the Sun, as the foremost of Beings, situate beyond the reach of Tamas, vast, pervading all things, the Supreme Lord of all, the giver of boons, and possessed of puissance.  Thus adored by them, the boon-giving and great God, invisible and bodiless, addressed those assembled celestials from heaven and said unto them:—­“The offerings dedicated by you in this sacrifice have all reached me.  I am gratified with all of you.  I shall bestow rewards on you that will however, be fraught with ends whence there will be return.[1846] This shall be your distinctive feature, ye gods, from this day, in consequence of my grace and kindness for you.  Performing sacrifices in every Yuga, with large presents, ye will become enjoyers of fruits born of Pravritti.  Ye gods, those men also that will perform sacrifices according to the ordinances of the Vedas, will give unto all of you shares of their sacrificial offerings.  In the Veda-sutras I make him the receiver (in such sacrifices) of a share similar to that which he has himself offered one in this sacrifice.  Created to look after those affairs that appertain to your respective jurisdictions, do ye uphold the worlds according to the measures of your strength as dependent on the shares you receive on those sacrifices.  Indeed, drawing strength from those rites and observances that will be current in the several worlds, taking their rise from the fruits of Pravritti, do ye continue to uphold the affairs of those worlds.[1847] Strengthened by the sacrifices that will be performed by men, ye will strengthen me.  These are the thoughts that I entertain for you all.  It is for this purpose that I have created the Vedas and sacrifices and plants and herbs.  Duly served with these by human beings on Earth, the deities will be gratified.  Ye foremost of deities, till the end of this Kalpa, I have ordained your creation, making your constitution depend upon the consequence of the religion of Pravritti.  Ye foremost of Beings, do ye then, as regards your respective jurisdictions, engage yourselves in seeking the good of the three worlds.  Marichi, Angiras, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, and Vasishtha,—­these seven Rishis have been created by a fiat of the will.  These will become the foremost of persons conversant with the Vedas.  In fact, they will become the preceptors of the Vedas.  They will be wedded to the religion of Pravritti, for they have been intended to devote themselves to the act of procreating offspring.  This is the eternal path that I disclose of creatures engaged in acts and observances.  The puissant Lord who is charged with the creation of all the worlds is called Aniruddha, Sana, Sanatsujata, Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatkumara, Kapila, and Sanatana numbering the seventh,—­these seven Rishis are known as the spiritual sons of Brahman.  Their knowledge comes to them of itself (without being dependant on study or exertion).  These seven are wedded to the religion of Nivritti.  They are the foremost of all persons conversant with Yoga.