8 - The Mukhyadi Creation: Progeny of Svayambhuva Manu and Daksha

The progeny of Svayambhuva Manu and Daksa is given in this chapter as well as infra-1.11, 1.13. This part of creation is common to all Puranas e.g., AP. 18, 1-26, Bh. P. III. 12.53-56, Mt. P. 3.1-27, VP. I. 7-16 fl. It is noteworthy that KP. agrees with VP. even in details but not with LP.

Lord Kurma said: 

1-2. Thus, the living beings, both mobile and immobile were created. But they, the created beings, did not multiply, in spite of his intelligent activity. God Brahma became enveloped in gloom and he was extremely miserable and sorry. Thereupon he applied his intellect for deciding the real cause of the matter of their failure). 

3. He found within himself the Tamasa element as the main factor controlling everything. The Rajas and the Sattva gunas though present with their own activities, were enveloped by Tamas. 

4. The Tamas along with Rajas and Sattva (enveloped by it) was subsequently abandoned by him. But that Tamas, when thus repulsed, became a couple (a pair of living beings). 

5. The male member was Adharmacharana (practice of evil) and the female member was Himsa (violence) of inauspicious characteristics. Then god Brahma cast off that refulgent body of himself. 

6. He then split his body. With one half he became a man. With another half, he became a woman. Thus, the Lord created the man Virat. 

7-8a. He created a beautiful auspicious woman, a Yogini, named Shatarupa. She pervaded heaven and earth with her grandeur and remained steady. 

8b-10. She was endowed with Yogic power and prosperity, and was blessed with knowledge and spiritual enlightenment. The son born of the male Virat whose origin was from the unmanifest, was Lord Svayambhuva Manu. That male member became a sage. The goddess Shatarupa, performed a very difficult penance and obtained Manu himself of bright fame as her husband. Shatarupa bore him two sons.

11. Priyavrata and Uttanapada were those sons. He had two excellent daughters1 also. Manu gave his daughter called Prasuti to Daksha.

1. Kanyadvayam anuttamam-Here KP. follows VP.1.7.19. But Bh.P. III.12.54 credits him with three daughters: Akuti, Devahuti and Prasuti. When such differences between Puranas are found, they are attributed to different Kalpa-periods.

12. The mind-born son of Brahma called Ruchi, the creator of beings, took (the other daughter of Manu called) Akuti (as his wife). That mind-born son of Brahma, Ruchi, begot twin children of Akuti. They were splendid. 

13. They were Yajna and Dakshina. Through them the Universe flourished in population. Twelve sons were born to Yajna and Dakshina. 

14a. They were Devas in Svayambhuva Manvantara and were called Yamas. 

14b-16. Daksha begot of Prasuti twenty-four daughters.2 Attentively listen to their names: They are Shraddha (Faith). Lakshmi (Prosperity), Dhruti (Fortitude), Tushti (Satisfaction), Pusti (Nourishment), Medha (Retentiveness), Kriya (Activity), Buddhi (Intelligence), Lajja (Bashfulness), Vapuh (Body), Santi (Peace), Siddhi (Accomplishment), Kirti (Fame), -Dharma took these thirteen auspicious and good-looking daughters of Daksa as his wives.

2. From KP. 13b to 20a is a quotation from VP.I.7.21-27. The names of these daughters represent virtues.

17-20a. The other eleven bright-eyed girls were the younger sisters viz. Khyati (Renown), Sati3 (Virtuosity), Sambhuti (Suitability), Smruti (Memory), Priti (Love), Kshama (Forgive ness), Santati (Progeny), Anasuya (Non-enviousness), Urja (Energy), Svaha (Oblations to god) and Svadha (Offerings to ancestors). The sages of excellent knowledge viz. Bhrgu, Bhava, Marici, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, the knower of the highest Dharma, Atri, Vasishtha, Vahni and the Pitrus, took these girls Khyati and others as their wives in this order. 

3. KP. and VP. (I.7.25) regard Sati as Daksha's daughter, but in LP. I.5.27 she is mind-born from Shiva but was adopted by Daksha and given in marriage to god Shiva. 

20b-21, Shraddha's son was Kama (Desire) and Lakshmi's son was Darpa (Pride). Niyama (Restraint) was the son of Dhruti (Fortitude), Santosha (Contentment) was the son of Tushti (Satisfaction), Labha (Gain) was the son of Pushti (Nourishment) and Shama (Self-control) was the son of Medha (Retentiveness). 

22. Danda (Punishment) and Naya (Polity) were the sons of Kriya (Action). Bodha (Enlightenment) and Apramada (Vigilance) were the sons of Buddhi (Intelligence). 

23-25a. Vinaya (Humility) was the son of Lajja (Bash-fulness) and Vyavasaya (Endeavour) was the son of Vapus (body). Kshema (well-being) was the son of Santi (Peace) and Siddha was born of Siddhi (Accomplishment). Yasas (Fame) was the son of Kirti. These foregoing are the sons of Dharma. Harsha1 (Joy), the delight of gods (heavenly delight) was the son of Kama. Thus, the progeny of Dharma leading to happiness as a result has been recounted.

1. I have taken devananda as an adj. qualifying Harsha as VP. I.7.31 records only one son viz. Harsha: 

Kamad ratih sutam Harsham

dharma-pautram asuyata |

25b-30. Himsa (Violence) bore to Adharma (two sons) viz. Nikruti (Wickedness) and (a son) Anruta (Falsehood). Nikruti bore two twins, viz. Bhaya and Maya (Fear and Illusion) and Naraka and Vedana (Hell and Pain). Måyå bore to Bhaya the son Mrutyu (Death), the remover of living beings. Vedana gave birth to Duhkha (Misery) as the son of Raurava (name of a hell). From Mrutyu were born Vyadhi (Sickness), Jară (Old Age), Shoka (Grief), Trushna (Thirst, Greed) and Krodha (Fury).2 All these are mentioned as giving rise to misery in the end. They are characterised by Adharma (impiety, evilness). All of them are Urdhavaretas (of sublimated sexuality). Thus, the Tamasa creation guiding and governing Dharma was born. O leading sages, Visrushti (Secondary creation) has been narrated by me briefly.

2. KP. 26-29a is a quotation from VP. I.7.33-35.

The progeny of adharma symbolizes human vices.