In days of yore, the foremost of celestial Rishis, viz., Brihaspati, who was a disciple of Manu bowed to his preceptor and addressing that king and first of all creatures, said,-What is the origin of the universe? Whence have the ordinances originated? What are those fruits attributed by the learned to Knowledge? Tell me also truly, O illustrious one, what is that which the Vedas have not been able to show?
प्रजापतिं श्रेष्ठतमं प्रजानां देवर्षिसंघप्रवरो महर्षिः। बृहस्पतिः प्रश्नमिमं पुराणं पप्रच्छ शिष्योऽथ गुरुं प्रणम्य॥ यत्कारणं यत्र विधिः प्रवृत्तो ज्ञाने फल यत्प्रवदन्ति विप्राः। यन्मन्त्रशब्दैरकृतप्रकाशं तदुच्यतां मे भगवन्यथावत्॥