O Hara, listen as the wondrous story of creation unfolds. Prajapati, the lord of beings, brought forth from his own self Manu, the illustrious protector of all creatures. This divine Svayambhuva Manu, the first among men, accepted a wife and thus established the line of humanity. From Manu and his consort were born Priyavrata and Uttānapāda, sons of Prasūti and Ākūti. Prasūti herself was given in marriage to Dakṣa, while Devahūti became the wife of the sage Kardama. In this way, the families of the patriarchs grew, and among them were twelve mighty sons known as the Yāmas. To Dakṣa were born daughters of great virtue: Śraddhā, Calā, Dhṛti, Tuṣṭi, Puṣṭi, Medhā, and Kriyā. For the sake of upholding righteousness, Dharma, the lord of virtue, accepted these daughters of Dakṣa as his wives. Among Dakṣa's other daughters were Sannati, Anasūyā, Ūrjjā, Svāhā, and Svadhā. The eminent sages—Pulastya, Pulaha, and Kratu—each took daughters of Dakṣa, beginning with Khyāti, as their wives. Through these unions, the world was further populated. From these lineages came Santoṣa and Tuṣṭi, Lobha and Puṣṭi, and also Bodha, Buddhi, Lajjā, Vinaya, and Vapu, all sons of Dharma. To this noble line were also born Sukha, Mṛddhi, Yaśas, and Kīrti. In time, Dakṣa performed a grand horse sacrifice. All the great ones, along with their wives, attended—save for Satī, the goddess and consort of Rudra. Having abandoned her body, Satī was reborn as the daughter of Menā and Himālaya. From her union with Rudra were born Kumāra and Bhṛṅgīśa, and the mighty Rudra himself, wrathful and powerful, was destined to take human birth from the line of Dhruva. From Uttānapāda and his queen Suruci was born a son named Uttama. By the grace of a sage and through worship of Janārdana, the lord of gods, a son named Prācīnavarhis was born, noble and virtuous. Ripu's son Śrīmān became known as Cākṣuṣa Manu, the wise lawgiver. Aṅga's son Vena, however, turned away from righteousness and became an atheist. For the sake of a worthy heir, the sages churned Vena's thigh, and from it sprang a son—Niṣāda—who dwelled in the Vindhya mountains. From Niṣāda was born a son who bore the mental likeness of Viṣṇu. The king, seeking the welfare of his people, milked the earth for their sustenance. Prācīnabarhis, born of the earth, shone forth as the sole sovereign. To him were born ten sons, each practicing righteousness and great austerities. These ten, having become progenitors, took wives and continued the line. Dakṣa, the lord of creatures, first created four kinds of beings by his mind alone. Desiring further creation through union, he fathered a thousand sons with Vairiṇī. When these sons were lost, he created another thousand. Angered by the loss of his progeny, Dakṣa cursed Nārada, declaring he would be born again. When his sacrifice was destroyed, Dakṣa, in fierce wrath, also cursed Maheśvara. Even in another birth, out of enmity, they perished. Then, Dakṣa begot daughters from his queen Asiknī. He gave sixty beautiful daughters in marriage—two to the sage Aṅgiras, fourteen to Kaśyapa, and twenty-eight to the Moon. The remaining daughters—Manoramā, Bhānumatī, Viśālā, and Bahudā—were also bestowed, thus continuing the great lineages that would fill the worlds with life.