Sambhava Parva — Tradition of offspring of Rishis

Vaishampayana said : It is known that the mind-born sons of Brahma were six great Rishis. There was another (mind-borm son of Brahma,) named Sthanu. He had eleven sons gifted with great energy,

Namely, Mrigavyadha, Sarpa, famous Niriti, Ajaikapada, Ahirbudhnya, the chastiser of his foes Pinaki.

Dahana, Ishvara and greatly effulgent Kapali, Sthanu and the illustrious Bhaga. These eleven are called eleven Rudras.

(It has been already said that) Marichi, Angiras, Atari, Pulastya, Pulaha and Kratu, these powerful Rishis were six mind-born sons of Brahma.

It is well-known in the world that the sons of Angiras were three, namely Brihaspati, Utathya and Samvarta, all of great asceticism.

O king, it is said that the sons of Atri were countless, they were all great Rishis and they were all learned in the Vedas, they were crowned with ascetic successes and their souls were in perfect peace.

O best of kings, the offspring of greatly wise Pulastya were the Rakshas, Monkeys, Kinnaras and Yakshas.

O king, the offspring of Pulaha were, it is said, the Shalabhas (the winged-insects) the lions, the Kimpurushas (half lions and half men) tigeres, bears and wolves.

The sons of Kratu (Valakhilyas), who were as sacred as sacrifice, were the companions of Surya. They were known to the three worlds and they were all devoted to truth and vows,

O protector of the world, the illustrious Rishi Daksha, having his soul in complete peace and possessing great asceticism, sprang from the right thumb of Brahma.

The wife of the illustrious Daksha sprang from the left toe of Brahma. He then begot fifty daughters on her.

They were all lotus-eyed and of faultless features and limbs. As he (Daksha) had no sons of his own, he made these daughters his Putrikas.

He (Daksha) bestowed in due form, ten of his daughters on Dharma twenty-seven on Chandra and thirteen on Kashyapa.

Hear, O king, the names of the wives of Dharma as I mention them. (They were) Kirti, Lakshmi, Dhriti, Medha, Pushti, Shraddha, Kriya.

Buddhi, Lajja and Mati. These were the ten wives of Dharma, as appointed by the selfcreated (Brahma).

It is known throughout the world that the wives of Chandra were twenty-seven. They were all of rigid and holy vows, they were employed to indicate time.

They are the Nakshatras and yoginis. They were engaged in assisting the course of nature. The Grandsire (Brahma) had another son, named Muni. His son was Prajapati.

The sons of Prajapati were eight and they were called the Vasus. I shall name them in detail. (They were) Dhara, Dhruva, Soma, Aha, Anila, Anala,

Pratyusha and Prabhasa. These are known to be the eight Vasus. Dhara and the Brahmaknowing Dhruva were born of Dhumra.

Soma was born of Manasvini and Anila was born of the wise Shvasa. Aha was the son of Rata and Anala of Shandilya.

Pratyusha and Prabhasa were the sons of Prabhata. Dhara had two sons, namely, Dravina and Hutahavyavaha. was

Dhruva's son was the illustrious Kala, the destroyer of the world. Soma's son Varcha, Varcha's daughter is Varchasvi.

The fascinating Varchasvi had three sons, namely Shishira, Prana and Ramana. The sons of Aha were Jyoti, Shama, Shanta and Muni.

Agni's son was the handsome Kumara who was born in the forest and as he was reared up by Kirtika and others, he was called Kartikeya. After him were (born his three brothers, namely) Shakha, Vishakha and Naigameya, Anila's wife was Shiva and her sons were Manojava.

And Avijnatagati. These two were the sons of Anila. Know, Pratyush's son was the Rishi, named Devala.

And Devala had two sons, both greatly wise and forgiving, The sister of Brihaspati, the first of women, the utterer of the sacred truth.

And an austere ascetic, roamed over the world, having no attraction for the world, She (the sister of Brihaspati) became the wife of the ! eighth Vasu, Prabhasa.

She gave birth to the illustrious Vishvakarma, the founder of all arts, the creator of thousand arts, the artist of the celestials, the maker of all kinds of ornaments, the best of all artists and the maker of the celestials cars of the gods.

Mankind was enabled to live in consequence of the arts of this illustrious man and for this reason he was worshipped by all men. This Vishvakarma is everlasting and immutable,

The illustrious Dharma, the dispenser of all happiness, came out of the right breast of Brahma, assuming the form of a man.

He (Dharma) had three excellent sons, charming to all creatures. (They were) Shama, Kama and Harsha, who supported the worlds by their energy.

The wife of Kama was Rati, that of Shama was Prapti and that of Harsha was Nanda; upon these the worlds were made to depend.

Kashyapa was the son of Marichi and Kashyapa's offspring were the Suras (celestial) and Asuras. O best of kings, therefore, he is the progenitor of all the worlds.

Tvashtri, who had the form of a mare, became the wife of Savita. She gave birth in the sky to a twin Ashvinis.

O king, the sons of Aditi were twelve with Indra at their head. The youngest of them was Vishnu, upon whom the worlds depend.

These were the thirty-three celestials. I shall now mention to you their progeny according their Pakshas, Kulas and Ganas.

The Rudras, the Sadhyas, the Marutas, the Vasus, the Bhargavas and the Visvedevas were each a Paksha.

Vinata's son, Garuda and the Aruna also and illustrious Brihaspati were counted amongst the Adityas.

The Ashvinis, all annual plants and all beasts were counted among the Guhyakas. O king, these are the Ganas of the celestials, narrated to you.

Which narration cleanses men of all their sins. The illustrious Bhrigu sprang forth, ripping open the breast of Brahma. Bhrigu's son was the learned Shukra, a poet himself and the son of a poet. He, being commanded by the Self-created (Brahma) to pour rain and withhold it and to dispense and remit calamities, became a planet and he (still) traverses the sky in order to sustain the lives of all creatures Yoga philosophy, that greatly intelligent man, that wise and self-controlled Brahmachari became the preceptor of the Devas and the Danavas.

Thus appointed by Brahma to look after the welfare (of Daityas), Bhrigu's son (Shukra) begot another son.

Named Chyavana, who was greatly famous, very virtuous minded and as effulgent as the sun. O descendant of the Bharata race, he came out of his mother's womb in anger and thus released his mother.

Arushi, the daughter of Manu, became the wife of the wise Chyavana and the greatly illustrious Aurva was born in her, ripping open her thighs.

His (Aurva's) son was Richika, who became, even in his boyhood, very powerful, energetic and virtuous. He (Richika) begot Jamadagni.

The illustrious Jamadagni had four sons, the youngest of them was Parshurama. He was superior to all his other brothers in good qualities.

He was self-controlled, but was expert in the use of all weapons and he became the destroyer of the Kshatriyas. Aurva had one hundred sons, the eldest of them being Jamadagni.

These hundred sons begot offspring by thousands and filled the whole world. Brahma had two other sons, who had victory as their signification.

They are known as Dhata and Vidhata, who lived with Manu. Their sister is the auspicious Lakshmi who lives in the abode of lotuses.

The mind-born sons of Lakshmi are the sky-ranging horses. Varuna's eldest wife was the daughter of Shukra, named Devi.

She gave birth to a son, called Bala and a daughter, named Sura, who gives joy to the celestials. And all destroying Adharma was born (of her), when creatures began to devour one another. Niriti was his wife, from whom were born the Rakshasas, called Nairitas.

She had also three other fearful and cruel sons, always engaged in sinful deeds. (They were) Bhaya, Mahabhaya and Mrityu, the destroyer of every created thing.

This all-destroying being (Mrityu) had no wife or son. Kaki, Shyeni, Bhasi, Dhritarashtri and Shuki.

These five are known in the world as the daughters of Tamra. Kaki brought forth the crows, Shyeni the hawks,

Bhasi gave birth to the cocks and the vultures and Dhritarashtra all ducks and swans.

And she gave birth to also the Chakrvakas. The fair and illustrious Shuki of amiable qualities and auspicious signs gave birth to all parrots. Krodhavasha gave birth to nine daughters of wrathful temper.

They were Mrigi, Mrigamada, Hari, Bhadramana, Matangi, Sharduli, Shveta, Surabhi.

And the beautiful Surasa of every auspicious sign. O best of men, the offspring of Mrigi are all beasts of deer species.

O chastiser of foes, the offspring of Mrigamada are all beasts of bear species and also of those beasts, called Srimara. Bhadramana gave birth to her son Airavata.

And Airavata is the great celestial elephant. The offspring of Hari are the horses and the beasts of the monkey kind which are endued with great activity.

Those animals that are called Golangula also are said to be the offspring of Hari. Sharduli gave birth to innumerable lions and tigers,

And also to leopards and all other animals. O king, the offspring of Matangi are all elephants.

And Shveta gave birth to the large elephant, known by the name of Shveta which possesses great speed. O king, Surabhi gave birth to two daughters,

Namely, the beautiful Rohini and illustrious Gandharví. O descendant of the Bharata race, she had two other daughters, named, Vimala and Anala. All kine were born from Rohini and all horses from Gandharvi. And Anala gave birth to the seven kinds of trees which produce pulpy fruits.

Anala had another daughter named Shuki. Surasa gave birth to a son, named Kanka. Aruna's wife Shyeni gave birth to two very energetic and powerful sons, named Sampati and the mighty Jatayu. Surasa also gave birth to the Nagas and Kadru the Pannagas.

Vinata had two sons, the world known Garuda and Aruna. O king of men, O best of all wise men, thus have I fully described to you the genealogy of all the principal creatures. He who hears it is cleansed of all his sins. He acquires great knowledge and finally attains to the highest state in after-life.