Shaunak
says: "Sutaji, how did Sanatkumar unfold the mystic character of the religion
to Narad? When and where they had the meeting to hold this pious discussion?
Kindly tell us in detail."
Sutaji
says: "The great sage Sanatkumar, who was free from illusions, was the
creation of Brahma's imagination. He always remained engrossed in the worship
of Brahma. Once, he was going towards the peaks of the mighty Meru Mountains
(Himalayas) when on the way, he happened to sight the sacred Ganges. He was
about to take a dip in the waters when Devarshi Narad also arrived there. Devarshi
Narad greeted his elder brother and took bath in the river.
After carrying out usual rituals, they seated there and started a discussion about the virtues
of Lord Vishnu." Devarshi Narad asked- "O brother! How can one realize
the Lord Vishnu? Who is the cause of this whole creation? What is the appearance
of devotion, knowledge and penance? Kindly elaborate the mystery of treating
the guests also. Also tell me, how did Lord Vishnu effected the origin of Brahma
and other gods?"
Sanatkumar
says: In the beginning of creation, the self-illuminating Lord Vishnu created
Brahma from His right hand side, Rudra from His central part and Vishnu, his
own replica from His left hand side. As Lord Vishnu is omnipresent, similarly
his illusions are also omnipresent and known with different names like Lakshmi,
Uma, Shakti and Chandi. These are the powers of Lord Vishnu. Some people identify
these powers with the illusions created by the Lord whereas the sages regard
them as nature."
The gods,
who protect the world, are Purush, and the Supreme Being, who is above these
levels, is Lord. Nobody else is greater than He is. From His navel even Brahma
has originated on a divine lotus. He is the Supreme Being the eternal joy incorporating
all the three virtues.
O Narad!
Five senses- sights, sound, scent, touch and taste have originated from the
ego. Ego is the origin of other eleven senses also. These five senses in turn
gave rise to five physical elements- ether, air, fire, water and earth. It was
after the creation of these five physical elements that Brahma created the lower
living beings. Then he created human beings followed by the creation of all
the seven worlds and seven guards of these seven worlds. For the inhabitation
of the living beings, Brahma also created great mountains, plains and seven
seas.
Towards
the north of the great saline sea and towards the south of the great Himalayas
is situated the Holy Land of India. People who worship Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu
inhabit this land. Because of their virtues, even the gods worship the people
who populate the Indian landmass. Those ignorant people, who do not seek salvation
despite having been born in India, have to suffer the tortures of hell as long
as the Sun and the Moon shine in the sky. The whole world from Brahma to a seemingly
unimportant blade of grass is the manifestation of Vasudev (Lord Vishnu).