Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.2011

c9.2011

To this Viṣṇu answered by saying that there was nowhere water enough for him to bathe, and he, was closely surrounded by universes, sat in water. But, it was enough water for Viṣṇu to bathe and cast a glance at him with his (Śiva) eye on the forehead and also his left eye. And, immediately Viṣṇu’s body became very small and it began to shiver. Then Śiva said as follows:- “Oh! Viṣṇu! here is deep water. you may bathe in it. But Viṣṇu could not get into the tremendous pool created on Śiva’s lap. So, he requested Śiva for a passage to get into the pool. Śiva “Oh! Viṣṇu! Before this even though you sat in water, one crore yojanas in depth, it came only up to your thighs. But, now though you are on your legs you say you cannot enter the water. Look here, the water comes only up to my thighs. You may descend into it. I shall see to it that you can step into the water. A Vedic saying I recite will serve as the step.”