The institutes of Vishnu (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1880)

292 VISHWU. XCVIII, 3.
3. Having been addressed thus by the goddess
of the earth, Bhagavat answered, ‘ So be it.’
4. And the goddess of the earth, her desire
having been gratified, did as she had said.
5. And she praised the god of the gods (as
follows):
6. ‘ Om. Adoration be to thee.
7. ‘ Thou art the god of the gods.
8. ‘ Thou art Vasudeva.
9. ‘ Thou art the creator.
10. ‘ Thou art the god (who creates, preserves,
and destroys) at will.
11. ‘ Thou art the gratifier of human desires.
12. ‘ Thou art the guardian of the earth.
13. ‘There is neither beginning, nor middle, nor
end in thee.
14. ‘ Thou art the lord (protector) of creatures.
15. ‘ Thou art the strong lord of creatures.
16. ‘ Thou art the exalted lord of creatures.
1 7. ‘ Thou art the lord of strength.
18. ‘ Thou art the lord of holy speech.
19. ‘ Thou art the lord (creator and preserver) of
the world.
20. ‘ Thou art the lord of heaven.
21. ‘ Thou art the lord of woods (who makes the
trees grow).
10. ‘Or Kamadeva means the god (or brilliant one) who is
sought by those striving for religious merit, gain, love, or final
liberation.’ (Nand.) The same interpretation is given by Sankara
in his Commentary on the Vishzzu-sahasranama. The ordinary
meaning of Kamadeva is ‘the god of love.’
15, 16. Nand. renders the terms supra^apati and mahapra^a-
pati by ‘ the protector of those who have a splendid progeny (such
as Kajyapa) ’ and ‘ the lord of him who has a large progeny
(Brahman).’ •