“O excellent Brahmanas, for the sake of the welfare of devotees of the twice-born caste, you too should im¬ part to all devoted disciples, my perfect knowledge at my instance. There is no doubt in this that he who is Isvara (Siva) is Narayana. This greatest knowledge should be imparted to those who do not see any difference (between the two) viz. Siva and Visnu. 112-113a. He who is called Narayana is my Supreme personality. It abides in the soul of all beings, is quiescent and established imperishably. 113b-114a. The people who see difference (in me and Visnu) and perceive me otherwise, do not see liberation. They are born again and again in the world. 114b-115a. Those who see this unmanifest Visnu and me. Lord Mahesvara as identical are not born again (in Saihsara). 115b-116a. Hence observe and worship Visnu, the unchanging Atman without beginning and end as the same as me. 116b-117a. Those who see otherwise and think about the difference in the deities pass on to terrible hells. I am not present in them. 386 Kurma Pur ana 117b-118a. I liberate the person who does not censure Narayana whether he is a fool or a scholar, or a Candala or a Brahmana depending on me. 118b-119a. Hence this great Yogin, the supreme person (Visnu) should be worshipped and bowed to by my devotees in order to generate my pleasure.” 119b-120a. After saying this and embracing Vasudeva, the Pinaka-bearing Lord vanished even as all were observing. 120b-121a. Lord Narayana eschewed his excellent body and took up the excellent guise of an ascetic. 121b-122a. He said to the Yogins — “By the grace ofParamesthin (Siva) the blemishless perfect knowledge has been acquired by you all. The perfect knowledge of Lord Mahesa is destructive of worldly existence. 122b-123a. O Lordly sages, go forth without mental affection. All of you propagate the perfect knowledge of Paramesthin to virtuous disciples. 123b-124a. This perfect knowledge pertaining to Isvara should be given to a quiescent devotee, the virtuous one who maintains the sacrificial fire and particularly to a Brahmana.” 124b-125a. After saying this, Narayana, the great Yogin, the Atman of the universe, the most excellent among the knowers of Yoga and Yogins, vanished from the scene. 125b-126a. Those sages bowed to Mahesvara, the Lord of Devas and Narayana, the cause of the Bhutas and went to their respective abodes. 126b-128. Holy lord the great sage Sanatkumara gave the perfect knowledge pertaining to Isvara to Saihvarta. Who imparted it to Satya-Vrata. The leading Yogin Sanandana gave it to the great sage Pulaha. Pulaha gave it to Gautama. Prajapati Ahgiras gave it to Bharadvaja, learned in the Vedas. 129-130a. Kapila gave it to Jaigisavya and pancasikha. My father Parasara, the seer of all principles, acquired that great perfect knowledge from Sanaka. Valmikigot it from him. 130b-131a. The great Yogi Vamadeva, Rudra, the controller of Kala and wielder of Pinaka, the offspring of Sati and Siva imparted this knowledge to me formerly. 131b-132a. Lord Narayana, Hari, the son of Devaki, himself gave this excellent knowledge to Arjuna. II.11.132b-145a 387 132b-134a. Ever since I acquired this excellent (perfect knowledge) from Rudra Vamadeva, I have had a special devotion to Girisa (Siva, the Lord of mountains). I have sought special refuge in Girisa worthy of being the shelter, Girisa the Lord of the Bhutas (goblins), the trident-bearing Sthanu, the Lord of Devas. 134b-136a. Accompanied by your wives and sons, O Gentle Sirs, you too resort to Lord Sambhu, Siva the bull- vehicled deity. Exist by means of his grace. Worship Sankara through the path of activity, worship Mahadeva, the Lord of bulls (lord of speech) having serpents for his ornament.” 136b-138a. When this was narrated, Saunaka and others bowed to Mahesvara, eternal Sthanu. Delighted in their minds they spoke to Vyasa, the son of Satyavati the holy Lord Krsnadvaipayana, who was Lord Hrsikesa himself and Siva, the Isvara of the worlds. 138b-140a. By your favour, steady devotion to the bull- bannered deity worthy of being a refuge, has arisen. This is inaccessible even to Devas. O excellent sage, please narrate the excellent path of action (Karma-Yoga)^ whereby Lord Isa has to be propitiated by those who seek salvation. In your presence, Suta may hear the words of the holy Lord. 141b-143a. Hence, mention the epitome of virtue (Dharma) capable of protecting the entire worlds. This is what has been narrated by Visnu the Lord of Devas, who had assumed the form of a tortoise, when he had been requested by Sakra along with the sages at the churning of the Nectar. On hearing the words of the sages, the son of Satyavati, explained the whole of the eternal path of Action. 143b-144a. He who always reads this dialogue of the deity clad in Elephant-hide with the sages the Chief of whom was Sanatkumara shall be liberated from all sins. 144b-145a. He who narrates this to pure Brahmanas devoted to celibacy and he who ponders over the meaning attains the greatest goal.