Vishnu Purana 5.7.48

5.7.48

nāgapatnya ūcuḥ:
jñāto 'si devadeveśa sarveśas tvam anuttamaḥ
paraṃ jyotir acintyaṃ yat tadaṃśaḥ parameśvaraḥ //

The females of the serpent-king said—"We have recognized thee, O god of gods, O supreme lord of all. Thou art a portion of that supreme light and the mighty lord. Thou art the self-existent lord and even the celestials are unable to praise thee worthily, and how can the females truly chant thy glories? How can we sing his glories whose portions are earth, sky, water, fire and air? Even the holy ascetics have in vain sought to know thy real essence. We bow to that form, which is the most subtiles of atoms, the largest of the large; to him whose birth is without a creator, whose end knows no destroyer and who alone is the cause of duration. There is no anger in thee, thou protectest the world and hence this punishment of Kāliya. Hear us. The virtuous should pity women; and creatures are pitied even by the fools; let therefore the foremost of the forgiving have compassion upon this poor creature. Thou art the upholder of the universe and this snake is gifted with but little strength, if and oppressed by thee, he shall in no time give up his life. There is a vast difference between this poor serpent of limited strength and thyself in whom the world reposes. Friendship and enmity are felt towards equals and superiors and not for those who are infinitely inferior to us. This unfortunate snake is about to die,—give us therefore, as a matter of charity, our husband!"