The address. (by deities to Vishnu) TS

To thee Creator first, To thee
Preserver next, destroyer last.
Be glory though but thou hast
thyself in act revealed as three.

As water pure from heaven descends
But soon with other objects blends
And various hues and flavours gains
So moved by goodness passions gloom.
Dost thou three several states assume
While yet thy essence pure remains

Though one thou different forms hast sought
thy changes are compared to those
Which lucid crystal undergoes
With colours into contact brought.

Unmeasured thou the world's dost mete
Thyself though no ambition fires
tis thou who grante'st all desires
un vanquished victor thee we great.

A veil which sense may never rend
Thyself of all which sense reveals
the subtle germ and cause conceals
thee saints alone may comprehend

thou dwellest every heart within
yet fill est all the points of space
without affection full of grace
primeval, changeless pure from sin

Though knowing all thyself unknown
Self sprung and yet of all the source
Unmastered lord of boundless force
though one in each things diverse shown

With minds by long restrained subdued
saints fixing all their thoughts on thee
thy lustrous form within them see
And ransomed gain the highest good.

Who lord thy real nature knows
Unborn are thou ad yet on earth
Hast shown thyself in many a birth
And free from passion stain thy foes.

Thy glory in creation shown
Though seen our reasons grasp transcends
Who then thy essence comprehends
Which thought and scripture teach alone.

Ungained by thee was nought to gain
No object more to seek thy birth
and all thy wondrous deeds on earth
Have only sprung from love to men

With this poor hymn though ill content
We cease what stays our faltering tongue
We have not half thy praises sung
But all our power to sing is spent.