re now dwelling here engaged in penances for the
object of enhancing their merit. These two are the highest refuge of the
universe. What can be the nature of the daily rites these two perform?
They are the sires of all creatures, and the illustrious deities of all
beings. Endued with high intelligence, what is that deity whom these two
worship? Who are those Pitris whom these two Pitris of all beings
adore?'--Thinking of this in his mind, and filled with devotion towards
Narayana, Narada suddenly appeared before those two gods. After those two
deities had finished their adoration to _their_ deities and the Rishis,
they looked at the celestial Rishi arrived at their retreat. The latter
was honoured with those eternal rites that are ordained in the
scriptures. Beholding that extraordinary conduct of the two original
deities in themselves worshipping other deities and Pitris, the
illustrious Rishi Narada took his seat there, well pleased with the
honours he had received. With a cheerful soul he cast his eyes then on
Narayana, and bowing unto Mahadeva he said these words.

"'"Narada said, 'In the Vedas and the Puranas, in the Angas and the
subsidiary Angas that art sung with reverence, thou art unborn and
eternal. Thou art the Creator. Thou art the mother of the universe. Thou
art the embodiment of Immortality and thou art the foremost of all
things. The Past and the Future, indeed, the entire universe has been
established on thee! The four modes of life, O lord, having the domestic
for their first, ceaselessly sacrifice to thee that art of diverse forms.
Thou art the father and the mother and the eternal preceptor of the
universe. We know not who is that deity or that Pitri unto whom thou art
sacrificing to-day!'

"'"The holy one said, 'This topic is one about which nothing should be
said. It is an ancient mystery. Thy devotion to me is very great. Hence,
O regenerate one, I shall discourse to thee on it agreeably to the truth.
That which is minute, which is inconceivable, unmanifest, immobile,
durable, destitute of all connection with the senses and the objects of
the senses, that which is dissociated from the (five) elements--that is
called the in-dwelling Soul of all existent creatures. That is known by
the name of Kshetrajna. Transcending the three attributes of Sattwa,
Rajas, and Tamas, that is regarded as Purusha in the scriptures. From Him
hath followed the unmanifest, O foremost of regenerate ones, possessed of
th