In the ancient days, the vast tapestry of creation unfolded with a wondrous diversity. Among the gods and demons, gandharvas and apsarases, yakṣas, rākṣasas, piśācas, suparṇas, nāgas, and birds—all manner of beings came into existence. Wild beasts roamed, peacocks displayed their vibrant feathers, and all the plants flourished. Worms, insects, and countless small creatures found their place, as did those born in water. Animals, brāhmaṇas, and those marked by auspicious merit were all brought forth. This lineage and account of creation is considered life-giving, prosperous, and splendid—it brings benefit and happiness to those who hear and accept it without envy. Whoever recites this sacred lineage of great souls regularly, especially in assemblies of brāhmaṇas and physicians, will be blessed with abundant offspring, wealth, prosperity, and, after death, will attain an excellent destination. When all creatures, both immobile and mobile, had thus been created and established everywhere by the great-souled Kaśyapa, he anointed the leaders among them as rulers, assigning kingdoms in order. Soma was made king over the twice-born, plants, stars and planets, sacrifices, and asceticism. Bṛhaspati was appointed lord of all the descendants of Aṅgiras, while Kāvyā became king over the Bhṛgus. Viṣṇu was anointed king of the Ādityas, Pāvaka of the Vasus, Dakṣa of the Prajāpatis, and Vāsava of the Maruts. Prahlāda, son of Diti, became king of the Daityas; Nārāyaṇa ruled the Sādhyas; and Rudra, the bull-bannered, was made lord of the Rudras. Vipracitti was set as king of the Dānavas, Varuṇa as king of the waters, and Vaiśravaṇa as lord of kings, yakṣas, rākṣasas, earthly rulers, and wealth. Vaivasvata Yama was made king of the Pitṛs, and Girisha, wielder of the trident, became lord of all beings and piśācas. Himavat was made king of the mountains, the ocean of the rivers, and Citraratha was appointed lord of the gandharvas. Uccaiḥśravas became king of horses, the tiger king of beasts, and the bull king of quadrupeds. Garuḍa, the foremost of flyers, was made king of all birds; Mātula was lord of fragrances and beings without bodies. Vāyu, best among the strong, was lord of those whose force is sound and space; Śeṣa was king of all those with fangs, and Vāsuki of the nāgas. Among reptiles, serpents, and nāgas, Takṣaka was appointed; Parjanya was anointed among oceans, rivers, clouds, rainfall, and among the suns. Of all the hosts of apsarases, and of Kāma, and of the seasons, months, periods, fortnights, moments, festivals, measures of time, rays, calculation, and yoga—the year was made their lord. Prajāpati, in the eastern direction of the atmosphere, anointed his son Sudhāmā as king; in the western direction, Ketumanta, his great-souled son, was made king. Manu, his son, was made lord of mankind, and by these rulers, the entire earth with its seven continents and cities continues to be governed according to its regions by righteousness. In the previous interval of Svāyambhuva, these were anointed by Brahmā, and those who become Manus are anointed as kings. In past Manvantaras, these kings have departed, and new ones are anointed with each Manvantara; all past and future rulers are remembered as lords of the Manvantaras. Pṛthu, anointed at the Rājasūya by these foremost men, was made king, powerful, according to the rite seen in the Vedas. Having produced these sons to continue the people, the greatly fortunate lord again became master of the beings. Kaśyapa, desiring a lineage, undertook supreme austerity, thinking, “May I have two sons who will establish a lineage for me.” As he was meditating, two sons, portions of Brahmā and endowed with great energy, appeared: Vatsāra and Asita, both speakers of Brahman. From Vatsāra came Nidhruva, and from Raibhya, the greatly renowned. The Raibhya lineage descends from Raibhya, and from Nidhruva, Sumedha was born to Cyavana and Sukanyā. The wife of Nidhruva was the mother of the Kuṇḍapāyins; from Asita and Ekaparṇā, a Brahmin of highest excellence was born. Hearing the words of the Śāṇḍilyas, Devala of great fame, and the Nidhruvas, Śāṇḍilyas, Raibhyas, and later the Kaśyapas, the gods beginning with Vara are the progeny of Devala. When the four ages have passed, in the eleventh Manu, the progeny remain, and in the Dvāpara, they continue. Of Mānas, while he was living, his son Dama is said to be; Mānas’ heir is known as Tṛṇabindu. At the beginning of the Tretā Yuga, in the third age, a king was born whose daughter, Tviḍaviḍā, was unmatched in beauty. That royal sage gave his daughter to Pulastya. Viśravāḥ became the husband of Ṛṣi Tviḍaviḍā, and he had four wives who increased the lineage of the Paulastyas. Bṛhaspati, the renowned preceptor of the gods, married a maiden named Devavarṇinī. Puṣpotkakaṭā and Vākā were the two sons of Mālyavat; Kaikasī was the daughter of Mālin. Now listen to the offspring of these women. Devavarṇinī bore the eldest, Vaiśravaṇa, endowed with divine qualities, in accordance with sacred law and tradition, possessing the form of a Rākṣasa and the strength of an Asura. He had three feet, a massive body, a large head, eight fangs, a tawny beard, conch-shaped ears, and was reddish in appearance. Thus, the sacred lineage and the appointment of rulers in the universe were established, each being and each realm governed according to divine order, ensuring the prosperity and harmony of all creation.