From the very body of the wise and self-born Lord, the organs and faculties came forth, and with them, the knowers of the field—beings who understood the nature of existence—emerged from his limbs. All those previously mentioned—the gods, other celestial beings, and the immovable ones—sprang forth, each established firmly within the domain of the three qualities: sattva, rajas, and tamas. Thus, the world became populated with beings, both stationary and moving. Yet, for that wise one, these offspring did not multiply as he had wished. Therefore, he created other sons through his mind, sons who were like himself in nature: Bhrigu, myself (Nārada), Pulaha, Kratu, and Angiras. To these were added Marici, Daksha, Atri, and Vasistha—altogether, nine mind-born sons, known in the Purana as the nine Brahmas. Sanandana and others, who had been created earlier by the Creator, remained detached from worldly affairs. They wandered the worlds, indifferent to offspring, free from attachment. All these great souls, having realized the truth, were untouched by passion or envy; among such impartial ones, the creation of the worlds took place. Then, from Brahmā, a great anger arose, powerful enough to burn the three worlds. From this wrath, a blazing mass of flames burst forth. At that moment, a fierce radiance emerged from Brahmā’s furrowed and anger-ignited brow, threatening to consume the worlds. From this radiance arose Rudra, shining like the midday sun, fearsome in form, with a body that was half male and half female. Brahmā instructed, “Divide yourself,” and then vanished from sight. Obeying this command, Rudra split himself into a female and a male form. He further divided his male aspect into eleven forms, and his female aspect into gentle, fierce, and peaceful manifestations. These forms multiplied, both dark and fair. After this, Brahmā, the self-born Lord, created Svāyambhuva Manu. He fashioned himself into Manu, the lord of progeny, and brought forth a woman named Śatarūpā, purified by her austerities. Svāyambhuva Manu accepted Śatarūpā as his wife; from them, the goddess Śatarūpā was born. Manu and Śatarūpā had two sons, Priyavrata and Uttānapāda, and two daughters, Prasūti and Ākūti. In ancient times, Prasūti was given in marriage to Dakṣa, and Ākūti to Ruci. The lord of creatures took these daughters as wives, and from them was born Dakṣiṇā. From Dakṣiṇā and Yajña, their highly fortunate son, the twelve Yāmas were born—gods during the reign of Svāyambhuva Manu. From Prasūti, Dakṣa created twenty-four daughters. Their names are: Śraddhā, Lakṣmī, Dhṛti, Puṣṭi, Tuṣṭi, Medhā, Kriyā, Buddhi, Lajjā, Vapuḥ, Śānti, Ṛddhi, and Kīrti—thirteen in all. The Lord Dharma accepted these daughters as wives, and from them were born eleven more daughters, all beautiful-eyed: Khyāti, Satyā, Saṃbhūti, Smṛti, Prīti, Kṣamā, Sannati, Anasūyā, Ūrjjā, Svāhā, and Svadhā. Great sages such as Bhṛgu, Bhava, Marīci, Aṅgirā, myself (Nārada), Pulaha, Kratu, Atri, Vasiṣṭha, Vahni, and the Pitṛs in due order, accepted these daughters, beginning with Khyāti, as their wives. From these unions were born the personifications of faith, desire, strength, fortune, restraint, perseverance, contentment, satisfaction, greed, and nourishment. Intellect, learning, action, punishment, policy, humility, understanding, wisdom, modesty, discipline, and beauty also came forth. Resolution, security, peace, happiness, prosperity, fame, and glory—all these were sons of Dharma. Desire, delight, and joy were born as sons, and Harsha as Dharma’s grandson. Violence became Adharma’s wife, and from her was born Falsehood. Their daughter was Deceit, and from this line came fear and hell, as well as Illusion and Pain, and the duality of existence. From Illusion and Pain were born Death, the taker of beings, and from Pain, Suffering, known as Raurava. From Death arose disease, old age, sorrow, thirst, and anger—all considered offspring of Suffering and marks of unrighteousness. These beings had no wives or children; their seed rose upwards, and their fierce forms, O best of men, are said to be of Brahma. They always bring about the dissolution of the world. Now, hear of the creation of Rudra as Brahma made it. At the beginning of the kalpa, as Brahma contemplated a son like himself, a boy appeared on his lap, colored blue and red. The boy wept loudly and shed tears. Seeing this, Brahma, the Lord of creatures, spoke to him: “What is your name?” The boy replied, “Because I weep, you are named Rudra; do not weep, take courage.” Yet, the boy wept seven more times, and so the Lord gave him seven other names. For these eight forms, he made eight abodes: Bhava, Sharva, Ishana, and Pashupati; Bhima, Ugra, Mahadeva, and Rudra himself. These forms corresponded to the sun, water, earth, fire, wind, space, the initiated Brahmin, and Soma. Thus, Rudra received Sati as his wife, and in this way, the creation unfolded as established by Brahma.