63 - Origin of Devas and others

The sages said. 

1. O Sūta, recount the origin of Devas, Dānavas, Gandharvas, Serpents and Rākşhasas, in an excellent way and in due order. 

Süta said: 

2. The creation of ancient people was by means of mental conception, direct perception or touch. Subsequent to Dakşha the son of Pracetas, creation is by means of sexual intercourse. 

3-6. When he began to create the group of Devas, sages and serpents, the world did not increase. Thereupon, by means of sexual intercourse, Daksha begot of Sūti, five thousand sons. 

On seeing those blessed ones who were desirous of creating different kinds of progeny, Nárada spoke to Haryaśhvas, the sons of Dakşha who had assembled together. 

“Understand the extent of the earth369 from above and below, O excellent sages, and then proceed ahead with your special creation." 

369. or after knowing the extent of the field (i.e., the subtle body) as also its capacity for creating the living beings. ST. cites Bhägavata in support of this interpretation:

On hearing his words, they went away in all directions. 

7-10. Even today they have not returned like the rivers after joining the ocean. 

When Haryashvas vanished, lord Daksha Prajāpati begot of Süti herself another thousand sons. O brahmins, they were named Shabalas and they assembled together for the purpose of creation. 

Närada spoke to those persons of solar splendour, who had assembled before him-"You should proceed with your special creation after understanding the full extent of the earth, or on return after finding out what has happened to your brothers. 

They too followed their brothers and attained the same goal as their brothers before. 

11. When they too vanished the Prajāpati Daksha the son of Pracetas, begot sixty daughters of Viriņi. 

12-15. He gave ten of them in marriage to Dharma, thirteen to Kaśhyapa, twentyseven to the moon, four to Arişhtanemi, two to the son of Bhrugu, two to the intelligent Kruśhāśhva and two to Angiras. Now listen to the names of the mothers of Devas and the details of their progeny from the very beginning. 

The ten wives of Dharma were: --Marutvati, Vasū, Yami, Lambā, Bhānu, Arundhati, Sankalpā, Muhurtā, Sadhyā and Vishvă. 

I shall tell you the names of their sons. 

16-20a. The Viśhvedevas were born to Viśhvā. Sadhyā bore the Sadhyas. Marutvats were born of Marutvati. Vasus were born of Vasū. The Bhảnus were born of Bhānu; the Muhurtakas were born of Muhurta; the Ghoşhas were born of Lambā. Nāgavithi was born of Yāmi. Sankalpa was born of Sankalpā. I shall tell you the creation of the Vasus. Devas who are luminous and who pervade all the quarters are called Vasus.370 They are the well wishers of all living beings They are reputed to be eight, viz.-Apa, Dhruva, Soma, Dharā, Anila, Anala, Pratyúşha and Prabhasa. 

370. Vasus are a class of deities, eight in number. They seem to have been personifications of natural phenomena. They are Apa (water), Dhruva (Pole star), Soma (moon), Dhară (earth), Anila (wind), Anala (fire), Prabhāsa (dawn) and Pratyūşha (light). 

20b-22a. The eleven Rudras,371 the leaders of the Ganas are: --Ajaikapäd, Ahirbudhnya, Virūpākşha, Bhairava, Hara, Bahurūpa, Tryambaka the lord of Devas, Savitra, Jayanta, Pinakin and Aparăjita. 

371. In regard to the names of the eleven Rudras the Puranas are not unanimous. 

22b-26. I shall mention the sons and grandsons of Kashyapa from his thirteen wives: -Aditi, Diti, Arishtā, Surasă, Muni, Surabhi, Vinati, Tämrā, Krodhavashã, Ila, Kadrú, Tvişhā and Danu. 

I shall tell you the names of the sons of these. 

Devas who were known as Tusitas in the Chäkşhuşha manvantara are spoken of as the twelve Adityas in the Vaivasvata manvantara. The following twelve are the thousand-rayed Adityas: 

Indra, Dhātru, Bhaga, Tvashtru, Mitra, Varuna, Aryaman, Vivasvān, Savitru, Puşhan, Amshumat and Vişhņu. 

27. We have heard that Diti had two sons from Kaśhyapa viz Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyākşha. 

28. Danu bore a hundred sons to Kashyapa. They were mighty and arrogant. O excellent brahmins, among them Viprachitti was the chief. 

29. O leading brahmins, Tāmrā bore six daughters372 viz. Shuki, Shyeni, Bhasi, Sugrīvī, Grudhrikä and Shuchi.

372. Kaśhyapa's wives and children are given differently in other authorities, e.g., Mbh. Adi p. xvi. Ixv and lxvi; Kurma xviii; Agni xix; Bd. V. 143-146. 

30-31. Shuki duly gave birth to parrots and owls. Shyeni gave birth to hawks (falcons), etc. Bhāsī gave birth to deers. Grudhri bore the vultures, doves, pigeons and other Shuchi gave birth to swans, cranes and other aquatic birds such as Kāranda, Plava. 

32-34. Sugrivi gave birth to goats, horses, sheep, camels and donkeys. Vinatā gave birth to Garuda and Aruņa. (two sons) and then a daughter Saudāmini (lightning) terrible unto all the worlds. 

A thousand cobras were born to Surasā. Kadru gave birth to a thousand thousand-hooded serpents. Twenty-six excellent ones among them are well known as their chiefs. 

35-37. They are: -Sheşha, Väsuki, Karkoța, Shankha, Airāvata, Kambala, Dhanañjaya, Mahānila, Padma, Ashvatara, Takşhaka, Elāpatra, Mahāpadma, Dhrutarāşhțra, Balāhaka, Shankhapāla, Mahāśhankha, Puşhpadamshtra, Shubhānana, Shankhaloman, Nahuşha, Vāmana, Phaņita, Kapila, Durmukha and Patañjali. 

38-41. Krodhavaśhå gave birth to the Rákşhasas wielding great power of deception and also the group of Rudras. The excellent lady Surabhi gave birth to cows and buffaloes as the children of Kashyapa. Muni gave birth to the group of sages and Apsaras, Arişhtā gave birth to Kinnaras and Gandharvas. Ilā gave birth to grasses, trees, creepers and hedges. Tvişhā gave birth to crores and crores of Yakşhas and Rākşhasas. 

These are the immediate descendants of Kaśhyapa, narrated succinctly. 

42-45. These had their own numerous sons, grandsons etc. Their races are many. After the children had been procreated by the noble Kaśhyapa, after all the mobile and immobile beings had been well established, Prajapati crowned the chief ones among each of them as overlords. He made Vaivasvata Manu the overlord of human beings. Those who were crowned by Brahma in the Svāyambhuva manvantara, even now protect and rule over the earth with its seven continents and mountains. They rule virtuously in accordance with the instructions of the lord. 

16. Only those who had been crowned formerly in the Svāyambhuva manvantara by Brahmã are crowned now. They become the Manus. 

47-49. In the past manvantaras these had been the kings. Others are being crowned when a new manvantara arrives. All the kings of the past and future manvantaras are mentioned in detail. 

Afier procreating these sons for the continuity of the race Kashyapa performed penance once again with the desire to have a son who will preserve the spiritual line. 

50-51. Even as Kaśhyapa was meditating thus, two sons of great prowess manifested themselves by the grace of Brahman. Those two Vatsara and Asita were expounders of Brahman. Naidhruva and Raibhya were born of Vatsara. 

52.34. The sons of Raibhya are known as Raibhyas. I shall mention those of Nadhruva. Sumedhas was born of the daughter of Chyavana. She became the wife of Naidhruva and the mother of Kuņdapāyms. 

The glorious son Devala was born of Ekaparņā and Asita. He was a knower of Brahman, the best of all the Shāņdilyas and one possessing great penance. Thus, the descendants of Kashyapa became three branches: Shandilyas, Naidhruvas and Raibhyas. 

55-58. Devas had nine sources of origin. I shall mention the line of Pulastya. 

Alter eleven cycles of four yugas have practically passed by when Manu was the lord and half the period of Dvāpara had passed by Dania was born as the son of Narişhyanta, a descendant of Manu. Dama's descendant known as Trunabindu became king in the third quarter of Tretäyuga. His daughter llavilā was unrivalled in beauty and the king gave her in marriage to Pulastya. 

59. Višhravas the great sage was born of Ilavilā. His four wives are the progenitors of thic famity of Pulastya. 

60-65. The first wise Devavarnini was the splendid daughter of Bruhaspati. The second and third wives were the two daughters of Mālyavãn, viz. Pushpotkațā and Balākā and the fourth wife Kaikasi was the daughter of Mālin. 

Now listen to the children of these ladies. Devavarnini bore the eldest son Vaishravana to him. Kaikasi gave birth to Rāvana, the king of Rākşhasas, Kumbhakarņa, Shūrpanakhā and Vibhişhana. O excellent brahmins, Pushpotkață bore him Mahodara, Prahasta, Mahäpārshva, Khara and the daughter Kumbhinasi. Now listen to the childern of Balá [i.e., Balākā]. They were Triśhiras, Dūşhana, Vidyujjihva and the daughter Mālikā. Thus, the Räkshasas of ruthless activities belonging to the family of Pulastya are nine. 

66-68. Vibhishana is glorified as the knower of Dharma. He was a highly pure soul. 

The deer, the fanged animals, tigers, goblins, ghosts, serpents, boars, elephants, monkeys, Kinnaras and Kimpuruşhas were the sons of Pulastya. 

In the Vaivasvata manvantara Kratu is said to be issueless. Atri had ten beautiful and chaste wives. 

69-70. Bhadrāśhva begot of the celestial damsel Ghrutāchi ten children viz Bhadrā, Abhadrā, Jalada, Mandā, Anandā (or Nanda), Balā, Abalā, Gopabalā, Tämarasā and Varakridā 

71-73. These are the progenitors of the family of Atreya. Their husband is Prabhākara. When the sun was swallowed by Rāhu, and he fell down towards the earth from the heavens the whole world was enveloped in darkness. At that time Atri spread lustre everywhere. He said, "Hail to Thee" and then the falling sun ceased to fall at the instance of the brahmin sage. Then Atri was called Prabhakara by the great sages. 

74. He begot of Bhadrā the renowned son Soma (Moon). The sage procreated more sons of those wives. 

75. They are well known as Svastyātreyas. They were sages and masters of the Vedas. Two of them became well renowned. They had realised Brahman. They were very powerful. 

76. Datta was the eldest son of Atri. Durvāsas was his younger brother. The youngest sister was Amalā, an expounder of the Brahman. 

77. Four of them born of two Gotras are well known in the world, viz. Shyáva, Pratvasa, Vavalgu and Gahvara. 

78. Four lines of the spiritual family of Atreyas of noble souls are known as Kāśhyapa, Närada, Parvata and Anuddhata. 

79. These were born as mental sons. Now understand the children of Arundhati. It was Nārada who gave Arundhati to Vasişhtha. 

80-82. Due to a curse of Dakşha, Nārada of great splendour became a bachelor by compulsion. 

Formerly, when a terrible war between Devas and Asuras, on account of the demon Täraka, took place, the world was oppressed due to drought. Along with the guardians of the quarters, the intelligent sage Vasişhtha sustained the subjects by means of his penance. He made water, cooked rice, roots, fruits and medicinal herbs and out of mercy he enlivened the people with medicines. 

83. Vasişhtha begot hundred sons of Arundhati. Adrushyanti bore to Shakti, the eldest of those hundred, the son Parāśhara. 

84-88. Shakti was swallowed by the demon Rudhira (along with his brothers). Kāli bore to Parāśhara the son Krishna Dvaipāyana. 

Dvaipāyana begot of Araņi the son Shuka and the son Upamanyu of Pivari. 

Know that the following are the sons of Shuka viz. Bhüriśhravas, Prabhu, Shambhu, Krishna and Gaura. There was a daughter Kirtimati. She was a yogic mother, performing holy rites. She was the wife of Anuha and mother of Brahmadatta. The following are the descendants of Parāśhara viz Shveta, Krişhņa, Gaura, Śhyama, Dhūmra, Aruna, Nila and Badarika. Thus, there are eight lines of these noble-souled Parāśharas. 

89-91. Henceforth understand the descendants of Indrapramiti. Vasişhtha begot of Ghrtăchi the son Kapiñjalya. He who is known as Trimütri is called Indrapramiti. Bhadra was born of Pruthu's daughter. His son was Vasu whose son was Upamanyu. There are many descendants of Upamanyu, Mitra and Varuņa. Those who are known as Kaundinyas are the descendants of Mitra and Varuņa.373 

373. Kauņdinyas and Väsişhthas have a common ancestry in Mitra Varuņa. Hence the matrimonial alliances do not take place between them. 

92-95. There are others of single sage-head, who are well known as Vāsişhthas. There are ten lines of the noble descendants of Vasişhtha. 

Thus, these mental sons of Brahma are known on the earth. These blessed ones are the supporters of the spiritual legacy. Their descendants are well known. They are competent to support even the three worlds. They are born of the families of divine sages. Their sons and grandsons are hundreds and thousands. The three worlds are pervaded by them in the same manner as by the rays of the sun.