ishma said, "Thus hymned with names that were not known to others, the
Divine Narayana having the universe for his form showed himself to the
ascetic Narada. His form was somewhat purer than the moon and differed
from the moon in some respects. He somewhat resembled a blazing fire in
complexion. The puissant Lord was somewhat of the form of Vishti.[1828]
He resembled in some respects the feathers of the parrot, and in some a
mass of pure crystal. He resembled in some respects a hill of antimony
and in some a mass of pure gold. His complexion somewhat resembled the
coral when first formed, and was somewhat white. In some respects that
complexion resembled the hue of gold and in some that of the lapis
lazuli. In some respects it resembled the hue of the blue lapis lazuli
and in some that of sapphire. In some respects it resembled the hue of
the peacock's neck, and in some that of a string of pearls. Bearing these
diverse kinds of hues on his person, the eternal Deity appeared before
Narada. He had a thousand eyes and was possessed of great beauty. He had
a hundred heads and a hundred feet. He had a thousand stomachs and a
thousand arms. He seemed to be still inconceivable to the mind. With one
of his mouths he uttered the syllable Om and then the Gayatri following
Om. With mind under complete control, the great Deity, called by the
names of Hari and Narayana, by his other mouths, multitudinous in number,
uttered many mantras from the four Vedas which are known by the name of
Aranyaka. The Lord of all the deities, the great God who is adorned in
sacrifices, held in his hands a sacrificial altar, a Kamandalu, few white
gems, a pair of sandal, a bundle of Kusa blades, a deer-skin, a
toothstick, and a little blazing fire.[1829] With cheerful soul, that
foremost of regenerate persons, viz., Narada of restraining speech, bowed
unto the great God and adored Him. Unto him whose head was still bent low
in veneration, the first of all the deities, who is free from
deterioration, said the following words.

"'"The Holy one said, 'The great Rishis, Ekata, Dwita, and Trita, came to
this realm from desire of obtaining a sight of me. They, however, were
unable to have the fruition of their wishes. Nor can any one have a sight
of me save those persons that are devoted to me with their whole hearts.
As regards thee, thou art verily the foremost of all persons devoted to
me with all their souls. These are my bodies, the best ones that I
assu