f the
worlds. He is unborn. He is the one ancient Purusha. Endued with the
complexion of the Sun, He is the Supreme Lord, and he is the refuge of
all. Do all of you bow your heads unto Him since He who sprang from the
waters (viz., Narayana himself) bends his head unto Him.[1894] He is the
origin of the universe. He is that Being who is called Amrita. He is
minute. He is the refuge upon whom all things depend. He is the one Being
to whom the attribute of immutability attaches. The Sankhyas and Yogins,
of restrained souls, hold Him who is eternal in their understandings."

SECTION CCCXLVIII

Janamejaya [sic] said, "I have heard from thee the glory of the divine and
Supreme Soul. I have heard also of the birth of the Supreme Deity in the
house of Dharma, in the form of Nara and Narayana. I have also heard from
thee the origin of the Pinda from the mighty Baraha (Boar) (which form
the supreme Deity had assumed for raising by the submerged Earth). I have
heard from thee about those deities and Rishis that were ordained for the
religion of Pravritti and of those that were ordained for the religion of
Nivritti. Thou hast also, O regenerate one, discoursed to us on other
topics. Thou hast said also unto us of that vast form, with the Equine
head, of Vishnu, that partaker of the libations and other offerings made
in sacrifices,--the form, viz., that appeared in the great ocean on the
North-East. That form was beheld by the illustrious Brahman, otherwise
known by the name of Parameshthi. What, however, were the exact features,
and what the energy, the like of which among all great objects, had never
appeared before, of that form which Hari, the upholder of the universe,
displayed on that occasion? What did Brahman do, O ascetic, after having
seen that foremost of deities, him whose likeness had never been seen
before, him who was of immeasurable energy, him who had the Equine head,
and him who was Sacredness itself? O regenerate one, this doubt hath
arisen in our mind about this ancient subject of knowledge. O thou of
foremost intelligence, for what reason did the supreme Deity assume that
form and display himself in it unto Brahman? Thou hast certainly
sanctified us by discoursing unto us on these diverse sacred
subjects!"[1895]

Sauti said, "I shall recite to thee that ancient history, which is
perfectly consistent with the Vedas, and which the illustrious
Vaisampayana recited unto the son of Parikshit on the occasion of