Once on a time Narada, seeing that foremost of intelligent men, viz., Devala of venerable years, seated at his ease, asked him about the origin and the destruction of all creatures.
आसीनं देवलं वृद्धं बुद्ध्वा बुद्धिमतां वरम्। नारदः परिपप्रच्छ भूतानां प्रभवाप्ययम्॥