From Virāj, the cosmic man, was born Śatarūpā. She became the mother of two illustrious sons, Priyavrata and Uttānapāda, whose fame spread throughout the worlds. Alongside them, Śatarūpā bore two radiant daughters: Devahūti and Ākūti. From these daughters, countless living beings came forth. Svāyambhuva Manu, the first of mankind, gave his daughter Prasūti in marriage to Dakṣa, the lord of creation. In the sacred texts, Dakṣa is known as Prāṇa, and Manu as Saṃkalpa. The sage Ruci, a master among the creators, accepted Ākūti as his wife. From their union, born through the mind, emerged a virtuous pair: Yajña and Dakṣiṇā, twin offspring of great merit. From Yajña and Dakṣiṇā came twelve sons, known as the Yāmas. These divine beings were the gods of the Svāyambhuva period, remembered as the sons of Yajña. Brahmā, the creator, also brought forth two groups: Ajita and Śukra. The Yāmas, being the firstborn, took their place as dwellers in heaven. Prasūti, daughter of Svāyambhuva Manu, became the mother of the mothers of the worlds. In her, Dakṣa begot twenty-four daughters, all greatly fortunate, with lotus-like eyes and endowed with enjoyment. These daughters were revered as mothers of yoga, speakers of Brahman, and mothers of the universe. Among them were Faith, Lakṣmī, Steadfastness, Contentment, Nourishment, Intelligence, and Action. Thirteen of these daughters—Discernment, Modesty, Beauty, Peace, Success, and Fame—were accepted as wives by Dharma, the lord of righteousness, appointed by the Self-born. The remaining eleven, all with beautiful eyes, were given to other great sages: Satī, Khyāti, Sambhūti, Smṛti, Prīti, Kṣamā, Saṃnati, Anasūyā, Ūrjā, Svāhā, and Svadhā. Satī was given to Bhava (Rudra), Khyāti to Bhṛgu, Sambhūti to Marīci, Smṛti to Aṅgirās, Prīti to Pulastya, Kṣamā to Pulaha, Saṃnati to Kratu, Anasūyā to Atri, Ūrjā to Vasiṣṭha, Svāhā to Agni, and Svadhā to the Pitṛs. From these unions, many offspring were born, and their descendants became established among all beings. Through all cycles of Manu, until the cosmic dissolution, these daughters gave birth to further virtues and qualities. Faith gave birth to Kāma; Lakṣmī's son was Darpa; from Dhṛti came Niyama; from Tuṣṭi, Saṃtoṣa; from Puṣṭi, Lobha; from Medhā, Śruta. Kriyā gave birth to Daṇḍa and Samaya; Buddhi to Bodha and Pramāda. Lajjā's son was Vinaya; Vapuḥ's son was Vyavasāya; Śānti's son was Kṣema; Siddhi's son was Sukha. Kīrti gave birth to Yaśas. These are the sons of Dharma. Prīti, the goddess, gave birth to Harṣa, son of Kāma. Thus, the creation stemming from Dharma was described. Yet, from Adharma, unrighteousness, was born Hiṃsā, and from her, two sons: Nikṛti and Anṛta. From Nikṛti came Bhaya and Naraka, and from them, Māyā and Vedanā. Māyā gave birth to Mṛtyu, the taker of beings; Vedanā to Duḥkha and Raurava. From Mṛtyu came disease, old age, sorrow, anger, and envy—all offspring marked by suffering and characterized by unrighteousness. Their wives and sons became possessions, and thus arose the tamasic creation, governed by the law of dharma. At Brahmā's command to create beings, Nilalohita (Rudra), reflecting upon his wife Satī, produced offspring from himself. He did not make them greater or lesser than himself; Krittivasa generated thousands upon thousands, all equal to himself in mind, form, brilliance, strength, and knowledge. These beings were tawny, armed, with matted locks and red in hue. He made them distinguished, with golden hair, fierce gaze, skull-bearers, and of great and strange forms, manifesting all shapes and their own true form. Among them were charioteers, those clad in hides, armored ones, shield-bearers, with hundreds and thousands of arms, divine beings dwelling on earth and in the sky. They had massive heads, eight fangs, double tongues, three eyes, and were eaters of food and flesh, drinkers of clarified butter and soma. These fierce guardians, with blue throats and upward-flowing seed, ate oblations, were learned in sacred law, righteous, and adorned with sacred grass. Some sat, some ran; thousands of beings of the five elements, teachers, reciters, mutterers, and practitioners of yoga. Smoky and blazing, roaring, exceedingly radiant, aged and wise, devoted to Brahman, and of auspicious appearance, they had blue necks, a thousand eyes, were patient, invisible to all beings, and great yogis of immense energy. Wandering, charging, leaping by the thousands, Rudra created these Rudras, the best of gods, who do not tire. Upon seeing them, Brahmā addressed Rudra, saying, "Do not create such beings, O god, with fierce eyes; beings equal to yourself should not be made. Salutations to you.