Now, listen as I recount the expansion of the divine lineages, beginning from the earliest mothers of the gods. Among the great sages, Angiras was given two wives as well, and from these unions, the families of the gods multiplied, their names and descendants flowing forth like sacred rivers. First, let us remember the ten noble wives of Dharma: Arundhati, Vasu, Jami, Lamba, Bhanu, Marutvati, Sankalpa, Muhurta, Sadhya, and the radiant Vishva. Each became a mother to divine beings, and their sons shaped the celestial hosts. From Vishva were born the Vishvadevas, and from Sadhya, the Sadhyas; Marutvati bore the Maruts, and Vasu gave birth to the Vasus. Bhanu became the mother of the Bhanus, and Muhurta of the Muhurtas. Lamba bore a son named Ghosha, while Nagavithi gave birth to Jamija. Marundhati arose from the earth itself. Sankalpa became the mother of Sankalpa, the embodiment of resolve. From these mothers, the shining gods spread in all directions. Now, let me tell you the names of the Vasus, the radiant eight: Apa, Dhruva, Soma, Dhara, Anila, Anala, Pratyusha, and Prabhasa. Among them, Apa had four sons—Shranta, Vaitanda, Shanta, and the sage Vabhru, protector of sacrifice. Dhruva’s son was Kala, and Soma’s was Varcha. Dhara fathered Dravina and Havyavaha. At the end of the kalpa, Prana, Ramana, and Shishira were also born. Manohara, Dhava, and Shiva were sons of Hari; Shiva’s own son was Manojava, who moved with unknown swiftness. Anala, too, fathered sons with the qualities of fire, among whom Shakha and Vishakha are renowned in the Vedas as self-born. The Krittikas became the mothers of Kartikeya. Pratyusha’s son was the sage Rbhu, called Devala. Prabhasa’s son was Vishvakarma, the divine artisan, who built palaces, mansions, gardens, images, and ornaments for the gods, and fashioned tanks, parks, and wells. Among the Rudras, the leaders of hosts, are Ajaikapada, Ahibudhanya, Virupaksha, Raivata, Hara, Bahurupa, Tryambaka, Sureshvara, Savittra, Jayanta, Pinaki, and Aparajita—eleven in all, mind-born and trident-bearers. Their sons, said to number eighty-four crores, are considered imperishable, guardians in all directions, and all are descended from Surabhi. Now, let me tell you of the sons and grandsons of Kashyapa, born from his wives: Aditi, Diti, Danu, Arishta, Surasa, Surabhi, Vinata, Tamra, Krodhavasha, and Ira; also Kadrū, Khasa, and Muni. In the interval of Chakshusha Manu, the gods known as the Tushitas appeared, and in the time of Vaivasvata Manu, the twelve Adityas were born: Indra, Dhatr, Bhaga, Tvashtr, Mitra, Varuna, Aryaman, Vivasvat, Savitr, Pushan, Amshuman, and Vishnu—the thousand-rayed, the givers of light. These are the sons of Marichi and Kashyapa, children of Aditi. The sons of the sage Krishashva are remembered as wielders of divine weapons. In every manvantara, these groups of gods arise and dissolve, as does all creation. Diti, from Kashyapa, bore two sons: Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha. Hiranyakashipu had four sons: Prahlada, Anuhlada, Samhlada, and Hlada. Prahlada’s sons were Ayushman, Shibi, Bashkali, and Virocana, who in turn fathered Bali. Bali had a hundred sons, with Bana as the eldest—followed by Dhritarashtra, Asurya, Vivasvan, Amshutapana, Nikumbha, Gurvaksha, Kukshi, Bhauma, and Bhishana, among many others. Bana, the foremost, possessed a thousand arms and all the qualities of a great warrior. Pleased by his austerities, the wielder of the trident, Shiva, dwelt in his city, granting him the status of Mahakala and his friendship. Hiranyaksha’s son was Andhaka, and from him came Bhutasamtapana and Mahanaga. From these lines descended seventy crores of sons and grandsons—mighty, varied in form, and full of energy. Danu, too, was granted a hundred sons by Kashyapa. Among them, Vipracitti was the chief, followed by Dvirashtamurdha, Shakuni, Shankushirodhara, Ayomukha, Shambara, Kapila, Vamana, Marichi, Magadha, Hari, Gajashiras, Nidradhara, Ketu, Ketuvirya, Shatakratu, Indramitragraha, Vajranabha, Ekavastra, Mahabahu, Vajraksha, Taraka, Asiloma, Puloma, Vikurvana, Svarbhanu, and Vrishaparvan. Svarbhanu’s daughter was Suprabha, and Puloma’s daughter was Shachi. Upadanavi was the daughter of Maya, as were Mandodari and Kuhu; Sharmishtha, Sundari, and Chanda were daughters of Vrishaparvan. Thus, the lineages of gods, asuras, and radiant beings were established, each family giving rise to further generations, their names and deeds echoing through the cycles of creation.