great God.  In this way, O son of Kunti, assuming diverse forms do I rove at will through the Earth, the region of Brahma himself, and that other high and eternal region of felicity called Goloka.  Protected by me in the great battle, thou hast won a great victory.  That Being whom, at the time of all thy battles, thou beheldest stalking in thy van, know, O son of Kunti, is no other than Rudra, that god of gods, otherwise called by the name of Kaparddin.  He is otherwise known by the name of Kala,[1881] and should be known as one that has sprung from my wrath.  Those foes whom thou hast slain were all, in the first instance, slain by him.[1882] Do thou bend thy head unto that god of gods, that lord of Uma, endued with immeasurable puissance With concentrated soul, do thou bend thy head unto that illustrious Lord of the universe, that indestructible deity, otherwise called by the name of Hari.  He is none else than that deity who, as I have repeatedly told thee, has sprung from my wrath.  Thou hast, before this, heard, O Dhananjaya, of the puissance and energy that reside in him!’”

SECTION CCCXLIV

Saunaka said, “O Sauti, excellent is this narrative which thou hast recited.  Verily, these ascetics, having heard it have all been filled with wonder.  It is said, O Sauti, that a discourse that has Narayana for its topic, is more fruitful of merit than sojourns unto all the sacred retreats and ablutions performed in all the sacred waters on the Earth.  Having listened to this discourse of thine that has Narayana for its topic, that is sacred and capable of cleansing one of every sin, all of us have certainly become holy.  Adored of all the worlds, that illustrious and foremost of deities is incapable of being beheld by the deities with Brahma numbering among them and all the Rishis.  That Narada was able to obtain a sight of the God Narayana, otherwise called Hari, was due, O son of Suta, to the special grace of that divine and puissant Lord.  When, however, the celestial Rishi Narada had succeeded in obtaining a sight of the Supreme Lord of the universe, a residing in the form of Aniruddha, why did he again proceed so quickly (to the retreat of Vadari on the breast of Himavat) for beholding those two foremost of godly of Rishis viz., Nara and Narayana?  Do you, O Sauti, tell us the reason of such conduct on the part of Narada.”

Sauti said, During the continuance of his snake-sacrifice, Janamejaya, the royal son of Parikshit, availing himself of an interval in the sacrificial rites, and when all the learned Brahmanas were resting.  O Saunaka, that king of kings, addressed the grandfather of his grandfather, viz., the Island-born Krishna, otherwise called Vyasa, that ocean of Vedic lore, that foremost of ascetics endued with puissance, and said these words.