पृष्ठतः पाणि पादाश्च पृष्ठतो वातरंहसः
Their hands and feet are behind them, propelled by the wind’s force from behind.
नग्नका ह्यनिकेताश्च लंबशेफ आण्डपिडकाः
They are naked, homeless, with hanging genitals and swollen testicles.
षोडशैता हि जात्यस्ताः पिशाचानां प्रकीर्त्तिताः
These sixteen types of piśācas have been described as their castes.
ब्रह्मा तेभ्यो वरं प्रादात्कारुण्यादल्पचेतसः
Brahmā, out of compassion, granted them a boon, for their minds are feeble.
संध्ये उभे प्रचारं च स्थानान्याजीवमेव च
He gave them movement at both twilights, places, and means of livelihood.
विध्वस्तानि च यानि स्युरनाचारोषिता नि च
And whatever places are ruined or inhabited by those without proper conduct.
राजमार्गोपरथ्याश्च निष्कुटाश्चत्वराणि च
Royal roads, side streets, alleys, and crossroads.
पथो नद्यो ऽथ तीर्थानि चैत्यवृक्षा महापथम्
Paths, rivers, fords, sacred trees, and great highways.
अधार्मिको जनस्तेषामा जीवो विहितः सुरैः
For them, the gods have ordained the life of the unrighteous person.
प्रकृतोपधिसंधानाश्चोरा विश्वासघातिनः
Those who are naturally deceitful, thieves, and betrayers of trust.
आरभ्यन्ते क्रियायास्तु पिशाचास्तत्र दैवतम्
From the beginning of ritual acts, the piśācas are the deities there.
धूपैर्हारिद्रकृसरैस्तिलभक्षगुडौदनैः
With incense, turmeric rice, sesame cakes, and sweet rice offerings.
एवसुक्तास्तु बलयस्त्वेषां वै पर्वसंधिषु
In this way, their forces are stationed at the junctions of the mountains.
सर्वभूतपिशाचानां गिरीणां शूलपाणिनाम्
They are all beings, spirits, mountain-dwellers, and those who wield tridents.
द्वीपिनश्च सुतास्तस्याः श्वापदाश्चामिषाशिनः
She also had sons who were islanders, wild beasts, and flesh-eating animals.
तस्या दुहितरः पञ्च तासां नामानि मे शृणु
She had five daughters; listen to their names from me.
अनुवृत्ता च विज्ञेया तासां वै शृणुत प्रजाः
Their descendants are to be known as Anuvṛttā; hear now of their progeny.
इत्येवमादिर्हि गणो मैनो विस्तीर्ण उच्यते
Thus, the extensive group called Maina is described as beginning in this way.
उग्राश्च शिशुमाराश्चामीनाश्चैतान्व्यजायत
She gave birth to fierce creatures, crocodiles, and various kinds of fish.
तथा शङ्खविकाराणि जनयामास नैकशः
Likewise, she produced many kinds of conch-shell creatures.
ऐणेयानां विकाराणि शंबूकानां तथैव च
She also generated varieties of tortoises and snails in the same way.
तथा शङ्खविकाराणि परिवृत्ता व्यजायत
Thus, the transformed forms of conch-shell creatures were produced.
इत्येष हि ऋषावंशः पञ्चशाखः प्रकीर्त्तितः
In this way, the five-branched lineage of Ṛṣā is declared.
संस्वेदजविकाराणि यथा येभ्यो भवन्ति ह
The transformations of sweat-born beings are as they arise from them.
मनुष्यस्वेदमलजा उशना नाम जन्तवः
Creatures called Uśanā are born from the sweat and impurities of humans.
शङ्खोपलविकाराणि कीलकावरकाणि च
There are also various forms of conch-shells, stones, and worms.
यथा घर्मदितप्पाभ्यश्चाभ्द्यो वृष्टिभ्य एव
Just as from heat, sunlight, and water, and also from rain,
मक्षिकाः पिच्छला देशास्तथा तित्तिरिपुत्तिकाः
Flies, slimy creatures, and also partridges and their chicks arise.
जलजाः स्वेदजाश्चैव जायन्ते जन्तस्त्विमे
These creatures, both aquatic and sweat-born, come into being.
सिंहला रोमलाश्चैव पिच्छिलाः परिकीर्त्तिताः
Creatures called Siṃhalā, Romalā, and slimy beings are described.