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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 3: Chapter 21: Verses 16-28
The sage Kardama practises austere penance and the Lord confers a boon on him
(Constantly) smitten by desire, this world, O Lord of the universe, is bound (like a beast) by the cord of the word (Veda) uttered by You, the lord of created beings. Following the ways of the world, I too, O Embodiment of unalloyed virtue, bear offerings (in the shape of dutiful obedience) to You, who appear as Time. Turning their back on worldly-minded men as well as on the (human) beasts (like me) who follow them, Your devotees seek (the protection of) Your feet, that afford shelter like an umbrella (against the sun of metempsychosis), and meet the requirements of the body (in the shape of hunger, thirst and so on) by drinking the inebriating nectar of Your praises uttered before one another. Your wheel (in the shape of Time), which has three navels (in the shape of three divisions of the year, consisting of four months each) rotates round the axle of the imperishable Brahma; it has thirteen spokes (representing thirteen months , including the additional month intercalated every third year), three hundred and sixty joints (corresponding to the same number of days comprised in a year), six rims (in the shape of the six seasons) and numberless leaves (in the shape of moments) carved on it. Though cutting short the span of life of the entire creation by its revolution, this wheel of tremendous velocity cannot touch the life-span of these (Your devotees). O Lord, though one (without a second), You assume in Yourself the Yogamaya (Your wonderful creative energy), which is no other than You, with a view to creating the universe, and with the help of potencies like Sattva etc., (emanating from the said Yogamaya), bring forth and preserve and will then reabsorb the universe into Yourself, even as the spider spins a cobweb, maintains it and then swallows it up. Although (we know) it is not liked by You, O Supreme Lord, that You should provide us (Your devotees) by dint of Your Maya (deluding potency), with the pleasures of sense, let them come to us for our ultimate good (final beatitude), when You have appeared before us in a form adorned with a splendid wreath of Tulasi (basil) leaves-a form which looks finite through Maya. Although by virtue of Your Self-Realization You have ever ignored the consequences of Your activity, You have conducted the affairs of the world by Your own Maya (sportive will) and shower the desired blessings even on those who adore You with some interested motive. I repeatedly bow to You, whose lotus-feet are worthy of reverence to all. Maitreya resumed : Sincerely extolled in the aforesaid words, Lord Visnu, (whose navel is distinguished by a lotus and) who shone on the shoulders of Garuda, replied in accents sweet as nectar, His eyebrows gracefully moving as He regarded the sage with a smile full of affection.
The Lord said : Having come to know what was in your mind, I have already arranged that for which you have worshipped Me well through discipline of the mind and senses etc. Worship offered to Me by those who have solely fixed their mind on Me, particularly by people like you, O lord of created beings, can never go in vain. (You know) Emperor Swayambhuva Manu (son of Brahma), who is celebrated for his righteous acts, rules over the earth bounded by the seven oceans, having his seat in Brahmavarta.[1] Accompanied by his spouse, Queen Satarupa, that royal sage, who knows the secret of Dharma (right conduct), will come to see you, O holy Brahmana, the day after tomorrow and will give away his dark-eyed daughter-who has attained the marriageable age, Is possessed of a noble character and commendable virtues and is on the look-out for a match-to you, who are (in everyway) worthy of her, 0 lord of created beings. Being Just the type on which you have set your heart all these long years, that princess, O holy sage, will soon be yours and will serve you to your heart's content.
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