When Daksha, the son of Prachetas, saw the vastness of creation yet unfulfilled, he asked his sons, “How will you create beings above, below, and within?” Upon hearing his words, his sons—the Haryashvas—departed in all directions to discover the nature of the worlds. Yet, like rivers merging into the ocean and never returning, they too did not come back. With the Haryashvas lost, Daksha was undeterred in his purpose. Again, he sought to further creation. This time, in Vairani, he begot another thousand sons, the Shabalashvas, who were equally eager to multiply the universe. But the sage Narada, as before, approached them and spoke the same words. The Shabalashvas, reflecting on Narada’s counsel, said among themselves, “The great sage speaks truly. We should follow the path of our brothers. Once we have measured the earth, we can joyfully undertake the work of creation.” And so, just as their brothers had done, they too departed in all directions, never to return—just as rivers do not return from the ocean. From that time, O twice-born, it became known that a brother who goes in search of his lost brother quickly perishes; thus, the wise refrain from such quests. Seeing his sons lost to the world, Prajapati Daksha resolved upon a new course. In Vairani, he created sixty daughters. These maidens were given in marriage to the great sages—Kashyapa, Soma, Dharma, and others. Of these, ten were given to Dharma, thirteen to Kashyapa, twenty-seven to Soma, and four to Arishtanemi. Bahuputra, Angiras, and the wise Krishashva each received two. The names of Dharma’s ten wives are Arundhati, Vasu, Yami, Lamba, Bhanu, Marutvati, Sankalpa, Muhurta, Sadhya, and Vishva. From these noble women, many divine beings were born: from Vishva came the Vishvadevas; from Sadhya, the Sadhyas; from Marutvati, the Maruts; from Vasu, the Vasus; from Bhanu, the Bhanus; and from Muhurta, the Muhurtas. Lamba bore Ghosha, and Nagavithi bore Yamija. Arundhati became the embodiment of the earth itself. From Sankalpa was born Vishvatma, for indeed willpower is his essence; from Nagavithi and Yamini came Vrshala. The wives given to Soma by Daksha, called the Para, are renowned as the stars, and their names shine in the science of astrology. Among the illustrious gods, the Vasus are foremost. There are eight Vasus: Apa, Dhruva, Soma, Dhava, Anila, Anala, Pratyusha, and Prabhasa. Apa’s son is Vaitandya, also known as Shrama and Shranta, a sage. Dhruva’s son is the venerable Kala, the measurer of worlds. Soma’s son is the radiant Varcha, bestower of brilliance. Dhava’s son is Dravina, bearer of sacrificial offerings. From Manohara came Shishira, as well as Prana and Ramana. Anila’s wife is Shiva, and their son is Manojava; also born to Anila is Avijnatagati, making two sons. Agni’s son is Kumara, resplendent and bearing a dart, with his brothers Shakha, Vishakha, and Naigameya—Naigameya being born from Agni’s back. The child of the Krittikas is known as Karttikeya. Pratyusha’s son is the sage Devala, who himself had two wise and patient sons. Brihaspati’s sister, a noble woman learned in the speech of Brahman and perfected in yoga, wandered unattached throughout the world. She became the wife of Prabhasa, the eighth Vasu, and from her was born Vishvakarma, greatly fortunate, lord of creation, master of a thousand arts, and divine architect. He made all ornaments and celestial vehicles for the gods, and humanity too prospers by his skill. Surabhi, from Kashyapa, gave birth to the eleven Rudras, purified by the grace of Mahadeva and through asceticism. These Rudras are: Ajaikapada, Ahirbudhnya, Tvashtri, the mighty Rudra, Hara, Bahurupa, Tryambaka, Aparajita, Vrishakapi, Shambhu, Kapardi, Raivata, Mrgavyadha, Sharva, and Kapali. These eleven, renowned as the Rudras, are the lords of the three worlds. In truth, a hundred Rudras of immeasurable might are described in the Purana, pervading all that moves and does not move. Now, hear of the wives of Kashyapa Prajapati: Aditi, Diti, Danu, Arishta, Surasa, Khasa, Surabhi, Vinata, Tamra, Krodhavasha, Ira, Kadru, and Muni. From these, O Brahmins, were born many illustrious offspring. In the previous Manvantara, the twelve most excellent gods, called the Tusitas, conferred among themselves at the dawn of the Vaivasvata Manvantara. When the age of Chakshusha Manu ended, they assembled for the welfare of all worlds and resolved, “Come, O gods, let us enter Aditi and be born in the coming Manvantara; thus shall we benefit.” So, in the interval after Chakshusha Manu, all of them were born from Aditi, daughter of Daksha, through Kashyapa, son of Marichi. There, once more, were born Vishnu and Shakra, as well as Aryaman, Dhatri, Tvashtri, and Pushan—great deities who would guide the worlds anew.