SECTION II.Maitreya said:—O foremost of Brāhmins, you have described to me the seven Manwantaras that have passed away. It behoves you to describe now the Manwantaras that shall take place in future.Parāçara said Sanjnā, the daughter of Viswakarman, was the wife of the sun, and bore him three children, the Manu Vaivaswata, Yama and the goddess Yami. Being unable to endure the fervours of her husband, she engaged Chāya in his attendance and repaired to the forest to practise devout austerities. Considering that Chāya as Sanjnā, he got upon her three other children—Sanaischra (Saturn) another Manu Sāvarni and a daughter Tapati. Once on a time being offended with Yama, the son of Sanjnā, Chāya imprecated a curse upon him and gave out to Yama and the sun that she was not in reality Sanjnā the mother of the former. (Having heard this) the sun, by his meditation saw her as a mare in the region of Uttara Kuru.Thereupon assuming the shape of a horse the sun begot upon Sanjnā three other children, the two Aswins and Revanta, and brought her back to his own house. To diminish his fervours Viswakarman placed him on his lathe and reduced some of his effulgence; to the eighth portion, for more than which was insperable. The portions of the divine Vaishnava effulgence that were in the sun being filed off by Viswakarman, fell down shining on the earth and the artist constructed of them the discus of Vishnu—the trident of Siva, the weapon of the god of wealth, the lance of Kartikeya, and the weapons of the other celestials: all these Viswakarman made from the additional rays of the sun.The son of Chāya, who was also called a Manu, was Sāvarni on account of his belonging to the same caste as his elder brother the Manu Vaivaswata. He rules over the coming or eighth Manwantara, the details whereof and of those following I shall now describe.In the era when Sāvarni shall be the Manu the orders of the celestials will be Sutapas, Amitabhas and Mukshyas, each consisting of twenty-one divinities. The seven Rishis will be Diptimat, Gālava, Rāma, Kripa, Drauni: my son Vyāsa will be the sixth and the seventh will be Rishyasringa. The chief of the celestials will be Bali—the innocent son of Virochona who, on account of Vishnu's favour, is the king of a portion of Patala. The sons of Sāvarni will be Virajas, Arvarivas, Nirmoha and others.O Maitreya, Daksha-Savarni will be the ninth Manu. The Paras, Marichigarbhas and Sudharmas will be the three orders of the celestials each consisting of twelve divinities. Indra Adbhuta will be their mighty king. Savana, Dyutimut, Bhavya, Vasu, Medhatithi, Jyotishman and Satya will be the seven Rishis. Dhritaketu, Driptiketu, Panchahasta, Niramaya, Prithusrava and others will be sons of the Manu.In the tenth period Brahmā-Savarni will be the Manu: the celestials will be the Sudhamas, Viruddhas and Satasankhyas: their king will be the powerful Santi. The Rishis will be Havishman, Sukriti, Satya, Apammurtti, Nabhaga, Apratimaujas and Satyaketu and the ten sons of the Manu will be Sukshetra, Uttamaujas, Harishena and others.In the eleventh period Dharma-Savarni will be the Manu and the leading celestials will be Vihangamas, Kamagamas and Nirmanaratis each consisting of thirty; Vrisha be their king. The Rishis will be Nischara, Agnitejas, Vapushman, Vishnu, Aruni, Havishman and Anagha. Savarga, Sarvadharma, Devanika and others—the kings of the earth—will be the sons of the Manu.In the twelfth period Savarni, the son of Rudra, will be the Manu. Ritudhama will be the king of the gods who will be Haritas Lohitas, Sutnanasas, and Sukarmas, each consisting of fifteen divinities. The Rishis will be Tapaswi, Sutapas, Tapomurtti, Taporati, Tapodhriti, Tapodyuti and Tapodhana. And the Manu's sons will be Devayan, Upadeva, Devareshta and others—who will be the powerful kings of the earth.In the thirteenth period Rauchya will be the Manu. The gods will be the Sudhmanas, Sudharmans and Sukarmans each consisting of thirty-three. Their king will be Divaspati. The Rishis will be Nirmoha, Tatwadersin, Nishprakampa, Nirutsuka, Dhritimat, Avyaya, and Sutpas. The sons of the Manu will be Chitrasena, Vichitra, and others who will be the kings of the earth.At the fourteenth period Bhautya will be the Manu and Suchi will be the king of the celestials who will be the Chakshushas, Pavitras, Kanishthas, Bhrājiras and Vavriddhas. The seven Rishis will be Agnibahu, Suchi, Sukra, Megadha, Grighra, Yukta and Ajita. Uru, Gabhira, Bradhna and others will be the sons of Manu who will be the kings of the earth.At the end of every four Yugas the Vedas disappear. And the seven Rishis descending on the earth again establish them. In every Krita age the presiding Manu becomes the legislator and during the Manwantaras the celestials of the various classes receive sacrifices. And those born in the race of Manus lord over the earth for that period. In every Manwantara, the Manu, the seven Rishis, the king of the gods and the sons of the Manu rule over the earth. In this wise, O Brahmin, fourteen Manwantaras constitute a Kalpa. And it is succeeded by a night of similar duration.And the glorious Jannardana, wearing form of Brahmā, the essence of all things, the lord of all, the creator of all, involved in his own illusions and having swallowed up three spheres, sleeps upon the serpent Sesha in the midst of the ocean. And awaking after sleep the undecaying Hari, resorting to the quality of foulness, creates all things as they were before. And by virtue of a part of his essence which is identical with the quality of goodness he, as the Manus, the celestials, their chiefs, kings, as well as the seven Rishis, preserves the universe. I will now explain to you, O Maitreya, how Vishnu, who is regarded as Providence all through the four ages, preserved (the universe).In the Krita Yuga, He, for the behoof of all creatures, was born as the great ascetic Kapila and imparted to them true wisdom. In the Treta Yuga he was born as the Lord Paramount and repressed the wicked and protected the three worlds. In the Dwapara Yuga He was born as Vyāsa and divided the Vedas into four divisions which were again divided into various branches; which were again divided into diverse sections. And at the end of Kali the fourth Yuga, He shall be born as Kalki and shall lead again the wicked to the paths of piety. Thus the endless Vishnu creates, preserves and destroys the universe. And there is none else but Him. I have thus described to you, O Brahman, the real nature of that Great Being who is at one with all things, and besides whom there is nothing else, nor has there been, nor will there be either here or elsewhere. I have also described to you all the Manwantaras with their presiding deities. What else do you wish to hear?
SECTION II.Maitreya said:—O foremost of Brāhmins, you have described to me the seven Manwantaras that have passed away. It behoves you to describe now the Manwantaras that shall take place in future.Parāçara said Sanjnā, the daughter of Viswakarman, was the wife of the sun, and bore him three children, the Manu Vaivaswata, Yama and the goddess Yami. Being unable to endure the fervours of her husband, she engaged Chāya in his attendance and repaired to the forest to practise devout austerities. Considering that Chāya as Sanjnā, he got upon her three other children—Sanaischra (Saturn) another Manu Sāvarni and a daughter Tapati. Once on a time being offended with Yama, the son of Sanjnā, Chāya imprecated a curse upon him and gave out to Yama and the sun that she was not in reality Sanjnā the mother of the former. (Having heard this) the sun, by his meditation saw her as a mare in the region of Uttara Kuru.Thereupon assuming the shape of a horse the sun begot upon Sanjnā three other children, the two Aswins and Revanta, and brought her back to his own house. To diminish his fervours Viswakarman placed him on his lathe and reduced some of his effulgence; to the eighth portion, for more than which was insperable. The portions of the divine Vaishnava effulgence that were in the sun being filed off by Viswakarman, fell down shining on the earth and the artist constructed of them the discus of Vishnu—the trident of Siva, the weapon of the god of wealth, the lance of Kartikeya, and the weapons of the other celestials: all these Viswakarman made from the additional rays of the sun.The son of Chāya, who was also called a Manu, was Sāvarni on account of his belonging to the same caste as his elder brother the Manu Vaivaswata. He rules over the coming or eighth Manwantara, the details whereof and of those following I shall now describe.In the era when Sāvarni shall be the Manu the orders of the celestials will be Sutapas, Amitabhas and Mukshyas, each consisting of twenty-one divinities. The seven Rishis will be Diptimat, Gālava, Rāma, Kripa, Drauni: my son Vyāsa will be the sixth and the seventh will be Rishyasringa. The chief of the celestials will be Bali—the innocent son of Virochona who, on account of Vishnu's favour, is the king of a portion of Patala. The sons of Sāvarni will be Virajas, Arvarivas, Nirmoha and others.O Maitreya, Daksha-Savarni will be the ninth Manu. The Paras, Marichigarbhas and Sudharmas will be the three orders of the celestials each consisting of twelve divinities. Indra Adbhuta will be their mighty king. Savana, Dyutimut, Bhavya, Vasu, Medhatithi, Jyotishman and Satya will be the seven Rishis. Dhritaketu, Driptiketu, Panchahasta, Niramaya, Prithusrava and others will be sons of the Manu.In the tenth period Brahmā-Savarni will be the Manu: the celestials will be the Sudhamas, Viruddhas and Satasankhyas: their king will be the powerful Santi. The Rishis will be Havishman, Sukriti, Satya, Apammurtti, Nabhaga, Apratimaujas and Satyaketu and the ten sons of the Manu will be Sukshetra, Uttamaujas, Harishena and others.In the eleventh period Dharma-Savarni will be the Manu and the leading celestials will be Vihangamas, Kamagamas and Nirmanaratis each consisting of thirty; Vrisha be their king. The Rishis will be Nischara, Agnitejas, Vapushman, Vishnu, Aruni, Havishman and Anagha. Savarga, Sarvadharma, Devanika and others—the kings of the earth—will be the sons of the Manu.In the twelfth period Savarni, the son of Rudra, will be the Manu. Ritudhama will be the king of the gods who will be Haritas Lohitas, Sutnanasas, and Sukarmas, each consisting of fifteen divinities. The Rishis will be Tapaswi, Sutapas, Tapomurtti, Taporati, Tapodhriti, Tapodyuti and Tapodhana. And the Manu's sons will be Devayan, Upadeva, Devareshta and others—who will be the powerful kings of the earth.In the thirteenth period Rauchya will be the Manu. The gods will be the Sudhmanas, Sudharmans and Sukarmans each consisting of thirty-three. Their king will be Divaspati. The Rishis will be Nirmoha, Tatwadersin, Nishprakampa, Nirutsuka, Dhritimat, Avyaya, and Sutpas. The sons of the Manu will be Chitrasena, Vichitra, and others who will be the kings of the earth.At the fourteenth period Bhautya will be the Manu and Suchi will be the king of the celestials who will be the Chakshushas, Pavitras, Kanishthas, Bhrājiras and Vavriddhas. The seven Rishis will be Agnibahu, Suchi, Sukra, Megadha, Grighra, Yukta and Ajita. Uru, Gabhira, Bradhna and others will be the sons of Manu who will be the kings of the earth.At the end of every four Yugas the Vedas disappear. And the seven Rishis descending on the earth again establish them. In every Krita age the presiding Manu becomes the legislator and during the Manwantaras the celestials of the various classes receive sacrifices. And those born in the race of Manus lord over the earth for that period. In every Manwantara, the Manu, the seven Rishis, the king of the gods and the sons of the Manu rule over the earth. In this wise, O Brahmin, fourteen Manwantaras constitute a Kalpa. And it is succeeded by a night of similar duration.And the glorious Jannardana, wearing form of Brahmā, the essence of all things, the lord of all, the creator of all, involved in his own illusions and having swallowed up three spheres, sleeps upon the serpent Sesha in the midst of the ocean. And awaking after sleep the undecaying Hari, resorting to the quality of foulness, creates all things as they were before. And by virtue of a part of his essence which is identical with the quality of goodness he, as the Manus, the celestials, their chiefs, kings, as well as the seven Rishis, preserves the universe. I will now explain to you, O Maitreya, how Vishnu, who is regarded as Providence all through the four ages, preserved (the universe).In the Krita Yuga, He, for the behoof of all creatures, was born as the great ascetic Kapila and imparted to them true wisdom. In the Treta Yuga he was born as the Lord Paramount and repressed the wicked and protected the three worlds. In the Dwapara Yuga He was born as Vyāsa and divided the Vedas into four divisions which were again divided into various branches; which were again divided into diverse sections. And at the end of Kali the fourth Yuga, He shall be born as Kalki and shall lead again the wicked to the paths of piety. Thus the endless Vishnu creates, preserves and destroys the universe. And there is none else but Him. I have thus described to you, O Brahman, the real nature of that Great Being who is at one with all things, and besides whom there is nothing else, nor has there been, nor will there be either here or elsewhere. I have also described to you all the Manwantaras with their presiding deities. What else do you wish to hear?
SECTION II.Maitreya said:—O foremost of Brāhmins, you have described to me the seven Manwantaras that have passed away. It behoves you to describe now the Manwantaras that shall take place in future.Parāçara said Sanjnā, the daughter of Viswakarman, was the wife of the sun, and bore him three children, the Manu Vaivaswata, Yama and the goddess Yami. Being unable to endure the fervours of her husband, she engaged Chāya in his attendance and repaired to the forest to practise devout austerities. Considering that Chāya as Sanjnā, he got upon her three other children—Sanaischra (Saturn) another Manu Sāvarni and a daughter Tapati. Once on a time being offended with Yama, the son of Sanjnā, Chāya imprecated a curse upon him and gave out to Yama and the sun that she was not in reality Sanjnā the mother of the former. (Having heard this) the sun, by his meditation saw her as a mare in the region of Uttara Kuru.Thereupon assuming the shape of a horse the sun begot upon Sanjnā three other children, the two Aswins and Revanta, and brought her back to his own house. To diminish his fervours Viswakarman placed him on his lathe and reduced some of his effulgence; to the eighth portion, for more than which was insperable. The portions of the divine Vaishnava effulgence that were in the sun being filed off by Viswakarman, fell down shining on the earth and the artist constructed of them the discus of Vishnu—the trident of Siva, the weapon of the god of wealth, the lance of Kartikeya, and the weapons of the other celestials: all these Viswakarman made from the additional rays of the sun.The son of Chāya, who was also called a Manu, was Sāvarni on account of his belonging to the same caste as his elder brother the Manu Vaivaswata. He rules over the coming or eighth Manwantara, the details whereof and of those following I shall now describe.In the era when Sāvarni shall be the Manu the orders of the celestials will be Sutapas, Amitabhas and Mukshyas, each consisting of twenty-one divinities. The seven Rishis will be Diptimat, Gālava, Rāma, Kripa, Drauni: my son Vyāsa will be the sixth and the seventh will be Rishyasringa. The chief of the celestials will be Bali—the innocent son of Virochona who, on account of Vishnu's favour, is the king of a portion of Patala. The sons of Sāvarni will be Virajas, Arvarivas, Nirmoha and others.O Maitreya, Daksha-Savarni will be the ninth Manu. The Paras, Marichigarbhas and Sudharmas will be the three orders of the celestials each consisting of twelve divinities. Indra Adbhuta will be their mighty king. Savana, Dyutimut, Bhavya, Vasu, Medhatithi, Jyotishman and Satya will be the seven Rishis. Dhritaketu, Driptiketu, Panchahasta, Niramaya, Prithusrava and others will be sons of the Manu.In the tenth period Brahmā-Savarni will be the Manu: the celestials will be the Sudhamas, Viruddhas and Satasankhyas: their king will be the powerful Santi. The Rishis will be Havishman, Sukriti, Satya, Apammurtti, Nabhaga, Apratimaujas and Satyaketu and the ten sons of the Manu will be Sukshetra, Uttamaujas, Harishena and others.In the eleventh period Dharma-Savarni will be the Manu and the leading celestials will be Vihangamas, Kamagamas and Nirmanaratis each consisting of thirty; Vrisha be their king. The Rishis will be Nischara, Agnitejas, Vapushman, Vishnu, Aruni, Havishman and Anagha. Savarga, Sarvadharma, Devanika and others—the kings of the earth—will be the sons of the Manu.In the twelfth period Savarni, the son of Rudra, will be the Manu. Ritudhama will be the king of the gods who will be Haritas Lohitas, Sutnanasas, and Sukarmas, each consisting of fifteen divinities. The Rishis will be Tapaswi, Sutapas, Tapomurtti, Taporati, Tapodhriti, Tapodyuti and Tapodhana. And the Manu's sons will be Devayan, Upadeva, Devareshta and others—who will be the powerful kings of the earth.In the thirteenth period Rauchya will be the Manu. The gods will be the Sudhmanas, Sudharmans and Sukarmans each consisting of thirty-three. Their king will be Divaspati. The Rishis will be Nirmoha, Tatwadersin, Nishprakampa, Nirutsuka, Dhritimat, Avyaya, and Sutpas. The sons of the Manu will be Chitrasena, Vichitra, and others who will be the kings of the earth.At the fourteenth period Bhautya will be the Manu and Suchi will be the king of the celestials who will be the Chakshushas, Pavitras, Kanishthas, Bhrājiras and Vavriddhas. The seven Rishis will be Agnibahu, Suchi, Sukra, Megadha, Grighra, Yukta and Ajita. Uru, Gabhira, Bradhna and others will be the sons of Manu who will be the kings of the earth.At the end of every four Yugas the Vedas disappear. And the seven Rishis descending on the earth again establish them. In every Krita age the presiding Manu becomes the legislator and during the Manwantaras the celestials of the various classes receive sacrifices. And those born in the race of Manus lord over the earth for that period. In every Manwantara, the Manu, the seven Rishis, the king of the gods and the sons of the Manu rule over the earth. In this wise, O Brahmin, fourteen Manwantaras constitute a Kalpa. And it is succeeded by a night of similar duration.And the glorious Jannardana, wearing form of Brahmā, the essence of all things, the lord of all, the creator of all, involved in his own illusions and having swallowed up three spheres, sleeps upon the serpent Sesha in the midst of the ocean. And awaking after sleep the undecaying Hari, resorting to the quality of foulness, creates all things as they were before. And by virtue of a part of his essence which is identical with the quality of goodness he, as the Manus, the celestials, their chiefs, kings, as well as the seven Rishis, preserves the universe. I will now explain to you, O Maitreya, how Vishnu, who is regarded as Providence all through the four ages, preserved (the universe).In the Krita Yuga, He, for the behoof of all creatures, was born as the great ascetic Kapila and imparted to them true wisdom. In the Treta Yuga he was born as the Lord Paramount and repressed the wicked and protected the three worlds. In the Dwapara Yuga He was born as Vyāsa and divided the Vedas into four divisions which were again divided into various branches; which were again divided into diverse sections. And at the end of Kali the fourth Yuga, He shall be born as Kalki and shall lead again the wicked to the paths of piety. Thus the endless Vishnu creates, preserves and destroys the universe. And there is none else but Him. I have thus described to you, O Brahman, the real nature of that Great Being who is at one with all things, and besides whom there is nothing else, nor has there been, nor will there be either here or elsewhere. I have also described to you all the Manwantaras with their presiding deities. What else do you wish to hear?
Maitreya said:—O foremost of Brāhmins, you have described to me the seven Manwantaras that have passed away. It behoves you to describe now the Manwantaras that shall take place in future.
Parāçara said Sanjnā, the daughter of Viswakarman, was the wife of the sun, and bore him three children, the Manu Vaivaswata, Yama and the goddess Yami. Being unable to endure the fervours of her husband, she engaged Chāya in his attendance and repaired to the forest to practise devout austerities. Considering that Chāya as Sanjnā, he got upon her three other children—Sanaischra (Saturn) another Manu Sāvarni and a daughter Tapati. Once on a time being offended with Yama, the son of Sanjnā, Chāya imprecated a curse upon him and gave out to Yama and the sun that she was not in reality Sanjnā the mother of the former. (Having heard this) the sun, by his meditation saw her as a mare in the region of Uttara Kuru.
Thereupon assuming the shape of a horse the sun begot upon Sanjnā three other children, the two Aswins and Revanta, and brought her back to his own house. To diminish his fervours Viswakarman placed him on his lathe and reduced some of his effulgence; to the eighth portion, for more than which was insperable. The portions of the divine Vaishnava effulgence that were in the sun being filed off by Viswakarman, fell down shining on the earth and the artist constructed of them the discus of Vishnu—the trident of Siva, the weapon of the god of wealth, the lance of Kartikeya, and the weapons of the other celestials: all these Viswakarman made from the additional rays of the sun.
The son of Chāya, who was also called a Manu, was Sāvarni on account of his belonging to the same caste as his elder brother the Manu Vaivaswata. He rules over the coming or eighth Manwantara, the details whereof and of those following I shall now describe.
In the era when Sāvarni shall be the Manu the orders of the celestials will be Sutapas, Amitabhas and Mukshyas, each consisting of twenty-one divinities. The seven Rishis will be Diptimat, Gālava, Rāma, Kripa, Drauni: my son Vyāsa will be the sixth and the seventh will be Rishyasringa. The chief of the celestials will be Bali—the innocent son of Virochona who, on account of Vishnu's favour, is the king of a portion of Patala. The sons of Sāvarni will be Virajas, Arvarivas, Nirmoha and others.
O Maitreya, Daksha-Savarni will be the ninth Manu. The Paras, Marichigarbhas and Sudharmas will be the three orders of the celestials each consisting of twelve divinities. Indra Adbhuta will be their mighty king. Savana, Dyutimut, Bhavya, Vasu, Medhatithi, Jyotishman and Satya will be the seven Rishis. Dhritaketu, Driptiketu, Panchahasta, Niramaya, Prithusrava and others will be sons of the Manu.
In the tenth period Brahmā-Savarni will be the Manu: the celestials will be the Sudhamas, Viruddhas and Satasankhyas: their king will be the powerful Santi. The Rishis will be Havishman, Sukriti, Satya, Apammurtti, Nabhaga, Apratimaujas and Satyaketu and the ten sons of the Manu will be Sukshetra, Uttamaujas, Harishena and others.
In the eleventh period Dharma-Savarni will be the Manu and the leading celestials will be Vihangamas, Kamagamas and Nirmanaratis each consisting of thirty; Vrisha be their king. The Rishis will be Nischara, Agnitejas, Vapushman, Vishnu, Aruni, Havishman and Anagha. Savarga, Sarvadharma, Devanika and others—the kings of the earth—will be the sons of the Manu.
In the twelfth period Savarni, the son of Rudra, will be the Manu. Ritudhama will be the king of the gods who will be Haritas Lohitas, Sutnanasas, and Sukarmas, each consisting of fifteen divinities. The Rishis will be Tapaswi, Sutapas, Tapomurtti, Taporati, Tapodhriti, Tapodyuti and Tapodhana. And the Manu's sons will be Devayan, Upadeva, Devareshta and others—who will be the powerful kings of the earth.
In the thirteenth period Rauchya will be the Manu. The gods will be the Sudhmanas, Sudharmans and Sukarmans each consisting of thirty-three. Their king will be Divaspati. The Rishis will be Nirmoha, Tatwadersin, Nishprakampa, Nirutsuka, Dhritimat, Avyaya, and Sutpas. The sons of the Manu will be Chitrasena, Vichitra, and others who will be the kings of the earth.
At the fourteenth period Bhautya will be the Manu and Suchi will be the king of the celestials who will be the Chakshushas, Pavitras, Kanishthas, Bhrājiras and Vavriddhas. The seven Rishis will be Agnibahu, Suchi, Sukra, Megadha, Grighra, Yukta and Ajita. Uru, Gabhira, Bradhna and others will be the sons of Manu who will be the kings of the earth.
At the end of every four Yugas the Vedas disappear. And the seven Rishis descending on the earth again establish them. In every Krita age the presiding Manu becomes the legislator and during the Manwantaras the celestials of the various classes receive sacrifices. And those born in the race of Manus lord over the earth for that period. In every Manwantara, the Manu, the seven Rishis, the king of the gods and the sons of the Manu rule over the earth. In this wise, O Brahmin, fourteen Manwantaras constitute a Kalpa. And it is succeeded by a night of similar duration.
And the glorious Jannardana, wearing form of Brahmā, the essence of all things, the lord of all, the creator of all, involved in his own illusions and having swallowed up three spheres, sleeps upon the serpent Sesha in the midst of the ocean. And awaking after sleep the undecaying Hari, resorting to the quality of foulness, creates all things as they were before. And by virtue of a part of his essence which is identical with the quality of goodness he, as the Manus, the celestials, their chiefs, kings, as well as the seven Rishis, preserves the universe. I will now explain to you, O Maitreya, how Vishnu, who is regarded as Providence all through the four ages, preserved (the universe).
In the Krita Yuga, He, for the behoof of all creatures, was born as the great ascetic Kapila and imparted to them true wisdom. In the Treta Yuga he was born as the Lord Paramount and repressed the wicked and protected the three worlds. In the Dwapara Yuga He was born as Vyāsa and divided the Vedas into four divisions which were again divided into various branches; which were again divided into diverse sections. And at the end of Kali the fourth Yuga, He shall be born as Kalki and shall lead again the wicked to the paths of piety. Thus the endless Vishnu creates, preserves and destroys the universe. And there is none else but Him. I have thus described to you, O Brahman, the real nature of that Great Being who is at one with all things, and besides whom there is nothing else, nor has there been, nor will there be either here or elsewhere. I have also described to you all the Manwantaras with their presiding deities. What else do you wish to hear?