The Lord, the undisputed proprietor of everything, was the only seer. The cosmic manifestation was not present at that time, and thus He felt imperfect without His plenary and separated parts and parcels. The material energy was dormant, whereas the internal potency was manifested.
Srimad Bhagavata Purana
श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम्
मूल श्लोकः
स वा एष तदा द्रष्टा नापश्यद्दृश्यमेकराट् । मेनेऽसन्तमिवात्मानं सुप्तशक्तिरसुप्तदृक्
sa vā eṣa tadā draṣṭā nāpaśyaddṛśyamekarāṭ | mene'santamivātmānaṃ suptaśaktirasuptadṛk
SB 3.5.24