In the beginning, the Lord split the cosmic egg into two, thus forming heaven and earth. Between these two vast halves, he created the sky, filling the space above and below with his divine presence. He placed the earth, submerged within the primeval waters, and established the ten directions, giving order to space itself. Within this grand design, he brought forth time, mind, speech, desire, anger, and pleasure—foundations for all that would come to be. Desiring to create living beings, the Lord fashioned creation in this very form and produced the progenitors: Marīci, Atri, Aṅgiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, and Kratu. Along with them, he created the great sage Vasiṣṭha, making seven mind-born sages in all. These illustrious seven are revered as the Brahmās in the Purāṇas. Of these seven, born from Brahmā whose essence is Nārāyaṇa, Brahmā—moved by anger—created Rudra. He also brought forth Sanatkumāra, the illustrious one, eldest even among the ancients. Thus, among the seven, were born the progenitors and the Rudras. Skanda and Sanatkumāra, having concentrated their energy, remained steadfast, and their seven great lineages flourished, adorned by divine hosts. The Lord, ever active in rites and creation, adorned the world with great sages and also created lightning, thunderclouds, red rainbows, and Indra’s bows. He created the birds first, and then Parjanya, the rain-god. For the sake of sacrifice, he fashioned the Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma hymns. From his creative power, the Sādhyas and the gods were born, and from his very limbs arose creatures both high and low. When Prajāpati sought to create the offspring of the waters, the beings did not increase at that time. So, he divided his own body in two; with one half, he became male, and with the other, female. From their union, beings of two kinds were produced. By his greatness, he pervaded heaven and earth. Viṣṇu created Virāj, and from Virāj came the cosmic man. This cosmic man is known as Manu, and his era is called a Manvantara. The second Manvantara is said to be the interval of the mind-born Manu. That mighty Virāja, the lordly being, created further creatures; his progeny, born of Nārāyaṇa’s creation, were not born from a womb. One who truly knows this original creation becomes blessed with long life, fame, virtuous offspring, and attains whatever state he desires. Thus, having created all beings, the lord of creatures, Āpava, obtained Śatarūpā as his wife—she, too, not born from a womb. By the greatness of Āpava, who enveloped the heavens, Śatarūpā was born purely through righteousness. Śatarūpā performed severe austerity for ten thousand years and chose as her husband the man blazing with ascetic power. This self-born man is called Manu, and his seventy-one yugas are known as a Manvantara. From Virāja, the man, Śatarūpā gave birth to Vīra; from Vīra came Kāmyā, and from Kāmyā were born Priyavrata and Uttānapāda. Kāmyā, the best of daughters, was given to Kardama, lord of creatures, and bore him four sons: Samrāṭ, Kukṣi, Virāṭ, and Prabhu. Atri, the lord of creatures, took Uttānapāda as his son. From Uttānapāda, Sūnṛtā gave birth to four sons. Sūnṛtā, famed as the daughter of Dharma and born through a horse sacrifice, became the auspicious mother of Dhruva. Uttānapāda begot Dhruva, Kīrtimān, Āyuṣmān, and Vasu on Sūnṛtā. Dhruva, seeking great fame, performed severe austerity for three thousand divine years. Pleased by his devotion, Brahmā granted Dhruva an immovable place before the Seven Sages—a position equal to Brahmā’s own. Witnessing Dhruva’s greatness, the teacher of gods and demons, Uśanas, exclaimed in wonder at the power of Dhruva’s austerity and learning, marveling that the Seven Sages now stood with Dhruva before them. From Dhruva came Śliṣṭi and Bhavya; from Śliṣṭi, Succhāyā bore five spotless sons: Ripu, Ripumjaya, Vīra, Vṛkala, and Vṛkatejas. Bṛhatī bore Cakṣuṣa, radiant in all ways, from Ripu. Cākṣuṣa Manu was born to Puṣkariṇī, the wife of Vīraṇya, the great-souled son of the lord of creatures. From Naḍvalā, the daughter of Vairāja Prajāpati, ten mighty sons were born to Manu: Kutsa, Puru, Śatadyumna, Satyavāk, Kavi, Agniṣṭut, Atirātra, Sudyumna, and Abhimanyu, the tenth, of great might. From Puru, six illustrious sons were born to Āgneyī. From Aṅga came Sumanas, Svāti, Kratu, Aṅgirasa, and Maya. Aṅga also fathered Veṇa, son of Sunīthā. Because of Veṇa’s misconduct, great anger arose among the sages. For the sake of the people, they churned Veṇa’s right arm, and from it emerged a great king. Seeing him, the sages rejoiced, declaring, “Here indeed are the people.” This king, born with bow and armor, blazing like burning fire, would perform great deeds and attain lasting fame. Pṛthu, son of Veṇa, thus protected the earth, born from the royal line, and was the first lord of the earth to be consecrated with the rājasūya sacrifice.