Vishnupurana 2.13.p9

2.13.p9

Parāçara said:—Having said this the Brahman became silent and went on carrying the palanquin; the king too speedily got down from it and touched his feet. The king said: O Brahman, leave off the palanquin and be propitiated with me. Tell me who art thou under the disguise of a fool? The Brahman replied "Hear me, king. Who I am it is not possible to say; I go anywhere for receiving the fruits of good and bad luck. The body is produced for the enjoyment of pleasure and endurance of pain. Pleasure and pain originate from virtue and vice; therefore the soul assumes bodily shape for enjoying pleasure and enduring pain consequent upon virtue and vice. The universal cause of all living creatures is virtue or vice, why therefore enquire after the cause of my coming to this earth."