ng
all things, the Supreme Lord of all, the giver of boons, and possessed of
puissance. Thus adored by them, the boon-giving and great God, invisible
and bodiless, addressed those assembled celestials from heaven and said
unto them:--"The offerings dedicated by you in this sacrifice have all
reached me. I am gratified with all of you. I shall bestow rewards on you
that will however, be fraught with ends whence there will be
return.[1846] This shall be your distinctive feature, ye gods, from this
day, in consequence of my grace and kindness for you. Performing
sacrifices in every Yuga, with large presents, ye will become enjoyers of
fruits born of Pravritti. Ye gods, those men also that will perform
sacrifices according to the ordinances of the Vedas, will give unto all
of you shares of their sacrificial offerings. In the Veda-sutras I make
him the receiver (in such sacrifices) of a share similar to that which he
has himself offered one in this sacrifice. Created to look after those
affairs that appertain to your respective jurisdictions, do ye uphold the
worlds according to the measures of your strength as dependent on the
shares you receive on those sacrifices. Indeed, drawing strength from
those rites and observances that will be current in the several worlds,
taking their rise from the fruits of Pravritti, do ye continue to uphold
the affairs of those worlds.[1847] Strengthened by the sacrifices that
will be performed by men, ye will strengthen me. These are the thoughts
that I entertain for you all. It is for this purpose that I have created
the Vedas and sacrifices and plants and herbs. Duly served with these by
human beings on Earth, the deities will be gratified. Ye foremost of
deities, till the end of this Kalpa, I have ordained your creation,
making your constitution depend upon the consequence of the religion of
Pravritti. Ye foremost of Beings, do ye then, as regards your respective
jurisdictions, engage yourselves in seeking the good of the three worlds.
Marichi, Angiras, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, and Vasishtha,--these
seven Rishis have been created by a fiat of the will. These will become
the foremost of persons conversant with the Vedas. In fact, they will
become the preceptors of the Vedas. They will be wedded to the religion
of Pravritti, for they have been intended to devote themselves to the act
of procreating offspring. This is the eternal path that I disclose of
creatures engaged in acts and obser