As Lakṣmī, radiant and resplendent, stood upon the chest of Hari, she cast her gentle gaze upon the assembled gods. In that very moment, O Maitreya, an overwhelming joy filled the hearts of the gods, their spirits uplifted by her presence. In stark contrast, the Daityas, led by Vipracitti, found themselves abandoned by Lakṣmī and turned away from Viṣṇu. Bereft of her grace, they became agitated and deeply distressed. Desperate, the Daityas seized the water-pot held by the mighty Dhanvantari, for within it was the nectar—the amṛta—so ardently sought by the twice-born. But Viṣṇu, ever the preserver and master of illusion, assumed the enchanting form of a woman. Through his divine māyā, he beguiled the Dānavas, took the nectar from them, and bestowed it upon the gods. Led by Indra, the hosts of gods drank the nectar, gaining its immortal power. Seeing this, the Daityas, their weapons raised, rushed fiercely upon the gods. But now, with the strength of amṛta coursing through them, the gods fought with renewed might. The Daitya army was struck down and scattered in all directions, finally fleeing to the depths of Pātāla. Filled with joy and gratitude, the gods bowed before Viṣṇu—the bearer of the conch, discus, and mace—and returned to their heavenly realms. The sun, its radiance restored, resumed its path across the sky; the stars, too, moved along their ordained courses. The sacred fire blazed forth brilliantly, and righteousness arose in the hearts of all beings. The three worlds became adorned with prosperity, and Indra, chief among the gods, regained his former glory. Seated once more upon his throne, Indra ruled the heavens and, in gratitude, offered praises to the goddess with the lotus in her hand. He bowed, saying: "I offer my reverence to Śrī, the mother of all beings, born from the lotus, with eyes like blooming lotuses, who abides upon the chest of Viṣṇu. You are accomplishment, the very nectar, Svāhā and Svadhā, purifier of worlds. You are the union of night and light, prosperity, wisdom, faith, and Sarasvatī herself. You are the knowledge of sacrifice, the supreme knowledge, the secret knowledge; you are the wisdom of the self, O goddess, bestower of liberation’s fruit. You are inquiry, the three Vedas, commerce, and the science of governance; with gentle and fierce forms, you fill this universe. Who but you, O goddess, possesses the form of all sacrifices and dwells upon the chest of the Lord of gods, the wielder of the mace, whom yogis contemplate? When you departed, O goddess, the three worlds nearly perished; now, by your grace, they flourish again. Wives, sons, homes, friends, grain, wealth—all these, O greatly fortunate one, come to people through your glance. Health, sovereignty, victory over enemies, and happiness are difficult to attain for men unless your gaze falls upon them. You are the mother of all beings, and Hari, the god of gods, is the father; by you and Viṣṇu, this world, both moving and unmoving, is pervaded. Do not, O all-purifying one, abandon our treasury, our cattle pens, our homes, our attendants, our bodies, or our wives. Do not abandon, from the chest of my Lord Viṣṇu, our sons, our friends, our cattle, or our ornaments. Men forsaken by you, O pure one, are immediately abandoned by virtue, truth, purity, and good conduct. Even those without qualities, when seen by you, are instantly transformed. He is praiseworthy, virtuous, fortunate, noble, wise, heroic, and valiant—he whom you, O goddess, have looked upon. All virtues turn to faults for that man, O supporter of the world, O beloved of Viṣṇu, whom you have turned away from. Even Brahmā’s tongue cannot describe your qualities; be gracious, O lotus-eyed goddess, never abandon us." Hearing this heartfelt praise, Śrī, who abides in all beings, spoke to Indra as all the gods listened: "O Lord of gods, I am pleased by this hymn of yours. Choose a boon, whatever you desire, for I have come as the granter of boons." Indra replied, "If you are the giver of boons and I am worthy, let this be my supreme boon: that you never abandon the three worlds. And whoever praises you with this hymn as it is, let such a one never be abandoned by you—this is my second boon." Śrī replied, "O Indra, I shall not take back the three worlds from one to whom I have given a boon, pleased by his worship and praise. And any person who praises me with this hymn, morning and evening, I shall never turn away from him." Thus, O Maitreya, the illustrious goddess, pleased by worship through the hymn, granted these boons to the king of the gods. Know, too, that Śrī was first born as the daughter of Khyāti, herself the daughter of Bhṛgu, and then again from the ocean when the gods and demons churned it with great effort. Just as Janārdana, the Lord of the universe, takes incarnations, so too does Śrī, his eternal companion, incarnate with him. When Hari became the son of Aditi, she was again born from the lotus; when he appeared as Bhārgava Rāma, this earth became his consort. As Sītā in Rāma’s incarnation, as Rukmiṇī in Kṛṣṇa’s birth, and in every other incarnation of Viṣṇu, she is always his companion. As a goddess she takes a divine form; as a human, a human form—always assuming a body suited to Viṣṇu’s incarnation. Whoever hears or recites this birth story of Lakṣmī, prosperity will not depart from his house for three generations.