o is there that will rescue me from this ocean of grief in
which I am sunk for the loss I have endured? Who is there that will bring
me the Vedas I have lost? Who is there that will take compassion on
me?"--While Brahma was uttering these words, O best of kings, the
resolution suddenly arose in his mind, O foremost of intelligent persons,
for hymning the praises of Hari in these words. The puissant Brahma then,
with hands joined in reverence, and seizing the feet of his progenitor,
sang this highest of hymns in honour of Narayana.

"'Brahma said, "I bow to thee, O heart of Brahman. I bow to thee that hast
been born before me. Thou art the origin of the universe. Thou art the
foremost of all abodes. Thou, O puissant one, art the ocean of Yoga with
all its branches. Thou art the Creator of both what is Manifest and what
is Unmanifest. Thou treadest along the path whose auspiciousness is of
inconceivable extent. Thou art the consumer of the universe. Thou art the
Antaralock (Inner Soul) of all creatures. Thou art without any origin.
Thou art the refuge of the universe. Thou art self-born; for origin thou
hast none that is not thyself. As regards myself, I have sprung through
thy Grace. From thee have I derived my birth. My first birth from thee,
which is regarded sacred by all regenerate persons, was due to a fiat of
thy Mind. My second birth in days of yore was from thy eyes. Through thy
Grace, my third birth was from thy speech. My fourth birth, O puissant
Lord, was from thy ears. My fifth birth, excellent in all respects, was
from thy nose, O Lord. My sixth birth was, through thee, from an egg.
This is my seventh birth. It has occurred, O Lord, within this Lotus, and
it is meant to stimulate the intellect and desires of all the beings. At
each Creation I take birth from thee as thy son, O thou that art divested
of the three attributes. Indeed, O lotus-eyed one, I take birth as thy
eldest son, made up of Sattwa the foremost of three attributes. Thou art
endued with that nature which is Supreme. Thou springest from thyself. I
have been created by thee. The Vedas are my eyes. Hence, I transcend Time
itself. Those Vedas, which constitute my eyes, have been taken away from
me. I have, therefore, become blind. Do Thou awake from this Yoga-sleep.
Give me back my eyes. I am dear to thee and thou art dear to me." Thus
praised by Brahma, the illustrious Purusha, with face turned towards
every side, then shook off his slumber, resol