Chapter 32 - The Creation of the Vedas

1-11. Vaishampayana said:—Thus desirous of creating the universe the Lord began to think. While he was thus meditating a Purusha came out of his mouth. Arriving before the Lord, the Purusha asked "What shall I do?" The Lord, the master of the universe, smilingly replied:—"Divide yourself into two." Saying this, the Lord disappeared. O Bharata, when the Lord disappeared bodily no relic of his movement was seen there like unto a lamp put out. Then the Hiranyagarbha, who is sung in the Vedas, began to meditate on the words uttered by Him. Formerly the Lord of the universe was the only Patriarch therefore he alone is entitled to sacrificial offerings. The Patriarch said:—The Great one asked me to divide myself into two, but I have a great doubt regarding the division of Self into two. When the Patriarch was thinking thus the word Om was recited; with its sound the earth, sky, and heaven were filled. When Prajapati’s mind was practising Om again from the heart of the god of gods, sprang Vashatkar. Again originated the three great sacred words Om, Bhur, Bhuva, etc., with which the heaven, earth and sky are filled. Afterwards was produced the sacred Gayatri of twenty-four words the originator of metres. Completely recollecting that celestial verse Prajapati created Savitri. The Lord then created the four Vedas, Rik, Saman, Atharvan and Yayush with their accompanying religious rites. Thereupon from his mind emanated Sana, Sanaka, Sanatana, Barava, Sanandana, and the omnipotent Sanatkumar. With Rudra these six Rishis are the mind-begotten sons of Brahma. In Yoga Tantra the Yatis and the Brahmanas speak highly of these six Rishis, Brahma and Kapila. Afterwards the Self-sprung Deity created his eight mind-begotten sons namely Marichi, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrigu, Angira and Maru and the Pitris of all creatures, gods, Asuras and Rakshasas. At the end of Nishesha Kalpa, the termination of the thousand Yugas, all these and their offspring disappeared from the world. Again after a thousand years these celestial Yogins, capable of procreating progeny, will again take birth. For a particular work with the end of every cycle the gods change their names and births. From Prajapati’s right thumb the divine Daksha was born. His wife was born from Brahma’s left thumb. Daksha begat on that wife his celebrated daughters the mothers of the world. O king, with their progeny the whole world is covered. Thinking in his mind about the multiplication of his progeny Daksha conferred his daughters, Aditi, Diti, Kata, Anayu, Sinhika, Muni, Pradha, Krodha, Surabhi, Vinata, Surasa, Danu and Kadru on Kashyapa. Daksha gave his ten daughters namely Arundhati, Vasu, Yami, Lamva, Bhima, Marudvati, Sangkalpa, Muhurtta, Sadhya and Vishva, on Brahma’s son, Manu. Then he conferred his beautiful daughters of blameless limbs, having lotus like eyes and full-moon-like countenances, namely Kirti, Lakshmi, Dhriti, Pushti, Buddhi, Medha, Kriya, Mati, and Lajja, on Dharma. Then was born Atri’s son Atreya full of water. He was of a thousand rays, the lord of planets and the dispeller of darkness. Pracetas Daksha conferred on him his most excellent twenty-seven daughters, Nakshatra, Yogini, Rohini, etc. Hear, I will name the progeny of Kashyapa, Manu, Dharma and Shashi. Kashyapa begat on Aditi the gods Aryama, Varuna, Mitra, Pusha, Dhata, Purandara, Twashta, Bhaga, Amsha, Savita and Parjanya. We have also heard that Kashyapa begat on Diti two sons. They were Hiranyakashipu and the powerful Hiranyaksha. They were endued with incomparable prowess and like unto Kashyapa in asceticism. Hiranyakashipu had five sons who were all very powerful. They were Pralhada, Anulava, Sanglahda, Hlada and Anulhada. Pralhada had three highly powerful sons, namely Virocana, Jambha and Kujambha. Virocana’s son was Bali whose only son was Vana. His son was Indradamana, the victor of hostile cities. Danu had numerous children who were all celebrated as great Asuras in the world. Of them the first-born Vipracitti became the king. Krodha had many sons and grand-sons who were called Krodhavashas. They were highly dreadful and ruthless. Singhika gave birth to Rahu who assailed the sun and the moon. He devours the moon and destroys the sun. Kata’s children were like unto Death, highly dreadful effulgent, like dark blue clouds and had eyes shining like the sun. Kadru had many sons of whom the thousand headed Sesha, Vasuki and Takshaka acquired ascendancy. They were all virtuous, well-read in the Vedas, engaged in doing good unto creatures, givers of boons and capable of assuming forms at will. Vinata’s sons were Tarksha, Aristhanemi, the highly powerful Garuda, Aruna and Aruni. Pradha gave birth to the daughters Anavadya, Anuka, Anuna, Arunaprya, Anuga, Subhaga and the eight holy Apsaras worshipped even by the celestial saints. Alamvasha, Misrakeshi, Pundarika, Tilottama, Surupa, Lakshmana, Kshema, Rambha, Mandrama, Asita, Suvahu, Suvritta, Sumukhi, Suprya, Sugandhya, Surasa, Pramathini, Kashya and Sharadvati were celebrated as Manneya Apsaras. Vishvavasu and Bharanya were known as Gandharvas; Menaka, Sahajanya, Parnini, Punjikasthata, Kratusthata, Ghitaci, Vishvaci, Urvashi, Anumlocha, Pramlocha and Manovati, these ten were the celebrated Apsaras. From Prajapati’s determination were produced ambrosia, liked by the whole world, the Brahmanas, the cows and the Rudras. They have been all described in the Purana as the offspring of Subrahi. I have thus described the progeny of Kashyapa, I will now describe that of Manu.

12-60. O sinless one, I will describe them to you in brief. Vishva gave birth to Vishadevas and Sadhya to Sadhyas. Marudvati gave birth to Maruts and from Vasu Vasus were born. Bhanu’s sons were Bhanus, Muhurtta’s were Muhurttajas and Lamva gave birth to Ghosha. Jami gave birth to Nagadithi and Arundhati gave birth to all the objects of the world. Sangkalpa gave birth to Sangkalpa, and Lakshmi gave birth to Dharma’s son Kama, the most favourite of the world. Kama begat on his wife Rati two sons Harsha and Yasha. Soma begat on his wife Rohini the great lord Varsha by whom the moon becomes effulgent as soon as he rises. Thus thousands of wives and sons were born. This is the root of the world. The Lord Prajapati distributed powers amongst creatures according to their merit. The Lord then created the ten quarters, the earth, Rishis, oceans, birds, trees, herbs, serpents, rivers, gods, demons, the sky-rangers, sacrifices and mountains.