When the Prachetas were engaged in carrying on penances the trees covered the unprotected earth and so the creatures were being destroyed (35). The wind could not blow and the sky was covered with trees. The creatures could set forth no exertion for ten thousand years (36). Perceiving this and getting angry all those Prachetas, observant of rigid austerities, created air and fire from their mouths (37). Having uprooted those trees the wind dried them up and the fire then burnt them up—thus their was a dreadful destruction of trees (38). Informed of the destruction of trees and when a few plants still survived the king Soma, approaching the Patriarchs, said (39). "O Ye kings of the family of Prāchinavarhis, do ye control your anger. The earth is shorn of trees and so let fire and air be pacified (40). This beautiful daughter of the trees is like a jewel. Knowing the future I begat her (41). This girl is called Marishā and is created for the trees. Let this great one, multiplying the race of Soma, be your wife (42). By the half of your energy and that of mine, your son, the Patriarch Daksha will be born of her (43). That one, effulgent like fire, will multiply the creation well-nigh destroyed by your fire-like energy (44)".
Thereupon in accordance with the words of Soma restraining their anger against the trees the Prachetas duly married Marisha (45). Then they all mentally thought of conception in Marisha. O Bhārata, the Patriarch Daksha was born of Marisha through the tenth Prachetas with a portion of Soma's energy (46). Then to multiply the race of Soma he created various offspring, mobile, immobile, two legged and four legged sons. Having created mentally first the sons Daksha created his daughters (47). Of them Dharma espoused ten and Kagyapa thirteen. The Lord Daksha then conferred on the king Soma the remaining ones called Nakshatras or planets (48), They gave birth to gods, sky-rangers, cows, Nagas, Danavas, Gandharvas, Apsaras and various other beings (49). Since then, O king, creatures are being engendered by sexual intercourse. Their predecessors were created by (mere) thinking, seeing and touching (50).
Janemejaya said:—You had described before the birth of the gods, demons, Gandharvas, serpents and Rakshasas as well as that of the high-souled Daksha (51). O sinless one, you have said that Daksha sprang from the right thumb of Brahmā and his wife from the left. How could they then enter into a matrimonial alliance? (52) How could the great ascetic Daksha attain to the energy of Prachetas? Being a grand-son of Soma how could he become his father-in-law? I have grave doubts in this, O Vipra, it behoves you to remove them (53).
Vaishampayana said:—Origin and destruction are always present in the elemental creation. The Rishis and the wise are not bewildered at it (54). O king, the Dakshas are born in every yuga. There is one Daksha in one yuga and another in another. The learned make no mistakes in it (55). O king, there was formerly no priority of birth among them—they were considered elder by asceticism and their prowess was the cause thereof (56). He, who knows the mobile and immobile creation of Daksha, gets offspring and when the lease of his life runs out is worshipped in the celestial region (57).
CHAPTER III. AN ACCOUNT OF VARIOUS FAMILIES; DAKSHA'S OFFSPRING.
Janamejaya said:—O Vaishampāyana, do thou describe at length the origin of the gods, Dānavas, Gandharvas, serpents and Rakshasas (1).
Vaishampāyana said:—O king, hear how Daksha created progeny when he was commanded by Swayambhuva, saying "create progeny." (2) The capable Daksha first created his mental offspring—the Rishis, gods, Gandharvas, Asuras, Rākshasas, Yakshas, goblins, Pishāchas, beasts, birds, and reptiles (3). When this his mind-born creation did not multiply, for such was the thought of the intelligent Mahādeva, the Patriarch, thinking again of the multiplication of his creation and desirous of creating progeny by sexual intercourse, married Asniki, the daughter of the Patriarch Virana, engaged in a penance for a son and capable of giving birth to a great race (4–6). Thereupon the energetic Patriarch Daksha begat five thousand sons on Asniki, the daughter of Virana (7). Beholding those great men desirous of multiplying progeny, the celestial saint Nārada, ever fond of carrying news, for their destruction and for his own imprecation, said (8). Afraid of Daksha and his imprecation the ascetic Kaçyapa begat on his daughter the same celestial saint Nārada who had been begotten by Brahmā (9). Nārada was formerly begotten by Brahmā; and then that foremost of celestial saints (Kaçyapa) again begat that best of ascetics on Asniki, daughter of Virana (10). Undoubtedly by him the sons of Daksha, celebrated under the name of Haryaswas were freed from attachment to body through scriptural knowledge and rendered invisible (11). When Daksha, of immeasurable prowess, was ready to destroy Nārada, Parameshti (Brahmā), with leading saints before him, begged him (not to do it) (12). Thereupon Daksha made this contract with Parameshti that his son Nārada would be born as the son of his (Daksha's) daughter (13). Thereupon Daksha gave away his daughter unto Parameshti: and the Rishi, in fear of the imprecation of Daksha, begat Nārada on her (14).
Janamejaya said:—O foremost of the twice-born, I wish to hear truly why Daksha's sons were killed by the great saint Nārada (15).
Vaishampāyana said:—When the highly energetic sons of Daksha called Haryaswas came there with a view to multiply the progeny Nārada said to them (19), "O ye sons of Daksha, how stupid you are all, since you do not know the cause of all and still desire to create progeny; with out knowing him who is in heaven, earth and nether region how do you wish to create progeny?" (17) Hearing his words those descendants of Daksha, without caring for each other, repaired to various directions to see the cause of all (18). Having restrained vital airs, and attained to the pure Brahman they secured emancipation. Even now they have not returned like the rivers from the ocean (19). When the Haryaswas were thus lost sight of, Daksha, the son of Prachetas, capable of creating progeny, again begat one thousand sons on the daughter of Virana (20). When those Shavalashwas were again desirous of multiplying progeny they were addressed by Narada with the self-same words (21). They then spoke amongst themselves, "The great saint Nārada has spoken the just thing. We should follow the footsteps of our brothers; there is no doubt about that (22). Learning the dimension of the earth, we will, at ease and with whole minded attention, create progeny in due order (23)". They, by the same way, repaired to various directions. Even now they have not returned like the rivers from the ocean (24). When the Shavalāshwas too were lost sight of, Daksha, possessed by anger, said to Nārada:—"Do thou meet with destruction and experience the pain of living in the womb (25)". Since then, O king, if a brother issues out in quest of another he meets with destruction. So the learned should not do it (26). Knowing his sons thus exiled and destroyed the Patriarch Daksha again begat sixty daughters on the daughter of Virana. This we have heard (27). O descendant of Kuru, the Patriarch Kaçyapa, the Moon, Dharma and other Rishis took their wives from among those daughters of Daksha (28). Of them Daksha conferred ten on Dharma, thirteen on Kaçyapa, twenty seven on the Moon, four on Arishtanemi, two on Vahuputra, two on Angiras and two on the learned Krisāshwa. Hear from me their names (29–30). Arundhuti, Vasu, Yami, Lamvā, Bhānu, Marutvati, Sankalpa Muhurta, Sādhyā and Vishwā, these ten, O descendant of Bharata, were the wives of Dharma. Hear from me of their offspring (31). Vishwadevas were the sons of Vishwā and Sādhyā gave birth to Sādhyas. Marutvati was the mother of Maruts and Vāsus were the sons of Vasu (32). Bhānus were the sons of Bhānu and the Muhurttas of Muhurtta (33). Gosha was born of Lamvā and Nāgavithi of Yami. Arundhuti gave birth to all the herbs of the earth (34). The Deity of determination, the soul of all, took his birth from Sankalpa and Vrihalamva took his birth from Nāgabitha (35). O king, all the daughters, whom Daksha conferred on the Moon, have been celebrated by the name of Nakshatras or planets in astrology (36). The celestials, who have profuse effulgence before them, were celebrated by the name of eight Vasus. I will mention their names at length (37). Apa, Dhruva, Soma, Dhara, Anila, Anala, Pratyusha, and Pravasha—these eight are known as eight Vasus (38), Apa's sons were Vaitandya, Srānta and Muni. Dhruva's son was the Divine Kāla, the destroyer of creatures (39). Soma's son was the Divine Varchas who begat Varcaaswi. Dhara’s son was Dravina the carrier of sacrificial oblations. He begat on his wife Manoharā, Sishira, Prāna and Ramana (40). Anila's wife was Shivā whose son was Manojava. Anila, whose course is not known, had two sons (41). Agni's son Kumara shone in the thickets of Sara grass. His names are Shakha, Vishakha, Naigameya and Prishthaja (42). And on account of his being an offspring of Kirtikās[9] he was called Kartikeya: With the fourth part of his energy Agni created Skanda and Sanat Kumar (43).
Pratyusha's son was the Rishi Devala whose two sons were forgiving and observant of hard austerities (44). Shorn of attachment Vrihaspati's sister, the beautiful Yogasiddhā, who led a life of celibacy, ranged all over the earth (45). She became the wife of the eighth Vasu Prabhasa. The noble Patriarch Vishwakarma was born of her (46). He made chariots for the celestials, was their architect, the maker of thousands of fine things and dresses and the foremost of artizans. Adopting his art as their profession mankind are now making their livelihoods (47-48). By the grace of Siva and having her heart purified by virtue of asceticism, Surabhi gave birth, through Kaçyapa, to the eleventh Rudra (49). O descendant of Bharata, Ajaikapāt, Ahir-Budhna, Rudrashwa, Tasta, Srimān and Vishwarupa, those were the highly illustrious sons of Tastu (50). Hara, Vahurupa, Tryamvaka, Aparājita, Vrishākapi, Sambhu, Kapardi, Raivata, Mrigavyadha, Sarpa and Kapāli—these are known as the eleven Rudras who lord over the three worlds (51-52). O foremost of Bhāratas, in Purānas, hundreds, of such Rudras of incomparable energy, have been mentioned who have spread over the mobile and immobile creation (53). O foremost of Bhāratas, hear from me of the wives of Kaçyapa who have spread over all the worlds: They are Aditi, Diti, Dana, Aristha, Suravā, Surabhi, Vinatā, Tāmrā, Krodhavashā, Irā, Kadru, Muni and Swasā; hear now of their offspring (54-55). In the previous Manwantara they were twelve leading celestials. In the Manwantara of Vaivaswata they used to address one another by the name of Tushita (56). During the reign of the present highly illustrious Manu Chakshusha, they all assembled together for the benefit of all creatures and said (57). "Let us all enter into the womb of Aditi to be born in the Manwantara of Vaivaswata and we will attain well-being (58)".