Mārkaṇḍeya said: Formerly, in the Tretāyuga, there was a certain brahmin named Kauśika who was perpetually engaged in singing Sāmans and was devoted to Vāsudeva. He thought of him always whilst seated or taking food or lying down on the bed. He frequently sang songs of his noble activities. After reaching the holy centre or the excellent shrine of Viṣṇu he used to sing in praise of Viṣṇu by means of exquisite songs wherein the beating of the time, the intonation and the regulated rise and fall of the sounds contributed to make them sweet. He sang in different tunes pleasing to the ears, in diverse ways. He followed the path of devotion and subsisted solely on alms voluntarily offered by the people.