Utanka said Do you, O Keshava, tell ine that faultless spiritual science. Having heard your discourse I shall ordain what is for your good or imprecate a curse to you O Janardana!

Vasudeva said Know that the three qualities of Ignorance, Darkness and Goodness exist, depending on me as their refuge. So also, O twice-born one, know that the Rudras and the Vasus have originated from me.

In me are all creatures, and in all creatures do I exist know this. Let no doubt arise in your mind about this.

So also, O twice-born one, know that all the tribes of the Daityas, all the Yakshas, Gandharvas, Rakshasas, Nagas, Apsaras, have originated from me.

Whatever has been called existent and nonexistent, whatever is manifest, and notmanifest, whatever is destructible and indestructible, all have me for their soul.

Those fourfold courses of duty which, O ascetic, are known to attach to the (four) modes of life, and all the Vedic duties, have me for their soul.

Whatever is non-existent, whatever is existent and non-existent, and whatever is above that which is existent and not existent, all these which form the universe-are from me. There is nothing higher (or beyond) me who am the eternal god of gods.

O perpetuator of Bhrigu's race, know that all the Veda beginning with the original syllable) One are at one with me. Know, O son of Bhrigu's race, that I am the sacrificial stake; I am the Soma (drunk in sacrifices); I am the Charu (cooked in sacrifices for being offered to the deities); I am the Homa (that is performed); I am those deeds which sacrificers perform for pleasing the celestials; I am even the pourer of the sacrificial libation; and I am the Havi or libation that is poured. I am the Adhvaryu. I am the Kalpaka; and I am the highly sanctified sacrificial Havi. It is me whom the Udgatri, in the great sacrifice, hymns by the sound of his songs. In all rites of expiation, O Brahmana, the utters of auspicious Mantras and bencdictions fraught with peace sing my praises who am the artificer, o foremost of twice-born ones, of the universe.

Know, O best of twice-born persons, that Dharma is my eldest-born offspring, originated from my mind, O learned Brahmana, whose essence is for all creatures.

Constantly changing myself, I take birth in various wombs. O best of men, for upholding that son of mine, with the help of men now existing in or departed from the world. Indeed, I do this for protecting Virtue and for establishing it.

In those forms that I assume for the purpose, I am known, O son of Bhrigu's race, in the three worlds as Vishnu and Brahman and Shakra. I am the origin and I am the destruction of all things.

I am the creator of al existent objects and I am their destroyer. Knowing no change myself, I am the destroyer of all those creatures that live in sinfulness.

In every cycle I have to repair the causeway of Virtue, entering into various kinds of wombs from desire of doing good to my creatures.

When, O son of Bhrigu's race, I live in the order of the celestials, I then indeed, act in i every respect as a celestial.

When I live in the order of the Gandharvas, I then, O son of Bhrigu's race, act in every . respect as a Gandharva.

When I live in the order of the Nagas I then act as a Naga, and when I live in the order of Yakshas or that of Rakshasas, I act after the manner of that order.

Born now in the order of men I must act a human being. I appealed to them (the Kauravas) most piteously. But stupefied as they were and deprived of their senses, they refused to take my words.

I frightened them, filled with anger referring to some great fear. But once more I showed themselves my usual human forin.

Possessed as they were of unrighteousness, and assailed by the virtue of liine, all of them have been righteously killed in battle, and have, forsooth, gone to the celestial region.

The Pandavas also, O best of Brahmanas have acquired great fame. I have these told you all that you had asked me.