Ashvashira marvelled to see that the four-armed Narayana stood before him astride Garuda.

“But,” said the king, “Narayana is seated on a lotus and Brahma and Shiva are parts of him. Where are these?”

“Behold,” said Kapila and Ashvashira saw before him Narayana seated on a lotus. Brahma and Shiva were also seated on the lotus with him. Ashvashira now wanted to know why Narayana could not be seen all the time.

“King,” said Kapila, “You cannot hope to see Narayana all the time. He is expressed and manifest, but he is also unexpressed and unmanifest. He is to be seen in all the birds and the beasts. You can see him in yourself, you can see him in anything. You can feel him in everything. To know Narayana in everything is to attain true knowledge.

The king now asked Kapila, “Which is superior? Knowledge or action?

Kapila told Ashvashira the story of Raivya and Vasu.