Vaishampāyana said:—Having said this during the Manwantara of Manu Chakshusha, they were begotten on Aditi, daughter of Daksha by Kagyapa the son of Marichi (59). Sakra and Vishnu were also born of her. Besides, O descendant of Bharata, Aryamā, Dhātā, Twastā, Pushā, Vivashmān, Savitā, Mitra, Varuna, Ansha, and the highly effulgent Bhaga—these eight were also born of Aditi; so it is said (60-61). Those who passed by the name of Tushita during the Manwantara of Chakshusha were known as twelve Adityas during the Manwantara of Vaivaswata (62). The twenty seven wives of Soma, observant of vows and of incomparable energy, gave birth to luminous bodies as their offspring (63). Arishthanemi's wives had sixteen sons. The learned Patriarch Vahuputra had four sons:—Vidyut (lightning), Açani (thunder-bolt), Megha (cloud) and Indradhanu (rain-bow) (64). The best of works Riks originated from Pratyangiras and the celestial saint Krishāswa begat deities presiding over various celestial weapons (65).
O child, these deities take their births again after a thousand Yugas. Of them thirty three[10] take birth of their own accord (66). As in this world the sun rises and sets, so O king, the origin and disappearance of all these gods are also mentioned. They appear and disappear at every Yuga (67-68).
Kaçyapa begat on Diti two sons, the powerful Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha. This we have heard (69). He had a daughter (also) by name Sinhikā whom Viprachitti espoused. Her highly powerful sons were celebrated by the name of Saihinkeyas. It is said, O king, that their number was ten thousand (70). They had, O thou having mighty arms, hundreds and thousands of sons and grandsons. Hear now from me of the children of Hiranykashipu (71). He had four sons of well-known prowess—Anurhāda, Hrāda, and the energetic Pralhāda (72). And Sanghrāda was the fourth. Hrāda's son was Hrada. Sangrada's sons were Sunda and Nisunda (73). Anurahada's sons were Ayu, Sivi and Kāla. Virochana was Pralhada's son; and his son was Vali (74). O king, Vali had a hundred sons, of whom Vāna was the eldest. Dhritarashtra, Surya, Chandramā, Indratapana, Kumbhanabha, Gardhabhaksha, Kukshi and others were their names. Of them Vāna was the eldest, powerful and a beloved votary of Paçupati (75–76). In the previous Kalpa, Vāna, having propitiated the Divine Lord of Uma, prayed to him for the boon "I shall remain by your side." (77). Vāna begat on his wife Lohita, a son, by name Indradamana. Hundreds and thousands of Asuras yielded to his power (78). The five sons of Hiranyaksha were learned and highly powerful—they were Jarjara, Sakuni, Bhutasantāpana, the powerful Mahānābha and Kālanabha. Hundred sons of dreadful prowess were born to Danu. They were all ascetic and endued with great energy. Hear their names in order of precedence (79–80). Dwimurdhā, Shakuni, Shankushira, Vibhu, Shankukarna, Virava, Gaveshtha, Dundubhi, Ayomukha, Shamvara, Kapila, Vāmana Marichi, Maghavāna, Ira, Vrika, Vikshovana, Ketu, Ketuvirya, Shatahrada, Indrajit, Satyajit, Vajranābha, the powerful Mahānābha, Kālanabha Ekachakra, the highly powerful and mighty-armed Taraka, Vaishvanara, Pulomā, Victravana, Mahāsura, Swarbhanu, Vrishaparva, the great Asura Tuhunda, Sukhshma, Nichandra, Urnanabha, Mahāgiri, Asilomā, Sukeshi, Shatha, Valaka, Mada, Gaganamurdha, the great ascetic Kumbhanābha, Pramada, Daya, Kupatha, the energetic Hayagriva, Vaisripa, Virupaksha, Supatha, Hara, Ahara, Hiranyakashipu, Salya and the energetic Viprachitta—these sons of Danu were begotten by Kaçyapa. Amongst those highly powerful Dinavas Viprachitta was the head (81-89). O king, I cannot enumerate the offspring, sons and grandsons, of all these Dānavas (90). Sarvana's daughter was Prabhā, Puloma's daughter was Sachi, Hayasira's daughter was Upadānavi and Vrishaparva's daughter was Sharmishthā (91).
Vaishwānara had two daughters Pulomā and Kalikā-they were both highly powerful, gave birth to many children and were the wives of Kaçyapa, the son of Marichi (92). They gave birth to sixty thousand Dānavas; of them fourteen thousand lived in the city of Hiranya (93). Being observant of rigid austerities Kaçyapa begat highly powerful Dānavas called Poulamas and Kālakeyās (94). Those living in the city of Hiranya were placed by Brahmā above destruction even by the gods. They were afterwards killed by Savyasachi in battle (95). Nahusha was Prabhā's son, Jayanta was Sachi's son, Sarmisthā gave birth to Puru and Upadānavi gave birth to Dushmanta (96). Viprachitta begat on Singhikā another class of highly dreadful Dānavas (97). By the union of Daity and Danava energies they grew of dreadful prowess. Those thirteen highly powerful Dānavas were celebrated by the name of Sainghikeyas (98). They were the powerful Aisha, Nabha, Vala, Vatāpi, Namuchi, Ilvala, Khasrima, Anjika, Naraka, Kālanābha, Shara, Potarana, and the energetic Vajranābha (99-100). Of them Rāhu, the represser of the sun and the moon, was the eldest. Hrāda had two sons, Suka and Tuhunda (101). Sunda begat on Tāraka a son by name Mārachi, another (by name) Sivamana, energetic like a celestial (102). All these Dānavas, multiplying the race of Danu, were great. Their sons and grandsons were hundreds and thousands in number (103). The noble Nivātakavachas endued with great asceticism were born in the race of the Daitya Sanghrāda(104). Those Danavas, living in the city of Manimati, begat three Koti offspring. The gods could not destroy them and they were slain by Arjuna (105). It is said that Tāmrā gave birth to six highly powerful daughters—Kake, Sweni, Bhāsi, Sugrivi, Suchi, and Gidhrika (106). Kāki gave birth to crows, Uluki to owls, Sweni to Swena birds, Bhāsi to Bhāsa birds, Gidhri to vultures, Suchi to waterfowls and Sugrivi to horses, camels and asses. Such is the description of Tāmrā's family (107-108). Vinata had two sons, Aruna and Garuda. Suparna, the foremost of birds, grew immensely powerful by his own action (109). Surasā gave birth to a thousand highly powerful serpents and high-souled sky-rangers of many heads (110). Powerful, and many headed Nagas endued with immeasurable energy, the offspring of Kadru, were born as being subject to Suparna (111). Amongst them Sesha, Vāsuki, Takshaka, Airavata, Mahāpadma, Kamvala, Aswatara, Ekapatra, Shankha, Karko taka, Dhananjāya, Mohāneela, Mahākarna, Dhritarashtra, Valāhaka, Kuhara, Pushpapangstra, Durmukha, Sumukha, Shankhapala, Kapilā, Vāmana, Nahusha, Sangkaroma and Manu were the heads. Fourteen thousand sons and grand sons of these dreadful serpents were devoured by Garuda, living on serpents. Know this class to be full of anger. All animals having teeth, those born on land, birds and those produced by water are the offspring of Dhara. Surabhi gave birth to kine and buffaloes (112-117). Ira produced trees, creepers, groves and all kinds of grasses and Khasa gave birth to Yakshas, Rakshas, Munis and Apsarās (118). Aristha gave birth to the powerful Gandharvas of unmitigated prowess and the mobile and immobile creation is said to have originated from Kaçyapa (119). Hundreds and thousands of sons and grandsons have been born to them. Such was the creation, O my child, in Swarochisha Manwantara (120). I shall now describe to you the creation of the Patriarch Brahmā who offered oblation to fire at the long-extending sacrifice of Varuna in Vaivaswata Manwantara (121). Formerly when seven Rishis were procreated by his mind the grand-father considered them as his sons (122).
O descendant of Bharata, when the conflict between the gods and demons raged on, Diti, who had her sons slain, began to propitiate Kaçyapa (123). Being duly adored by her and propitiated, Kaçyapa pleased her by giving a boon. She too prayed for a highly powerful son for killing Indra. That great ascetic, when thus begged, conferred on her the same boon (124-125). Having conferred on her the boon without the least anxiety the son of Marichi said:—"If being pure and observant of vows you can hold your conception for one hundred years you will give birth to such a son as will slay Indra (126–127)." O monarch, saying so be it and being pure Diti obtained her conception from her that great ascetic husband (128). Thinking of one of the leadings gods of immeasurable power and infusing energy which the immortals even can not destroy he knew Diti. Then that one of great vows repaired to a hilly region for carrying on penances (129-130). From that day the slayer of Pāka (Indra) began to seek her fault. One day before hundred years were complete Diti, without washing her feet, lay down on her bed. Beholding her impure state the king of gods entered into her abdomen and made her asleep (131-132).
Then the holder of thunderbolt sundered the embryo into seven pieces. Cut into pieces with the thunderbolt the embryo began to cry (133). Sakra again and again prevented him saying "Do not cry! Do not cry!" The embryo was then divided into seven pieces. Indra too, the slayer of enemies, worked up with anger, again cut every piece into seven portions with his thunder-bolt. From them originated the gods called Maruts, O foremost of Bharatas (134-135). Because they were addressed by Maghavan (saying "Do not weep" Ma ruda) so the Maruts were born and they all became of help to the holder of thunder-bolt (136). When creatures thus multiplied, O Janamejaya, Hari consoled that foremost of gods of immeasurable energy, and then conferred kingdoms on various Patriarchs of whom Prithu was first installed as king (137-138). That Hari is the heroic person Vishnu, Jishnu, the Patriarch, the king of rains and is the air in his visible form. The whole universe is His (139). O foremost of Bharatas, he, who is informed of this creation of creatures, and he who reads or hears the auspicious birth of the Maruts, has no fear of being born again in this world—what of fear in the next world (140)?
| [9] | They are nymphs and the nurses of Kumara. |
| [10] | The thirty three gods are:—8 Vasus, 11, Rudras, 12 Adityas, Brahma and Indra. |
CHAPTER IV. A QUERY REGARDING THE ORIGIN OF THE ARTICLES OF FOOD.
Janamejaya said:—Having installed Prithu the son of Vena, in the office of the Lord Paramount the Patriarch began to confer kingdoms on Soma and others (1). He placed Soma in charge of the twice-born, herbs, planets, stars, sacrifices and hard austerities (2). He then installed Varuna as the king of waters, Vaishravana as the lord of kings, Vishnu the king of Adityas, Pāvaka the king of Vasus, Laksha the king of Patriarchs, Vāsava the king of Maruts, Pralhāda of incomperable energy the king of Daityas, and and Danavas, Yama, the offspring of the sun, as the king of the departed manes, Nārāyana as the king of Mātris, vows, Mantrās, kine, Yakshas, Rākshasas and kings and Siva, having the emblem of a bull, as the king of Sādhyas and Rudras (3–7). He then ordered Viprachitta to become the king of the Dānavas and made Girisha (Siva) the holder of mace, the king of all ghosts and goblins (8). He made Himavān, the king of mountains, and the ocean the king of rivers and appointed the greatly power Vāyu as the king of smell, bodiless creatures, sound, ether and earth (9). He made the lord Chitraratha the king of Gandarvas, Vāsuki, the king of Nāgas and Takshaka the king of serpents (10). He ordered Airavat to become the king of the elephants, Ushaishrava, of the horses and Garuda the king of birds, tiger the king of beasts and the bull, the king kine, Plaksha the king of trees, and, installed Parjanya as the king of ocean, rivers, showers and Adityas (11—13). He installed Sesha as the king of wild animals and Takshaka, the king of reptiles and serpents (14). He made Kāmadeva the king of Gandharvas and Asuras and Samvatsara the king of seasons, months, days, fortnights, moments, conjunctions of planets, Parvas, Kālas, Kāshthās, Pramāsha, Ayanas, Mathematics and all conjunctions. Having divided the kingdom in such an order Brahmā placed all the guardians of the quarters. He installed Sudhanna, the son of the Patriarch Vairaja as the Protector of the eastern quarter. He placed in the South the high-souled Sankhapāda, the son of the Patriarch Kardama. He installed the high-souled Ketuman, the son of Raja, as the king of the West. And he made the irrepressible, Hirany roma, the son of the Patriarch Prajanya, the king of the North. Even now they have been piously ruling over their respective provinces of the earth consisting of seven insular continents and mountains. By all those kings Prithu was appointed as the Lord Pāramonnt in a Rajshuya sacrifice according to rites laid down in the Vedas, O king (15–23). After the expiration of the highly vigorous Manwantara of Chakshusha the Patriarch Brahmā conferred the kingdom on Manu Vaivaswata. If you wish to listen, O sinless king, I shall give you at length an account (of his life) for your help. This has been described fully in Purana. It is sacred and confers fame, longevity, residence in heaven and auspicious ness (24–25).