Matsyapurana 154.385

154.385

sā prārthanaiṣā prāyeṇa pratīhāramayaḥ prabhuḥ
ityukto munibhiḥ so 'tha gauravāttānuvāca saḥ //

"Brahmâ, of unmanifested birth is not born, by His power He disequilibrates the Gunas and creates this material universe Brahmâ is the Lord of the universe and has extraordinary powers Viṣṇu and other Devas assume different shapes by their extraordinary powers Viṣṇu also enters others' bodies through His Mâyâ and does the uttama (excellent), madhyama (middling) and adhama (inferior) karmas of the world The world is liable to perish and to be re-born The fruits of karma are also various Many classes of men are born in it by virtue of their deeds Nârâyana relying on and propelled by His shadow takes various kinds of births and that shadow impels people unconsciously to actions Being thus impelled people, like lunatics, consider cascades of water were also not agitated. The attendant Viraka was standing at the door with a cane in his hand and adored the seven sages when the latter said that they had come there to meet the Lord Śiva on some great business of the Devas They said that they wanted to see Śiva for the fulfilment of the purposes of the Devas He was to be their intermediary, so that they might not be put to unnecessary delay He was to kindly inform Him of their arrival.—380-386