Vidagdha, the son of Sakala, asked his master: ‘How many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?’
Yajnavalkya replied, ‘As many as are stated in the Nivid of the Visvadevas — there are 330,000,000.’
Very well,’ Sakalya said. ‘How many gods exactly are there, Yajnavalkya?’
'There are thirty-three.’
'Very well,’ said Sakalya. ‘How many gods exactly are there, Yajnavalkya?’
'There are Six.’
‘Very well,’ said Sakalya. ‘How many gods exactly are there, Yajnavalkya?’
'Three.’
‘Very well, said Sakalya. ‘How many gods exactly are there, Yajnavalkya?’
‘Two.’
'Very well,’ said Sakalya. ‘How many gods exactly are there, Yajnavalkya?’
'One-and-a-half.’
‘Very well,’ said Sakalya. ‘But how many gods exactly are there, Yajnavalkya?’
‘Ek devata, there is One God.’
“Very good,” said Sakalya, and he asked: ‘Which are those 330,000,000?’
Yajnavalkya replied: “The others are but manifestations.”
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