Matsya Purana 167.37

167.37

mā bhairvatsa na bhetavyam ihaivāyāhi me 'ntikam
mārkaṇḍeyo munistvāha bālaṃ taṃ śramapīḍitaḥ //

Then after sometime coming out of Viṣṇu’s mouth, the sage saw a boy sleeping on the branch of a banyan tree He was seen playing all by himself without any anxiety in the universe bereft of creation The sky was covered with mist and the down below was a vast expanse of water There were no beings nor lives there. The sage was much surprised and tried, out of curiosity, to see the boy satisfactorily but could not look at Him on account of His dazzling brilliancy Then he thought to himself while floating on the water, I undoubtedly saw him before, but am doubtful as I might be deluded by Deva Mâyâ Then being amazed and struck with horror, the sage approached that boy swimming in the water Then the Lord, in the form of that young boy, thundered to Mârkandeya “Son Mârkandeya! donot be afraid Come near me’ Hearing those words the tired sage said—31 37