The celestials and the Rishis, the snakes and the Asuras, seated around the Lord of all creatures, asked him, saying, Let that which is highly beneficial for us be said. To them who enquired about what is highly beneficial, the holy one uttered only the word Om, which is Brahma is one syllable. Hearing this, they ran away in various directions.
देवर्षयश्च नागाश्चाप्यसुराश्च प्रजापतिम्। पर्यपृच्छन्नुपासीनाः श्रेयो नः प्रोच्यतामिति॥ तेषां प्रोवाच भगवाश्रेयः समनुपृच्छताम्। ओमित्येकाक्षरं ब्रह्म ते श्रुत्वा प्राद्रवन् दिशः॥