Though Yama was a knower of righteousness and ever truthful in speech, anger had entered his mind. Yet, it was not possible for his mother’s words to be made false. Thus, it was foretold that worms would consume his flesh and he would go to the earth, but after that time, the wise Yama would regain his foot and happiness. In this way, his mother’s words would be fulfilled, and by the eventual removal of the curse, Yama too would be protected. Meanwhile, the Sun, Vivasvat, questioned his wife Saṃjñā: “Why do you, though your children are equal, show greater affection to one over the others?” Saṃjñā, wishing to avoid conflict, did not reveal the truth to Vivasvat. But the Sun, concentrating his mind, perceived the reality through his yogic power. Angered and wishing to curse her, Vivasvat sought to destroy Saṃjñā. Fearing this, she confessed everything to him exactly as it was. Hearing the truth, Vivasvat, still angry, went to Tvaṣṭṛ, the divine artisan. Tvaṣṭṛ, honoring the blazing lord according to custom, gently appeased him, for Vivasvat’s wrath was fierce and his brilliance overwhelming. Tvaṣṭṛ said, “This form, endowed with excessive radiance, does not suit you.” Unable to bear the intensity of Vivasvat’s brilliance, Saṃjñā wandered away into the green forest. Tvaṣṭṛ assured Vivasvat, “Today you will see your own wife again, she who is virtuous and praiseworthy, endowed with youth and devoted to yoga. May it be auspicious if the time is right.” In the end, Vivasvat’s original, excellent form was to be transformed. His radiance spread in all directions—across, above, and below—so much so that the Sun, lord of the day, became ashamed of his own form. Therefore, Tvaṣṭṛ, the great ascetic, considered making a disc to contain that brilliance. With Vivasvat’s permission, Tvaṣṭṛ began to create a new form. Approaching Mārtaṇḍa Vivasvat, he set a whirling device and cut away a portion of the Sun’s overwhelming brilliance. That radiance, once removed, shone forth separately. Desiring to behold a form more beautiful than his beloved, Vivasvat entered into yoga and saw that his wife had taken the form of a mare. Invisible to all beings by his own radiance and will, the Sun took the form of a horse and approached her. Saṃjñā, suspicious that another male was coming to her, resisted union and expelled the inferior seed of Vivasvat through her nostrils. From that, the twin gods, the Ashvins—best among healers—were born. They are remembered as Nasatya and Dasra, the divine Ashvins. These two are the sons of Mārtaṇḍa, the eighth Prajapati. The radiant Sun then revealed himself to Saṃjñā in a pleasing form. Seeing him, Saṃjñā was filled with joy and fainted. Meanwhile, Yama, afflicted by the curse, suffered greatly. But in time, the king of righteousness delighted his mother by his virtue. Through this righteous act, he attained supreme splendor, lordship over the ancestors, and the office of world-guardian. Manu, the illustrious Sāvarṇi Prajāpati, was also established. That Manu, who is destined to appear in the future Sāvarṇi Manvantara, even now wanders upon the beautiful summit of Meru. There, his brother Śanaiścara attained the status of a planet. Tvaṣṭṛ, using the radiance he had removed from the Sun, fashioned Viṣṇu’s discus—great and irresistible in battle, a formidable barrier against the Dānavas. The younger sister, Yamunā, became the foremost of rivers, sustaining the worlds. Now the account turns to the eldest, the mighty one whose creation is current—the progeny of Manu Vaivasvata. Whoever hears or recites this divine birth of the gods—the seven mighty sons of Vaivasvata—will be freed from calamity and attain great fame. Sūta continued: When the Cākṣuṣa Manvantara had passed, along with the gods, the great sovereignty of the earth was entrusted to Vaivasvata Manu. Now, O sages, listen as I recount in order the lineage of the great-souled Vaivasvata. In the present creation, Manu Vaivasvata had nine sons: Ikṣvāku, Nahuṣa, Dhṛṣṭa, Śaryāti, Nariṣyanta, Prāṃśu, Nābhāga, Ariṣṭa, Karūṣa, and Pṛṣadhra. These nine are remembered as the sons of Manu. In earlier times, prompted by Brahmā, Manu began to create, but his efforts bore no fruit. Desiring a son, Manu performed a supreme sacrifice, offering the oblation into the portion of Mitra and Varuṇa. From that sacrifice, adorned in divine garments, decorated with celestial ornaments, and equipped with heavenly armor, the radiant Ida was born. Manu, known as the bearer of the staff, addressed her, saying, “I will follow you, O blessed one.” But Ida replied, “O best of speakers, this is what should be said according to righteousness: I am born from the portion of Mitra and Varuṇa, O Prajapati who desires a son. I will go to them; let not righteousness be destroyed for us.” Thus, the goddess went to Mitra and Varuṇa. Approaching them with joined palms, she spoke: “O gods, born in your portion, what shall I do? Manu himself has said to me, ‘Follow me.’” Hearing her, both Mitra and Varuṇa took Ida under their protection and said, “By this humility and self-restraint of yours, O knower of righteousness—” And so the story of the gods’ birth and the noble lineage of Manu unfolded, each event following the divine order, upholding truth, and establishing the foundations of creation.