In the unfolding of creation, the mighty Nāgas—serpents of great power—came into being, all subject to the dominion of Suparṇa, the divine Garuḍa. These serpents were born with many heads, and among them, Śeṣa, Vāsuki, and Takṣaka always stood as the chief and foremost. Alongside them were others of great renown: Airāvata, Mahāpadma, Kambala, Aśvatara, Elāpattra, Śaṅkha, Karkoṭaka, and Dhanaṃjaya. Also counted among their illustrious ranks were Mahānīla, Mahākarṇa, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Balāhaka, Kuhara, Puṣpadaṃṣṭra, Durmukha, and Sumukha. Further, Śaṅkha, Śaṅkhapāla, Kapila, Vāmana, Nahuṣa, Śaṅkharoma, and Maṇi were celebrated as the foremost among the Nāgas. The descendants of these serpents—sons and grandsons—numbered in the hundreds and thousands, and among them were fourteen thousand fierce Nāgas known for consuming only the wind. O Brahmins, the entire Krodha lineage, marked by their fangs, filled the world, and from the earth sprang forth the terrestrial, avian, and aquatic creatures, remembered as her offspring. From Surabhi, the celestial cow, emerged all cows and buffaloes, while Irā gave birth to every kind of tree, creeper, vine, and grass. Khasā was the mother of the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas, while the sage begot the radiant Apsarases, and Ariṣṭā brought forth the mighty and illustrious Gandharvas. Thus, the descendants of Kaśyapa, both those that move and those that stand unmoving, were established—each with sons and grandsons numbering in the hundreds and thousands. O Brahmins, this creation is remembered especially in the Svārociṣa Manvantara, and also in the great Vaivasvata and Vāruṇa sacrifices. Now, hear of the creation of beings by Brahmā himself, who, after offering oblations, brought forth the seven mind-born sages—the great brahmarṣis—as his sons. It was then, O twice-born, that conflict arose between the gods and the Dānavas. Diti, bereft of her sons, sought to win the favor of her husband, Kaśyapa. With devotion and proper worship, she pleased him, and Kaśyapa, his mind appeased, offered her a boon of her choosing. Diti asked for a powerful son, one mighty enough to slay Indra. The great ascetic Kaśyapa granted her this boon, and the formidable Mārīca spoke: “Your son will slay Indra, but only if you carry the embryo for a hundred years, remaining pure and steadfast in your vow.” Diti, thus instructed, began her long penance, pure and foremost among women, bearing the embryo as directed. Having implanted the embryo in Diti, Kaśyapa departed, restraining the mighty host of the gods and withdrawing his irresistible energy, which even the immortals could not withstand. He went to the mountains to perform ascetic practices, firm in his vow. Meanwhile, Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt and slayer of Pāka, watched Diti, seeking a flaw in her observance. After a hundred years, he found his opportunity: Diti, without purifying her feet, lay down to sleep. Seizing the moment, Indra entered her womb. With his thunderbolt, Indra (Vajrapāṇi) cut the embryo into seven pieces. As he did so, the embryo cried out, and Indra repeatedly told it, “Do not cry.” Each piece then became sevenfold, and, still angered, Indra divided each of the seven into seven more. Thus were born the Maruts, the storm gods—fifty-one in all—who became allies of Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt. As these beings took their places, the gods appointed the foremost among themselves to lead the various hosts, each of immeasurable strength. In every group, Hari—also known as Krishna, the heroic Person, the Lord of creatures, Parjanya, the sun, and Ananta—granted lordship to the ancient progenitors, establishing broad and foremost realms. Indeed, all this world is but his manifestation. For those who truly understand this creation and its mysteries, O best of the twice-born, there is no fear of return to this world—how much less fear is there for the next? After these events, the Grandfather, Brahmā, anointed Pṛthu, the son of Vena, as emperor. Step by step, he assigned the realms to the worthy. He installed Soma as ruler over the Brahmins, plants, stars, planets, sacrifices, and austerities. Varuṇa was appointed lord of the waters, Vaiśravaṇa as chief of kings, Viṣṇu for the Ādityas, and Pāvaka for the Vasus. Dakṣa became lord of the progenitors, Vāsava (Indra) was made ruler of the Maruts, and the mighty Prahrāda was set over the Daityas and Dānavas. Vaivasvata Yama was installed as ruler of the ancestors, and likewise as king of the Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and earthly kings. Girīśa, the trident-wielder (Śiva), became lord of all beings and spirits; Himavat was made lord of the mountains, and the ocean was set as ruler of the rivers. Citraratha was appointed chief of the Gandharvas, Vāsuki as lord of the Nāgas, and Takṣaka as lord of the serpents. Airāvata became king of the elephants, Uccaiḥśravas of the horses, and Garuḍa of the birds. The tiger was made lord of beasts, the bull master of cattle, and Plakṣa king of the trees. Thus, dividing the realms step by step, the Grandfather established the guardians of the directions. In the east, he anointed Sudhanvan, son of Vairāja Prajāpati, as king and guardian of that quarter. Such was the divine ordering of the world, with each being and realm appointed its place and lord, all under the watchful gaze of the Grandfather, Brahmā.