeny, approached them and spoke these agreeable words: ‘O Haryashvas, mighty in strength, you will produce offspring; such effort is seen in you—listen to this. Alas, you are indeed childish; you do not know the nature of the earth. How will you create offspring without knowing what lies within, above, and below?