Markandeya Identifies Krishna as Narayana

Markandeya had seen what no mortal should see. He had entered the body of Narayana and witnessed the entire universe — all worlds, all beings, all time — contained within a single divine form. He had seen the great dissolution, the single ocean, the child floating on a banyan leaf. And then the god had disappeared. Now he stood before Yudhishthira, and his memory of that vision was intact — preserved by the boon Narayana had granted him. "O son," Markandeya said, "after he had spoken thus, the extremely wonderful god disappeared. I then saw the creation of subjects, varied and manifold. At the end of the yuga, I witnessed all these wonderful things." He looked at Yudhishthira directly. "The lotus-eyed god whom I saw in earlier times has now become your relative Janardana. Because of the boon he bestowed on me, my memory has not failed me. I have a long life and I can die when I wish." He named the god with the names that belonged to him: Krishna Varshneya, the ancient being. Hari, the mighty-armed one, who cannot be thought of and who seems to be sporting. Satvata, the creator and the special creator and the destroyer. Govinda with the srivatsa mark (the curl of white hair on his chest), the universal lord of all Prajapatis. "On seeing this tiger of the Vrishni lineage," Markandeya said, "the original being Vishnu who has no birth and who is dressed in yellow garb, my memory has returned to me. Madhava is the father and mother of all beings." He gave Yudhishthira the only counsel that mattered now: "O bulls among the Kourava lineage! Seek refuge with the one who grants protection."