me, saying, ’O Markandeya, O best of Munis, having dwelt for some time within my body, thou hast been fatigued!  I shall however speak unto thee.’  And as he said this to me, at that very moment I acquired a new sight, so to speak, in consequence of which I beheld myself to be possessed of true knowledge and emancipated from the illusions of the world.  And, O child, having witnessed the inexhaustible power of that Being of immeasurable energy, I then worshipped his revered and well-shaped feet with soles bright as burnished copper and well-decked with toes of mild red hue, having placed them carefully on my head and joining my palms in humility and approaching him with reverence.  I beheld that Divine Being who is the soul of all things and whose eyes are like the petals of the lotus.  And having bowed unto him with joined hands I addressed him saying, ’I wish to know thee, O Divine Being, as also this high and wonderful illusion of thine!  O illustrious one, having entered into thy body through thy mouth, I have beheld the entire universe in thy stomach!  O Divine Being, the gods, the Danavas and the Rakshasas, the Yakshas, the Gandharvas, and the Nagas, indeed, the whole universe mobile and immobile, are all within thy body!  And though I have ceaselessly wandered through thy body at a quick pace, through thy grace, O God, my memory faileth me not.  And, O great lord, I have come out of thy body at thy desire but not of mine!  O thou of eyes like lotus leaves, I desire to know thee who art free from all faults!  Why dost thou stay here in the form of a boy having swallowed up the entire universe?  It behoveth thee to explain all this to me.  Why, O sinless one, is the entire universe within thy body?  How long also, O chastiser of foes, wilt thou stay here?  Urged by a curiosity that is not improper for Brahmanas, I desire, O Lord of all the gods, to hear all this from thee, O thou of eyes like lotus leaves, with every detail and exactly as it all happens, for all I have seen, O Lord, is wonderful and inconceivable!’ And thus addressed by me, that deity of deities, of blazing effulgence and great beauty, that foremost of all speakers consoling me properly, spoke unto me these words.”

SECTION CLXXXVIII

“Markandeya continued, ’The Deity then said, ’O Brahmana, the gods even do not know me truly!  As however, I have been gratified with thee, I will tell thee how I created the universe!  O regenerate Rishi, thou art devoted to thy ancestors and hast also sought my protection!  Thou hast also beheld me with thy eyes, and thy ascetic merit also is great!  In ancient times I called the waters by the name of Nara; and because the waters have ever been my ayana or home, therefore have I been called Narayana (the water-homed).  O best of regenerate ones, I am Narayana, the Source of all things, the Eternal, the Unchangeable.  I am the Creator of all things, and the Destroyer also of all.