In every age, rulers such as Dakṣa arise and, in time, are dissolved again. The wise remain undisturbed by these cycles, understanding their impermanence. In those ancient days, O best of the twice-born, there was neither seniority nor juniority among them; only austerity was honored, and its power was the true cause behind all creation. Whoever comprehends Dakṣa’s creation, with its moving and unmoving beings, is blessed with offspring, enjoys a long life, and is honored in the heavenly realms. Now, Lomaharṣaṇa, listen as the origin of the gods, demons, gandharvas, serpents, and rākṣasas is recounted in detail. Dakṣa, acting under the command of Svayambhū, once created beings. Hear, O twice-born ones, how he brought forth these creatures. At first, the Lord created beings only by mind: sages, gods, gandharvas, asuras, yakṣas, and rākṣasas. Yet, when these mind-born beings did not multiply, Dakṣa Prajāpati, reflecting for the sake of progeny, considered how to further creation. Desiring to generate various beings through lawful union, Dakṣa took Asikni, the wife of Vīraṇa, Prajāpati. Endowed with great austerity and sustaining the worlds, Asikni bore thousands of powerful sons in Vairaṇī. Dakṣa himself begot them in Asikni. Seeing these greatly fortunate sons, eager to increase progeny, the divine sage Nārada, fond of conversation, spoke words that would lead to their destruction—and his own curse. Kaśyapa, the supreme lord, begot a distinguished son in Dakṣa's daughter, wary of Dakṣa's curse. Nārada had previously been born from Parameṣṭhin, and once again, the best of divine sages was born in Asikni, in Vairaṇī. He was again begotten, like a father, as the foremost among sages. By him, Dakṣa's sons became known as the Haryaśvas. All were destroyed and annihilated by Nārada, without doubt and by proper means. Dakṣa, resolute, undertook their destruction. Having placed the Brahmarṣis before him, and requested by Parameṣṭhin, Dakṣa made an agreement with Parameṣṭhin. Nārada was born to me through your beloved daughter, whom Dakṣa gave to the supreme lord at my request, out of fear of a curse. We wish to hear, O best of sages, how the sons of Prajapati were destroyed by the great sage Nārada. The sons of Dakṣa, the Haryashvas, eager to increase creation, assembled together, powerful as they were. Then Nārada spoke to them: "Alas, you are indeed childish, O sons of Prachetas, desiring to create beings without knowing the true measure of this earth. How will you create beings above, below, and within?" Hearing these words, they departed in all directions. To this day, they have not returned, just as rivers do not return from the ocean. When the Haryashvas were lost, Daksha, son of Prachetas, created another thousand sons in Vairani, also eager to increase creation; these were the Shabalashvas. Urged by Narada with the same words as before, they all said to one another, "The great sage has spoken rightly. We must follow the path of our brothers; there is no doubt of this. Once we know the measure of the earth, we will happily create beings." They too departed in all directions by that very path, and to this day they have not returned, just as rivers do not return from the ocean. From that time, O twice-born, a brother who goes in search of his brother quickly perishes; therefore, the wise should not do so. Knowing that his sons were lost, Prajapati Daksha then created sixty daughters in Vairani, as we have heard. At that time, O Brahmins, the lord Kashyapa accepted them as wives, as did Soma, Dharma, and other great sages. Dakṣa gave ten to Dharma, thirteen to Kashyapa, twenty-seven to Soma, and four to Arishtanemi. He gave two each to Bahuputra, Angiras, and likewise to the wise Krishashva. Hear now the names of these daughters: Arundhati, Vasu, Yami, Lamba, Bhanu, Marutvati, Sankalpa, Muhurta, Sadhya, and Vishva, O Brahmins. These ten are the wives of Dharma. Their offspring are thus: the Vishvadevas were born from Vishva, the Sadhyas from Sadhya, the Maruts from Marutvati, the Vasus from Vasu, the Bhanus from Bhanu, and the Muhurtas from Muhurta. From Lambā arose Ghoṣa, and from Nāgavīthī, Yāmijā; the entire realm of the earth was manifested in Arundhatī. From Saṃkalpā was born Viśvātmā, for indeed Saṃkalpa is his essence; and from Nāgavīthī and Yāminī, Vṛṣala was born. Those who are the wives of Soma, called Parā, were given by Dakṣa, son of Pracetas; all these, bearing the names of stars, are renowned in astrology. Now, the other illustrious gods, led by the luminaries, are the eight Vasus. Their names are Āpa, Dhruva, Soma, Dhava, Anila, Anala, Pratyūṣa, and Prabhāsa. Āpa's son is Vaitaṇḍya, also known as Śrama and Śrānta, a sage; Dhruva's son is the venerable Kāla, the measurer of worlds. Thus, the creation of Dakṣa unfolded, and the progeny of his daughters and sons gave rise to the gods, sages, and beings who populate the universe.