Thus all the universes remained thousands of aeons within the water [the Causal Ocean], and the Lord of living beings, entering in each of them, caused them to be fully animated.
Srimad Bhagavata Purana
श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम्
मूल श्लोकः
वर्षपूगसहस्रान्ते तदण्डमुदकेशयम् । कालकर्मस्वभावस्थो जीवोऽजीवमजीवयत्
varṣapūgasahasrānte tadaṇḍamudakeśayam | kālakarmasvabhāvastho jīvo'jīvamajīvayat
SB 2.5.34