Maitreya said: How fortunate is the lineage of the Purus, whose protector is the Lord, and who has attained new fame at every step.

I am indeed the source of the suffering of those who are insignificant, and the great ones should refrain from it. I shall propagate the Bhagavata Purana, as stated by the Supreme Lord to the sages.

Seated on the earth, the original Lord, Sankarshana, the deity of unbounded consciousness, was questioned by the foremost sages regarding the essence of reality.

He himself is the abode of honor, whom the wise call Vasudeva. He awakens the lotus-eyed ones, who are absorbed in the essence of the self.

With their splendid matted hair and their pure forms, they touch the feet of the Lord. The daughters of the serpent king worship the lotus, desiring various boons with love.

Repeatedly singing with affection, the wise know the deeds performed by him, whose glorious crown shines like a thousand jeweled serpents.

It was indeed spoken by the Supreme Lord for the sake of those devoted to the path of renunciation. Sanatkumara was asked about it, and he spoke to Sankhyaayana, who was steadfast in his vows.

Sankhyaayana, the foremost of the Paramahamsas, while wishing to explain the glories of the Lord, spoke to our Guru, Parashara, and Brihaspati.

The compassionate sage Pulastya, having spoken to me, said: 'I shall narrate this ancient Purana to you, O dear one, who is devoted to constant practice and faith.'

The entire universe was submerged; the eyes were closed in sleep. Alone, resting on the serpent's bed, the self-satisfied one remained indifferent.

He, who is the subtle essence of beings, manifesting the power of time, resided in that water, just as fire is restrained in its own place.

In the thousand cycles of ages, dreaming in the waters, he manifested his own power. By the time called 'Kala', he saw the worlds, which were absorbed in his own body.

In the subtle essence of that meaning, the inner essence is filled with the quality of passion. The essence, being bound by time, is not perceived beyond that.

That lotus, suddenly arising, at the time of the awakening of action, illuminated the vast waters like the sun emerging from the self-born.

That lotus of the world is indeed Vishnu, who entered it, shining with all virtues. In it, the self-existent creator, whom they call 'Svayambhu', came to be.

In that, he, situated in the lotus of the water lily, saw the worlds. Roaming in the sky with opened eyes, he attained the four directions as instructed.

Therefore, having taken refuge in the water that has risen from the whirlpool of the end of the age, the deity who knows the truth of the world does not consider himself as separate.

Who is this one, who is like a lotus, and from where does this lotus arise in the waters? There is indeed something below here, where existence is to be considered.

Thus, having observed this, he entered the water through the lotus stalks. Not finding the lotus root, he searched for the stalk of the lotus.

On the other side of darkness, while searching for the origin of the self, there arose a great fear among the embodied beings, which limits the duration of life.

Then, having withdrawn from unfulfilled desires and having reached his own abode, that deity, with a mind now calm, sat in the meditation of the wood.

In due course, the unborn one, through the practice of yoga, became endowed with wisdom. He saw within his heart that which was not seen before.

On a lotus-like couch, a man of golden hue, resting, is surrounded by the radiant jewels of the serpent's hoods, dispelling the darkness of the end of the age.

From the greenish mountain, he cast his gaze, and the clouds of twilight gathered around his majestic head. The ocean of gems and medicinal herbs was adorned with forest garlands and the feet of the flute player.

With a body of divine beauty, expansive and vast, he is the essence of the three worlds, adorned with various divine ornaments and garments, embodying the wealth of prosperity.

For the desires of men, let them worship the lotus feet of the wish-fulfilling cow, showing compassion, with the moonlight of the nails illuminating the beautiful fingers.

With a face that captivates the world, adorned with sparkling earrings, and with lips that are red like the bimba fruit, the beautiful brow of the charming one enchants.

Dressed in the color of kadamba flowers, adorned with a belt, and with a necklace of infinite wealth, the calf is dear to the chest of the one with the Śrīvatsa mark.

With arms adorned with armlets and a thousand branches of strength, the unmanifest root is supported by the wealth of the earth and the king of the worlds.

O Lord, the essence of all beings, hidden in the waters, you manifest as the crest jewel of the mountain, adorned with the golden horns of the king of mountains.

Having set aside the teachings of the scriptures, adorned with the glory of the honey-like vow, the Lord, surrounded by the three realms of sun, moon, and fire, wanders in the forest of wealth, difficult to attain.

Then, the Lord, the creator of the universe, saw the self, which is the essence of the lotus, emerging from the water, and he exhaled.

Seeing the beings, who are covered by the seed of action and are desirous of creation, he, who is inclined towards the creation, became absorbed in the unmanifest path.