They forthwith
made arrangements for a sacrifice in honour of Vishnu according to the
ordinances laid down in the Vedas. In that sacrifice, Brahman himself
dedicated a portion of the offerings to Vishnu. The deities and the
celestial Rishis also, after the manner of Brahman, dedicated similar
portions each unto the great God. The portions, thus offered with great
reverence unto Vishnu, were, in respect of both the measure and the
quality of the articles used, according to the ordinances laid down for
the Krita age. The deities and the Rishis and Brahman, in that sacrifice,
adored the great God as one endued with the complexion of the Sun, as the
foremost of Beings, situate beyond the reach of Tamas, vast, pervading
all things, the Supreme Lord of all, the giver of boons, and possessed of
puissance. Thus adored by them, the boon-giving and great God, invisible
and bodiless, addressed those assembled celestials from heaven and said
unto them:--"The offerings dedicated by you in this sacrifice have all
reached me. I am gratified with all of you. I shall bestow rewards on you
that will however, be fraught with ends whence there will be
return.[1846] This shall be your distinctive feature, ye gods, from this
day, in consequence of my grace and kindness for you. Performing
sacrifices in every Yuga, with large presents, ye will become enjoyers of
fruits born of Pravritti. Ye gods, those men also that will perform
sacrifices according to the ordinances of the Vedas, will give unto all
of you shares of their sacrificial offerings.
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