Verse 3

³The sages headed by the Kumaras, wishing to know the truth of what lies beyond this, put their question to the first Bhagavan, Sankarsana, the god of undulled being, seated below the earth: ⁴who was honouring his own abode, the one they call by the name Vasudeva, his lotus-cup eyes held inward, opening them a little for the rising of the gods; ⁵while they touched with their matted locks, wet from the heavenly river, the lotus that is the cushion of his feet, the lotus that the daughters of the serpent king worship with love and many offerings, seeking boons; ⁶and, knowing his deeds, sang them again and again in words whose feet stumbled from love: he whose thousand raised hoods are lit by the choicest jewels of a thousand crowns.

⁷This, they say, was spoken by that most blessed one to Sanatkumara, who delighted in the dharma of turning back; and he, being asked, told it to Sankhyayana, dear one, who held firmly to his vow. ⁸Sankhyayana, chief among the highest swans, wishing to speak of the Bhagavan's powers, told it to our teacher Parasara, who followed him, and to Brhaspati. ⁹That compassionate sage, bidden by Pulastya, spoke this first Purana to me; and I now tell it to you, child, who have faith and are always faithful.