Brahma said: ‘I know, Shesha, the deeds of all your brothers; because of your mother's transgression, a great danger threatens your brothers. But a remedy [for them] has already been arranged beforehand, O serpent; you need not grieve over all your brothers. Choose, then, a boon from me, Shesha, whatever you desire; I wish to grant you a boon now, for my regard for you is supreme. Fortunate it is that your mind has become fixed on dharma, best of serpents; may your mind grow ever firmer still in dharma.’ Shesha said: ‘This alone is the boon I desire, O Grandsire: may my mind delight in dharma, in tranquility, and in austerity, O lord.’ Brahma said: ‘I am pleased, Shesha, with this self-restraint and tranquility of yours. But carry out this task at my bidding, for the good of all beings: take hold of this earth, which is unsteady, with its mountains, forests, seas, mines and cities, and hold it firm and proper, so that it may become unmoving.’ Shesha said: ‘As the god has spoken — the bestower of boons, lord of beings, lord of the world — so shall I hold the earth unmoving; place it, then, upon my head, O Prajapati.’ Brahma said: ‘Descend beneath the earth, best of serpents; she herself will open a chasm for you. By holding this earth, you will render me a great service, Shesha.’ Suta said: ‘Saying “so be it,” and entering the chasm, that lord, eldest brother of the finest of serpents, established himself there, and bears upon his head this goddess-earth, girdled by the ocean, encompassing her on every side.’ Brahma said: ‘You are Shesha, best of nagas, the embodiment of dharma (dharma-deva), who alone bears this earth, encompassing all of it with your endless coils (Ananta) — as I do, or as the smiter of Bala (Indra) does.’ Suta said: ‘Thus beneath the earth dwells the valiant naga Ananta, bearing the earth alone by Brahma's command, the mighty one. And at that time the lord, best of the immortals, the Grandsire, gave Suparna, the son of Vinata, to Ananta as a friend.’