Matsyapurana 168.14

168.14

tatastasminmahātoye mahīśo hariracyutaḥ
jale krīḍaṃśca vidhivan modate sarvalokakṛt //

The Lord selects, out of the Jîvas on the earth, a qualified one for the post of Brahmâ for the creation of the cosmos after the expiry of one thousand Mahâyugas (a Mahâyuga consists of four yugas). He who is a pure Soul, endowed with the powers of asceticism and highest knowledge, with the yogic powers and equipped with all the Aiśvaryas (the powers and highest excellencies), who is established in his self and purified by many births, is made such a Brahmâ. In that great ocean, the great place of pilgrimage, the infallible Hari, the creator of all the worlds, plays for some time and brings forth out of his navel a wonderful lotus of a thousand petals shining like the sun. That beautiful lotus, looking like the hairs of that High Soul was brilliant like fire and bright like the autumnal Sun. That lotus of extravagant beauty began to shine.—11-16