Thereupon the Suras with Aditi approached Kashyapa. There they saw the great ascetic, the first preceptor of the Devas, like unto the sun of mitigated lustre through water, fair and effulgent like a burning flame. Having left aside his staff and thrown an antelope skin on his person he was practising penances. His body was covered with bark and antelope skin. He was burning in Brahma energy like fire incarnate when inflamed with incantations. The lord Maricha, the father of Suras and Asuras, was the foremost of Brahmavādins and effulgent like the sun. He was the creator of all and the most excellent master of the patriarchs. He was born as the third patriarch in the person of his grand-son. As the mind-begotten sons of Brahmā speak to him, so those leading and heroic Devas along with Aditi bowed unto Kashyapa and with folded hands communicated to him the celestial message imparted through an invisible agency as also that Bali, the foremost of Daityas, was unconquerable by the immortals. Hearing the words of his sons Kashyapa desired to repair to the region of Brahmā. Kashyapa said:—"O sinless one, we will repair to Brahmā's abode filled with the sound of the recitation of the Vedas. There you are to communicate truly what you had heard unto Brahmā" (7-16).
Vaishampāyana said:—Thereupon the Devas with Aditi followed Kashyapa to Brahmā's palace filled with celestial saints. In highly costly and charming conveyances coursing at all the Devas, in a moment, reached Brahmā's region. Desirous of beholding the immortal Brahmā a mass of asceticism they repaired to his extensive court. Seeing the Hall where sweet Saman verses were being sung they were highly pleased. They heard the Rik mantras chanted by great ascetics of pious rites, well read in the Vedas and their auxilliaries. With the recitation of Vedic verses the Hall resounded. Having arrived there and heard the recitation of the Vedas the Suras considered their own persons purified. With their mental faculties concentrated, resorting to silence and fixing their minds on Brahmā, they, filled with surprise, looked at one another (17-27).
Placing Kashyapa before them the Suras again in their mind saluted the Omnipotent Preceptor of the world. Again was heard the sweet and grave recitation of the Vedas by the Devas well-read in various Scriptures. Kashyapa's sons saw there leading Brāhmanas ever observant of vows and regulations and fond of recitations and Homa. Carrying on the work of creation through celestial Māyā, Brahmā, the grand-father of the world and the preceptor of Suras and Asuras was seated in that Hall. There Daksha and other Patriarchs, Prachetā, Pulaha, the foremost of the twice-born Marichi, Bhrigu, Atri, Vasishtha, Goutama, and Nārada, were worshipping him. Learning, mind, sky, fire, water, earth, sound, touch, form, taste, smell, these objects of sense, the principle of greatness, the four Vedas, religious rites, sacrifices, determination, vital breath and every other thing was present before the Self-sprung Deity. Profit, religious merit, object of desire, envy and joy were before him. Shukra, Vrihaspati, Samvartta, Buddha, Shani, Rāhu, all the planets, Maruts, Vishwakarma, the stars, the sun and the moon were adoring Brahmā. The sacred verse Savitri, the seven forms of speech, the Srutis, Gāthās, Laws, Commentaries, Kshana, Lava, Muhurtta, day, night, month six seasons, year, four yugas, evening, the wheel of time and many others were present before the Self-sprung Deity. With the pious Devas Kashyapa entered into that celestial Hall affording all objects of desire. Beholding the Great Creator the Eternal Brahmā, burning in his own beauty, freed from exhaustion and served by the Brahma saints the Devas bowed unto him. Having touched the feet of Paramesthin with their crown they were freed from sins and became of quiescent souls. Seeing Kashyapa present there with the Devas the highly effulgent Brahmā said (28–47).
CHAPTER XLII. BRAHMA INSTRUCTS THE DEVAS TO GO TO VISHNU.
Brahmā said:—O ye highly powerful gods, I have learnt the object of your arrival here. O leading Suras, your object will be accomplished. That lord of the universe, who will vanquish Bali the foremost of Dānavas, is not only the victor of the Daityas but is the conqueror of three worlds and is worshipful unto the gods. That eternal origin of the universe is the ordainer of the worlds. People call him omniscient and Hemagarbha. The great Lord, who will destroy the world and the Asura-chief Bali, is the origin of all and is our first born. That Yogin, that soul of the universe is above the reach of thought. Even the Devas do not know that great one: but that Purusottama knows the gods, ourselves and the whole universe. By His grace we fare well. And establishing communion with Him people practise hard austerities in this world.
O Devas, in the northern division and on the northern bank of the ocean of milk there is a most excellent place called Amrita (nectar): so the wise say. Go there and being self-controlled practise hard austerities. There you will hear most sacred, purified words relating to Brahman grave like the muttering of clouds surcharged with water in the rainy season. That celestial speech is destructive of all sins and was spoken by the god of gods of pure soul. So long as your vow will not terminate you will hear that great universal speech. O gods, you have come to me and I am ready to grant you boons. Tell me what boon you do want.
Thereupon having bowed unto that one identical with Yoga Kashyapa and Aditi touched his feet and accepted the following boon. "May Lord forsooth be born as our son." When they with great reverence said so Brahmā said "So be it. Let the Devas pray to Him for becoming their brother and he will agree." Having obtained this boon from him and been successful in their mission the gods repaired to their respective habitations. Saying 'so be it' the Suras, Kashyapa and Aditi touched Brahmā's feet and repaired to the nothern quarter. Within a short time they reached the nothern bank of the ocean of milk as ordered by the Divine Brahmā. Crossing many oceans, mountains and rivers those leading celestials saw a highly dreadful quarter enshrouded with darkness and divested of the sun and creatures. Reaching that place called Amrita the Suras along with Kashyapa began to practise hard austerities for many years with a view to propitiate the thousand-eyed, intelligent Yogin Nārāyana endued with all lordly powers. Observing the vows of celibacy and silence and controlling their senses and movements the Suras practised hard austerities there. The divine Kashyapa recited for pleasing the Lord Narayana many Vedic verses of eulogy (1-26).
CHAPTER XLIII. VISHNU PROMISES HELP TO THE GODS.
Vaishampāyana said:—Hearing those most excellent eulogistic verses recited by the foremost of the twice-born Kashyapa the Lord Nārāyana, having a grave but sweet voice, delightedly and distinctly said to the great gods through the muttering of clouds. The words were heard from the sky, but nobody could see the Lord. Iswara said it with great delight (1-3).
Vishnu said:—O leading celestials, I am pleased with you. May you fare well. Do you pray for boons and I am ready to grant them (4).