In the era of Vaivasvata Manu, the twelve radiant Ādityas were revered—Indra, Dhātā, Bhaga, Tvaṣṭṛ, Mitra, Varuṇa, Aryaman, Vivasvān, Savitṛ, Pūṣā, Aṃśumān, and Viṣṇu—each resplendent with a thousand rays. These divine beings shone forth as the illustrious sons of Aditi. From Kaśyapa and Diti were born two powerful sons, Hiraṇyakaśipu and Hiraṇyākṣa, as is well known. Danu, too, bore a hundred sons by Kaśyapa, all mighty and proud, with Vipracitti as their chief. Tāmrā became the mother of six daughters: Śukī, Śyenī, Bhāsī, Sugrīvī, Gṛdhrikā, and Śuci. Śukī, through virtue, gave birth to parrots and owls; Śyenī to hawks; Bhāsī to cranes. Gṛdhrikā became the mother of vultures and pigeons, while Pārāvatī brought forth many birds. Śuci gave life to swans, sarasa, kāraṇḍa, and plava birds. Sugrīvī produced goats, horses, sheep, camels, and asses. Vinatā, another consort of Kaśyapa, gave birth to the auspicious Garuḍa and Aruṇa. Among Kaśyapa’s other wives, Saudāminī was born, a maiden whose very presence was terrifying to the worlds. Surasā gave birth to a thousand serpents in ancient times, and Kadru, steadfast in her vows, bore a thousand serpents as well, each with a thousand heads. Among these serpents, twenty-six were especially renowned: Śeṣa, Vāsuki, Karkoṭa, Śaṅkha, Airāvata, Kambala, Dhanañjaya, Mahānīla, Padma, Aśvatara, Takṣaka, Elāpatra, Mahāpadma, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Balāhaka, Śaṅkhapāla, Mahāśaṅkha, Puṣpadaṃṣṭra, Śubhānana, Śaṅkhaloma, Nahuṣa, Vāmana, Phaṇita, Kapila, Durmukha, and Patañjali. From the force of anger, Kadru produced a host of rakṣasas, beings of great illusion. Gomahiṣī, another noble lady, gave rise to a group of Rudras. Surabhi brought forth the celestial cows, and thus the lineages of Kāśyapa flourished. The sage also begot a host of sages and a group of apsarases. Ilā became the mother of many Kinnaras and Gandharvas, while Ariṣṭā produced many more. Ilā also created all the grasses, trees, creepers, and shrubs. Tviṣā gave birth to countless Yakṣas and Rakṣasas. Thus, in brief, are the descendants of Kāśyapa. Many lineages of sons, grandsons, and others arose among them, all created by the great-souled Kāśyapa. When all moving and unmoving creatures had been established, Prajāpati anointed the chief among them as rulers. Vaivasvata Manu was then appointed lord of mankind, following those who had been anointed by Brahmā in the earlier Svāyambhuva period. These anointed ones, together with the Manus, governed the entire earth, with its seven continents and mountains, upholding righteousness as instructed. At the end of each Manvantara, when the previous rulers departed, new ones were anointed for each new era, ensuring the continuity of dharma and governance. All the kings remembered in past and future Manvantaras produced sons to continue their lineages. Desiring his own lineage to flourish, Kāśyapa again undertook austerities, reflecting, “May a son be born to establish my line.” Through his union with Brahma, two sons of great energy were born—Vatsara and Asita, both learned in Brahman. From Vatsara came Naidhruva and the famed Raibhya. Raibhya’s descendants became known as Raibhyas. Naidhruva married the daughter of Cyavana, and their offspring were the Kuṇḍapāyins. From Asita and Ekaparṇā was born a wise Brahmin. Among the Śāṇḍilyas, Devala was the best, renowned for his austerity. Thus, the Śāṇḍilyas, Naidhruvas, Raibhyas, and Kāśyapas became four distinguished branches. Now, let me tell you of the nine divine natures of Pulastya. After four ages had passed during the eleventh Manu’s reign, and as the Dvāpara age began, Mānavas had a son named Dama. Dama’s heir was Tṛṇabindu, who became king at the dawn of the third Tretā age. His daughter, Ilavilā, was unmatched in beauty, and she was given in marriage to the sage Pulastya. From Ilavilā, the sage Airavilo, known as Viśrava, was born. Viśrava had four wives who increased the Paulastya lineage: Devavarṇinī, daughter of Bṛhaspati; Puṣpotkaṭā; Balākā; and the daughter of Mālyavat, Kaikasī. Devavarṇinī bore Vaiśravaṇa, the eldest. Kaikasī gave birth to Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, as well as Kumbhakarṇa, Śūrpaṇakhā, and the wise Vibhīṣaṇa. Puṣpotkaṭā’s sons were Mahodara, Prahasta, Mahāpārśva, and Khara. Balā’s daughter was Kumbhīnasī, whose sons were Triśirā, Dūṣaṇa, and Vidyujjihva, all rākṣasas. Thus, the great lineages of gods, serpents, birds, sages, and mighty beings came forth, each upholding their role in the cosmic order, all through the divine will and austerities of the great progenitors.