Mokshadharma Parva — Nara and Narayana said to Narada that for his devotion the Great God showed himself to him

Nara and Narayana said You deserve very high encomiums, and highly favoured have you been, since you have seen the powerful Narayana himself. None else, not even Brahman himself who has sprung from the primal lotus, has been able to see him.

That foremost of Purushas, gifted with power and holiness, is of unmanifest origin and incapable of being seen. These words that we say to you are very true, O Narada!

There exists no one in the universe who is dearer to him than one that worships him with devotion. It is, therefore, O best of twice-born ones, that he showed himself to you!

No one can go to that realm where the Supreme Soul resides practising penances, except we two, O foremost of twice-born ones.

On account of that places being adorned by Him, Its splendour resembles the effulgence of a thousand Suns collected together.

From that illustrious Being, O Brahmana, from Him who is the origin of the Creator of the universe, O foremost of all persons gifted with forgiveness, originates the attribute of forgiveness which attaches to the Earth.

It is from that illustrious Being whose attributes are for the good of all beings, that Rasa (Taste) has flown. The attribute of Rasa belongs to the waters which are, again, liquid.

It is from Him that Heat or Light has flown, having the attribute of Form or vision for its soul. It belongs to the Sun on account of which the Sun becomes able to shine and give heat.

It is from that illustrious and foremost of Beings that Touch also has originated. It belongs to the Wind, on account of which the Wind moves about in the world producing the sensation of Touch.

It is from that powerful Lord of the entire universe that that Sound has arisen. It belongs to Ether, which, therefore, exists uncovered and unconfined.

It is from that illustrious Being that Mind, which pervades all Beings, has originated. It belongs to the Moon, on account of which the Moon has come to be invested with the attribute of showing all the things.

That spot where the divine Narayana, that cater of the libations and other offerings made in sacrifices lives with Knowledge alone for his companion, has, in the Vedas, been called by the name of the productive cause of all things known as Sat.

The path that is theirs, O foremost of twiceborn ones, that are stainless and that are freed from both virtue and sin, is fraught with auspiciousness and happiness.

The Sun, who is the remover of the darkness of all the worlds, is said to be the door. Entering the Sun, the bodies of such persons consumed by his fire. They then become invisible for after that they cannot be beheld by any one at any time.

Reduced into invisible atoms, they then enter into Narayana. Passing out from him also, they enter into the form of Aniruddha.

Losing all physical attributes altogether and changed into mind alone, they then enter into Pradyumna. Passing out of Pradyumna, those foremost of twice-born ones, including both those who are conversant with Sankhya philosophy and those who are devoted to the Supreme God, then enter Sankarshana who is otherwise called Individual Soul. After inis, divested of the three primal qualities of Goodness, Darkness, and Ignorance, those foremost of twice-born ones speedily enter the Supreme Soul otherwise called Kshetrajna and which itself is above the three primal qualities. Know that Vasudeva is He called Kshetrajna. Verily should you know that, that Vasudeva is the residence or original refuge of all things in the universe.

Only they whose mind are concentrated, who observe all sorts of restraint, whose senses are restrained, and who are devoted with their whole souls, succeed in entering Vasudeva.

We two, O foremost to twice-born ones, have taken birth in the house of Dharma. Living in this charming and spacious herinitage, we are practising the austerest penances.

We are thus employed, O twice-born one, moved by the desire of benefiting those manifestations of the Supreme God, dear to all the celestials, that will appear in the three worlds.

In accordance, one after another, which such ordinances as are extraordinary and as apply to us two only, O best of twice-born ones, we are duly observing all excellent and high vows fraught with the austerest penances.

You, O celestial Rishi having penances for your wealth were seen by us in White Island when you were there. Having met with Narayana, you have formed a particular resolution.

In the three worlds consisting of mobile and immobile Beings, there is nothing that we do not know. Of good or evil that will occur or has occurred or is occurring, that God of gods, O great ascetic, has informed you.

Vaishampayana continued Having heard these words of Nara and Narayana both of whom were practising the austerest penances, the celestial Rishi Narada joined his hands in respect and became entirely devoted to Narayana.

He passed his time in mental recitation, with due observances, numberless sacred Mantras that are approved by Narayana. Adoring the Supreme Deity Narayana, and worshipping those two ancient Rishis also that had taken birth in the house of Dharma, the illustrious Rishis Narada, gifted with great energy, continued to live, thus engaged, in that retreat, called Vadari, on the breast of Himavat, belonging to Nara and Narayana, for thousand divine years. a worshipping those two ancient Rishis also that had taken birth in the house of Dharma, the illustrious Rishis Narada, gifted with great energy, continued to live, thus engaged, in that retreat, called Vadari, on the breast of Himavat, belonging to Nara and Narayana, for thousand divine years. a