“Brahman said, You have done well, ye deities, in speaking to me of this matter.  Blessed be you all!  I was thinking of this very subject that has engaged your attention.  How should the three worlds be upheld and kept agoing?  How should your strength and mine be utilized towards that end?  Let all of us, leaving this place, repair to that unmanifest and foremost of Beings who is the witness of the world, for seeking his protection.  He will tell us what is for our good.  After this, those deities and Rishis, with Brahman, proceeded to the northern shores of the Ocean of milk, desirous of doing good to the three worlds.  Arrived there, they began to practise those austere penances that are declared by Brahman in the Vedas.  Those austerest of penances are known by the name of Mahaniyama (the foremost vows and observances).  They stood there with mind fixed, immovable as posts of wood, and with eyes upturned and arms raised upwards.  For a thousand celestial years they were engaged in those severe penances.  At the conclusion of that period they heard these sweet words in harmony with the Vedas and their branches.

“’The blessed and holy one said, Ye deities and Rishis possessed of wealth of asceticism, with Brahman in your company, after according you all welcome, I say unto you these words.  I know that is in your hearts.  Verily, the thoughts that engage you are for the good of the three worlds.  I shall increase your energy and strength investing the same with Pravritti (predilection for acts).  Ye gods, well have you undergone these penances from desire of adoring me.  Ye foremost of Beings, enjoy now the excellent fruits of austerities which ye have gone through.  This Brahman is the Lord of all the worlds.  Endued with puissance, he is the Grandsire of all creatures.  Ye also are foremost of deities.  Do ye all, with concentrated minds perform sacrifices for my glory.  In the sacrifices which you will perform, do ye always give me a portion of the sacrificial offerings.  I shall then, ye lord of creation, assign to each of you your respective jurisdictions and ordain what will be for your good!"’

Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing these words of that God of gods, all those deities and great Rishis and Brahman became filled with such delight that the hair on their bodies stood on its end.  They forthwith made arrangements for a sacrifice in honour of Vishnu according to the ordinances laid down in the Vedas.  In that sacrifice, Brahman himself dedicated a portion of the offerings to Vishnu.  The deities and the celestial Rishis also, after the manner of Brahman, dedicated similar portions each unto the great God.  The portions, thus offered with great reverence unto Vishnu, were, in respect of both the measure and the quality of the articles used, according to the ordinances laid down for the Krita age.  The deities and the Rishis and Brahman, in that sacrifice, adored the great God as one endued with the complexion of