By the power of the three guṇas—rajas, sattva, and tamas—beings take on various forms according to their inherent nature, and their children follow the qualities and tendencies of their mothers. After this was explained, the blessed one summoned the peerless Khaśāma and, with gentle words, reassured Soma, making him fearless. Then, Khaśā recounted to her offspring all that had transpired, describing the actions of each as she had observed them. She explained the deeds of both, interpreting their natures according to the meaning of their names. The seer of truth revealed that “Yakṣa” is derived from the root meaning “to eat” and “to make thin,” and thus he was named Yakṣa. “Rakṣa” comes from the root meaning “to protect,” for he had said, “Protect my mother, Khaśā,” and so his son became known as Rākṣasa. Witnessing these arrangements and searching deeply, the lord of creatures, their father, provided them with food. Seeing them afflicted by hunger, he granted them a boon: “You two may partake of food only at night, and wholly so.” Thus, they lived by eating and roaming in the night, sleeping during the day, and their strength grew greater in the darkness. He instructed them, “Protect your mother and walk the path of righteousness.” With these words, Kaśyapa vanished from their presence. But once their father had departed, the two, fierce by nature, acted in opposition to his instructions. They began to eat flesh and harm living beings. Mighty in strength, spirit, and body, difficult to approach, and skilled in magic, they became hidden from sight, revealing themselves only when they wished. Fierce and able to take any form, their minds naturally distorted, they thrived on food suited to their terrifying forms. Gods, divine sages, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, Piśācas, humans, serpents, birds, and animals—all became objects of desire for these two night-roamers, who sought food everywhere. However, Indra, king of the gods, granted them a boon that restrained their power and made them easily slain. The Yakṣa, however, never wandered alone at night for long. Seeking food, he moved about with much noise. On one such night, he encountered two dreadful piśācas—beings with tawny eyes, hair standing on end, round-eyed and exceedingly terrifying. They feasted on blood, flesh, and fat, and were man-eaters of great strength. With them were two maidens, eager to please their companions. These two maidens, virtuous and able to assume any form, wandered with the piśācas in search of food. There, they came upon a rakṣasa, mighty and able to change form at will. Suddenly, as they approached, they all saw each other. Desiring to seize and protect themselves, the two piśāca fathers commanded the maidens, “Quickly, bring him here!” The maidens subdued the rakṣasa alive, though he struggled at every step. Taking him by both hands, they brought him before their fathers. Holding the rakṣasa-piśāca in their hands, the maidens asked, “Who are you? Whose are you?” And he told them everything about himself. Having learned of his deeds, the two foremost rakṣasas, pleased with him, gave him their sons, Aja and Khanda. The two maidens, likewise pleased, gave him their own sons. Through a piśāca marriage, Buddhavāhana received Sudati, and Aja and Khanda received wealth from them at that time. Khanda declared, “This is my daughter Alomikā, called Brahmadhana, who lives on the wealth of brahma-beings.” The other said, “This is my daughter, called Jantudhana, beautiful in all her limbs; her sustenance is the wealth of creatures.” Thus, they revealed the sources of their wealth. Jantudhana, the maiden with hair on all her limbs, and Brahmadhana, who is earless and hairless, were thus named. Brahmadhana bore a daughter, as did Dhanana, and from these two piśāca maidens came two couples. Now hear of their offspring. Their sons were Heti, Praheti, Ugra, Paurusheya, Vadha, Visphurji, Vata, Apo, Vyaghra, and Sarpa—ten in all, born of the yātudhāna rakṣasas. These became attendants of the sun and journeyed with him. Heti’s son was Lankhu, who had two sons. Malyavan and Sumali were the sons of Praheti. Praheti’s son was the illustrious Puloma. Vadha’s son was Nikumbha, a fierce brahmarākṣasa; Vata’s son was Virāga; Apo’s son was Jambuka. The tiger’s son, Nirānanda, became a bringer of obstacles to living beings—all these were fierce rākṣasas. Thus have the yātudhānas been described. Now hear of the Brahmadhānas: their father is Yajña, their well-being is Dhuni, Brahmā is sinful, and Yajñahā is the slayer of sacrifice. Svākoṭaka, Kali, Sarpa, and the ten sons of Brahmadhāna were born; their sisters, called Brahmarākṣasīs, were exceedingly terrible. Among them were Raktakarṇā, Mahājihvā, Akṣayā, and Upahāriṇī. Brahmarākṣasas were born on earth in their line. Most of these made their abode in the Śleṣmātaka trees. Thus have the rākṣasas been described. Now, hear also of the Yakṣa. A Yakṣa desired the Apsaras named Kratusthalī, who was of fivefold fullness. Longing for her and pondering, he wandered in the Nandana grove. There he saw Vaibhrāja, Surabhi, and also Citraratha, all seated together with the Apsarases. Seeking a way to obtain her, he found none; and thus, troubled by his own form and his actions, he was left defiled in both body and deed.