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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 12: Chapter 8: Verses 27-37
Taking the sage as won by himself, Love darted his shaft that (very) moment; but, like the undertaking of an unlucky man, all his effort proved futile against the sage. Thus offending against the sage, but being scorched by his glory, 0 sage, they withdrew like children that would run away after rousing .a snake. Though assailed as aforesaid by the servants of indra, 0 Brahmana sage, the great sage (Markandeya) did not fall a prey to egotism. It is indeed no matter for wonder in the case of exalted souls.The glorious Indra (the lord of paradise) was seized with great wonder to see Love and his entourage cheerless and to hear (from their lips) of the glory ofthe Brahmana sage. To shower His grace on the sage, who was thus concentrating his mind (on the Lord) through asceticism, study of the Vedas and self-control, Lord Sri Hari appeared before him in the form of (the divine sages) Nara and Narayana. Lords Nara and Narayana, the adored (even) of the chief of the gods (Brahma and others), were (severally) fair and dark-brown of complexion with eyes resembling fresh-blown lotuses, possessed of four arms each and clad in the skin of a black buck and bark (respectively). They wore rings of (the sacred) Kusa grass and the sacred threefold thread (each consisting of three strands) as well as a string of lotus seeds and carried a Kamandalu, straight bamboo staff and a broom (made of yarns) for sweeping the ground and clearing it of insects (without killing them) as well as a handful of Kusa. They were tall (of stature) and by the golden lustre (of Their body) resembling the bright flashes of lightning looked like two direct embodiments of asceticism itself. Markandeya rose on seeing the sages Nara and Narayana, the two well-known manifestations of the almighty Lord, and greeted Them with great reverence by his body fallen flat like a log (on the ground). With his body, senses and mind exhilarated through joy occasioned by Their sight at close quarters, hair standing on end and eyes filled with tears, the sage could not look at them. With joined palms he stood bent low, as though embracing Them out of longing, and said to the two almighty Lords in faltering tones, "Hail, hail (to You both) !"
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