[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Agni said:

1. I am describing the manifestation (ofViṣṇu) asBuddha, by reading and hearing which one gets wealth. Once in the battle betweendevas andasuras, devas were defeated by thedaityas (demons, sons ofDiti).

2. They sought refuge in the lord saying, “Protect us! Protect us!”. He (Viṣṇu), who is of the form of illusory delusion became the son of Śuddhodana.

3-4. He deluded those demons. Those, who had abandoned the path laid down in theVedas, became theBauddhas and from them others who had abandoned theVedas. He then became theArhat (Jaina). He then made others asArhats. Thus the heretics came into being devoid of vedicdharmas.

5-6. They did such a work deserving hell (as reward). They would receive even from the vile. All of them became mixedDasyus and devoid of good conduct at the end ofKaliyuga. Of theVājasaneyakaveda (Śuklayajurveda) only fifteen sections will be existing.

7. Non-aryans in the form of kings would devour men who wear the costumes of righteousness and have a taste for unrighteous thing.

8-9.Kalki, as the son ofViṣṇuyaśas, (and having)Yājñavalkya as the priest would destroy the non-Aryans, holding theastra and having a weapon. He would establish moral law in four-foldvarṇas in the suitable manner. The people (would be) in the path of righteousness in all the stages of life.

10.Hari, after discarding the form of Kalki, would go to heaven. Then would come theKṛtayuga as before.

11-13. O Most virtuous person! Men would remain devoted to their respective duties of castes and stages of life. Thus, in all theKalpas^[1] andManvantaras,^[2] the manifestations (of Viṣṇu) are innumerable, some already past and some yet to come off. Whoever reads or hears the stories of the manifestations of Viṣṇu would get all desired things, become pure, and attain heaven along with his race. In this way, Hari settles the righteousness and unrighteousness. Hari is the cause ofcreation etc. and after manifesting (in different forms) he has returned.