Once, the Brahmins known as Śabalā, who had gathered as the agents of creation, were addressed once more by the sage Nārada. He spoke to them as before, guiding them in their sacred task. He instructed the brothers, “Having measured the earth in every direction, you must now return and carry out creation in particular ways.” Obedient to his words, the brothers followed the same path as before—a path known among them. From that time onward, it became understood that younger brothers should not seek to tread the way of their elders; for those who attempt it find only suffering, and thus, such a path is best avoided. When those brothers were lost to the world, Prajāpati Dakṣa, the son of Pracetas, took up the work of creation. He begot sixty daughters with Vairiṇī, and gave them in marriage to various illustrious beings: ten to Dharma, thirteen to Kaśyapa, twenty-seven to Soma, four to Ariṣṭanemi, and two each to Bhṛgu’s son, the wise Kṛśāśva, and Aṅgiras. Their names and details are spoken of in the scriptures. Now, listen to the expansion of the divine progeny from the mothers: Marutvatī, Vasū, Yāmī, Lambā, Bhānu, and Arundhatī; Saṃkalpā, Muhūrtā, Sādhyā, Viśvā, and Bhāminī, wives of Dharma. Their sons were many: the Viśve Devas were born of Viśvā; the Sādhyas from Sādhyā; Marutvants from Marutvatī; and Vasus from Vasū. Bhānu gave birth to the Bhānavas; Muhūrtā to the Muhūrtakas; Lambā to Ghoṣa; Yāmī to Nāgavīthī. Arundhatī’s son sprang from the earth’s surface; Saṃkalpā’s son was named Saṃkalpa. Now, hear of the Vasus, those radiant gods who pervade all directions. There are eight Vasus: Water (Āpa), Dhruva, Soma, Dhara, Anila, Anala, Pratyūṣa, and Prabhāsa. Āpa’s sons are four—Śānta, Daṇḍa, Śāmba, and Maṇivaktra—who chiefly protect sacrifice. Dhruva’s son is Kāla; Soma’s son is Varcā; Dhara’s sons are Draviṇa and Havyavāha. From Kalyāṇinī came Prāṇa, Ramaṇa, and Śiśira; Manoharā received the sons of Dhara, who are the offspring of Hari. Śivā bore Manojava, whose movement is mysterious; and from Anala, two sons were born, both with fiery qualities. Kumāra, the son of Agni, was born amidst a cluster of reeds. His followers—Śākha, Viśākha, and Naigameya—were born from his back. Kārttikeya is celebrated as the son of the Kṛttikās. Pratyūṣa’s sons are the sages Vibhu and Devala. Viśvakarmā, the divine craftsman, is the son of Prabhāsa, the Prajāpati. He is renowned as the architect of palaces, mansions, gardens, statues, ornaments, reservoirs, parks, and wells. Among the Rudras, there are Ajaikapāda, Ahirbudhnya, Virūpākṣa, Raivata, Hara, Bahurūpa, and Tryambaka, the lord of gods. Sāvitra, Jayanta, Pinākī, and Aparājita are also counted among the Rudras, making eleven leaders of the hosts. The sons of these mind-born trident bearers are countless—numbering eighty-four crores—and are considered imperishable. These leaders, their sons, grandsons, and descendants, born from the womb of Surabhī, protect all directions. Now, let us hear of the sons and grandsons born from the wives of Kaśyapa: Aditi, Diti, Danu, Ariṣṭā, and Surasā; Surabhī, Vinatā, Tāmrā, Krodhavaśā, Irā, Kadrū, and Viśvā, the sage. Listen to the sons born from them. The gods known as Tuṣitas existed during the interval of Cākṣuṣa Manu, and in the interval of Vaivasvata, they are known as the twelve Ādityas: Indra, Dhātā, Bhaga, Tvaṣṭā, Mitra, Varuṇa, Yama, Vivasvān, Savitā, Pūṣā, Aṃśumān, and Viṣṇu. These twelve Ādityas, radiant with a thousand rays, are the noble sons of Aditi, born from Mārīca and Kaśyapa. The sons of the sage Bhṛśāśva are remembered as the gods who wield divine weapons; these groups of gods, O sages, exist in each Manvantara. They are born and dissolve in each cycle. Diti received two sons from Kaśyapa: Hiraṇyakaśipu and Hiraṇyākṣa. From Hiraṇyakaśipu were born four sons: Prahlāda, Anuhlāda, Saṃhlāda, and Hlāda. Prahlāda’s sons were Āyuṣmān, Śibi, and Bāṣkala. Virocana was the fourth, and he obtained Bali as his son. Bali had a hundred sons, with Bāṇa as the eldest. Among Bali’s sons were Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Sūrya, Candra, Candrāṃśutāpana, Nikumbhanābha, Gurvakṣa, Kukṣibhīma, and Vibhīṣaṇa. Many others, noble in qualities, were born as Bāṇa’s elder brothers. Bāṇa, with a thousand arms, was endowed with all kinds of weapons. He pleased the bearer of the trident through austerity and attained the state of Mahākāla and equality with Pinākin. Hiraṇyākṣa had sons: Ulūka, Śakuni, Bhūtasaṃtāpana, and Mahānābha. From these sprang seventy million descendants—sons and grandsons—mighty, gigantic, of many forms and great energy. Danu received a hundred sons from Kaśyapa, proud in their strength; among them, Vipracitti was the foremost and exceedingly powerful. Thus, the divine families expanded, each branch giving rise to countless beings, radiant and mighty, who populate the worlds and sustain the cycles of creation.