[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c4.2473 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.2473 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c4.2473 - **Language:** English ### [c4.2473](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.2473) (1) In old days, in the period of Satyayuga, Mahā-viṣṇu did penance in Śvetadvīpa (the island Śveta) to obtain Eternal Bliss, being deeply engaged in the study of Brahmavidyā. Brahmā also went to another place and began to do penance for the suppression of passions. Both were doing severe penance. So they began to walk in order to take rest from the penance. On the way they met each other. One asked “who are you?” The other also asked the same question. The talk ended in a contest as to who was the greater of the two. Each claimed himself to be the supreme power of the world. Neither of them was prepared to recognize the claims of the other. In the midst of this contest, a phallus, extra-ordinarily bulky and fair appeared before them and an ethereal voice said from the sky: “You need not quarrel as to who is superior. He who reaches the extremity of this phallus is the superior person. So both of you proceed, one upwards and the other downwards and find out the end.” Hearing this Viṣṇu went downwards to find out the bottom and Brahmā, upwards to the top. Viṣṇu travelled for a long time and finding no end thought the attempt futile and returned to the starting point with disappointment and sat down. - [Previous: c4.2472](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.2472) - [Next: c4.2474](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.2474) - [Up: c4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.2473](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.2473) · Pramāṇa