Matsyapurana 167.1

167.1

*matsya uvāca
evamekārṇavībhūte śete lokemahādyutiḥ
pracchādya salilenorvīṃ haṃso nārāyaṇastadā //

Matsya said:—When there is one vast expanse of water, Lord Viṣṇu covers the earth with water and sleeps on it in the form of a swan (Haṁsa) One who thus sleeps in midst of this mass of waters and Rajas is known as the undecaying mighty armed Puruṣa named Brahma That Lord Viṣṇu dispels the Tamoguṇa by His glory and infuses the mind with Sattvaguṇas This is the real supreme truth and His true Jñânmûrti (true knowledge) He is the goal of the Upaniṣadas and the mystery of the Âraṇyakas He is the Yajñapuruṣa (the sacrificial Lord), He is next to Him and He is again the Highest excellent person (parama puruṣottama)—1 5