II. -- VASUDEVA AND SANKARSHANA.

*SKANDHA III., CHAP. 8.* When this universe remained submerged in the waters of Pralaya, the eyes of Vasudeva remained closed in sleep. He opened His eyes, lying down on the Serpent King Ananta or Sankarshana. He indulged in self and was without action. Inside His body was Bhuta-Sukshma or all beings in a subtle state of latency. Only Kala-Sakti manifested itself and He dwelt in those waters in self, as fire remains in wood, with powers controlled. Having slept for one thousand Yuga cycles in the waters, with only Kala-Sakti manifesting His work, He found the lotuses of the Lokas in His body. He then looked at the Sukshma, that was within Him. That Sukshma became pierced with Kala -- propelled Rajas, and small as it was, it came out of his navel region. By the action of Kala, which awakens Karma, it suddenly grew up into a lotus bud. Vishnu entered this Loka Padma or the Lotus of Lokas. Brahma then appeared in that Lotus. He looked on all sides and became four-faced, but he could not find out the Lokas. Though he was in the Lotus himself, confused as he was, he knew not the whole Lotus. Whence am I? Whence is this Lotus? So thought Brahma. And he searched below to feel the lotus-stalk. The search was vain for one hundred years. For another hundred years he meditated within self, and lo! there appeared within his heart one _Purusha_ lying down on the body of Sesha (the serpent king). (The description of the Purusha is much the same as we have read of the _Pradesa Purusha_. So it is not given here.) Brahma prayed to that Purusha and was told to practise Tapas for acquiring the power of creation.