Vishnu 2

And that adorable and omnipotent God thus slept on the bosom of the deep, enveloping all
space with nocturnal gloom. And when his creative faculty was excited, he awoke and found the
Universe denuded of everything. In this connection, the following sloka is recited respecting the
meaning of Narayana. "Water was created by (the Rishi) Nara, and it formed his corpus; therefore do
we hear it styled as Nara. And because it formed his Ayana (resting-place) therefore is he known as
Narayana." As soon as that everlasting Being was engaged in meditation for the re-creation of the
Universe, a lotus flower instantaneously came into existence from his navel, and the four-faced Brahma
came out of that navel-lotus. And then the Grandsire of all creatures, seating himself on that flower and
finding that the whole Universe was a blank, created in his own likeness, and from his will, the (nine)
great Rishis, Marichi and others. And these in their turn observing the same thing, completed the
creation, by creating Yakshas, Rakshas, Pisachas, reptiles, men, and all mobile and immobile creatures.

 Vana Parva: Draupadi-harana Parva: Section 270