Listen, O blessed ones, to the ancient lineage of beings, their powers, and the wondrous origins of the elephants. Among the cosmic families, the asuras, whose conduct is not unlike that of the gods, are remembered as such; yet even so, the gandharvas are three parts less powerful than the gods themselves. Below them, the Guhyakas are again three parts weaker than the gandharvas. The rākṣasas and yakṣas are equals in strength, while the piśācas are once more three qualities inferior to the yakṣas. This hierarchy is measured in wealth, beauty, lifespan, strength, virtue, sovereignty, intelligence, asceticism, learning, and prowess. The gods and asuras, though mighty, are each three parts less than the other in some way; and from the gandharvas down to the piśācas, these are counted as the four divine lineages. Now, hear of those whose nature is governed by anger. In the midst of wrath, a maiden was born, and from her own being sprang forth twelve daughters. These twelve became the wives of Pulaha, and their names are renowned: Mṛgī, Mṛgamandā, Haribhadra, Irāvatī, Bhūtā, Kapiśā, Damṣṭrā, Niśā, Tiryā, Śvetā, Svarā, and Surasā. From Mṛgī, the deer came forth, and from Mṛgamandā, other deer and hares, as well as the Nyaṅkavas, Śarabhas, Rurus, and Pṛṣatas. Mṛgamandā also gave birth to the king of beasts and the Gavayas, and from her came buffaloes, camels, boars, rhinoceroses, and those with the face of a gaur. From Haribhadra arose the Haris, Golāṅgulas, Tarakṣas, monkeys, Kinnaras, tigers, and Kimpuruṣas. Irāvatī too gave rise to wondrous beings, and among her children is a tale to be told. Bhauvana, gathering the two halves of the shell of the sun and holding them in his hands, sang the Rathantara Sāman. As he sang, an elephant was instantly born. This elephant, given to Irāvatī as a son, became known as Airāvata, for he was the son of Irāvatī. When yoked to the chariot of the king of the gods, Airāvata became the foremost lord of elephants, shining like a white cloud, glorious, and bearing four tusks. Another elephant of golden hue, born from the single root of Apsuja, with six tusks and noble stature, was Bhadra, yoked to the chariot, his strength called Bala. Bhadra’s sons were Añjana, Supratīka, Vāmana, and Padma; Padma was the fourth, and Hastinī and Ābhramū were also born in this line. Śvetā, another of the twelve, gave birth to four swift elephants of the quarters: Bhadra, Mṛga, Manda, and Saṅkīrṇa—her four sons. Saṅkīrṇa, who is also called Añjana, is yoked to Yama; Bhadra, who is Supratīka, is green and belongs to the lord of waters. Padma, also called Manda, is white and serves as the elephant of Ailavila. Mṛga, known as Śyāma, serves the fire gods. Padmottara, who is Padma, is the elephant of Varuṇa’s host. Upalepana, the ram, had eight sons, and in his lineage are born elephants of great vigor, with white young nails, tawny color, and large bodies. In this line, too, are Kapila, Puṇḍarīka, Sumanābha, and Rathāntara—mighty sons, well-established. There are also the Ākulikas: Śūlā, Sthūlā, Śirodānta, and those with pure white nails, strong and powerful. Puṣpadanta, Bṛhatsāmā, Ṣaḍdanta, Dantapuṣpavān, and Tāmravarṇa were sons adorned with tusks and accompanied by companions. Their descendants are known for thick lips, beautiful faces, dark skin, handsomeness, fierceness, and faces marked by various afflictions. From Sāmna came Vāmadeva, dark as collyrium, and then Vāmana. Vāmana’s wife was Āṅgadā, and their two sons bore marks of blue vines. Among them, Caṇḍa was notable for his pillar-like head and neck, broad chest, and swiftness. In their family, elephants are sometimes born deformed and are bound by men. Supratīka stands unmatched in form among elephants; his three sons are Prahārī, Sampātī, and Pṛthu-citti. In his lineage, noble elephants are born with long palates and lips, well-shaped heads and bellies, and a gentle nature. From Añjana came Añjanā, and from Sāmna was born Añjanāvatī. Their mother became renowned, and they had two sons by Ayuraja. In their line, elephants were born with greatly divided heads, glossy as thunderclouds, handsome and well-built, lotus-hued, rounded, tuskless, and with yellowish, elongated mouths. From Candramasa and Sāmna was born Piṅgalā, radiant as a lotus, whose two sons were Mahāpadma and Urmimālī. In their lineage, elephants were born with equal gifts, fierce and greatly powerful bellies, beloved in elephant combat. The gods took these noble elephants in their battle with the demons, seeking victory. Having achieved their purpose, those previously mentioned elephants were sent to the four directions. From their lineage, the gods gifted well-trained elephants to the kings Aṅga, Lomapāda, and Sūtrakāra. The elephant is known by many names: dvirada, for its two teeth; hastī, for its hand-like trunk; karī, for its trunk; varaṇa, for protection; dantī, for its tusks; and gaja, for its roaring. It is called kuñjara for its wandering, nāga for opposing mountains, mataṅga from the sage Mataṅga, dvipa for its twofold nature, and sāmaja for being born of Sāmna—thus are their names ordered. Their tongues turn back, as though by the curse of Agni; their lack of strength and the concealed organ among them are due to the curse of Svayambhū and the gods. Among the daughters of gods, demons, gandharvas, piśācas, serpents, and rākṣasas, elephants of various origins were born. Thus, the origin and manifestation, as well as the meaning of their names, should be understood regarding elephants, whose king is Vibhāvasu. The Kauśikas and others arose from the ocean, then from the Ganges; from Añjana’s single root, the eastern elephant forest came to be. North of the Vindhya, and south of the Ganges, from the emergence of the Ganges in Karūṣa, lies the forest of Supratīka—thus is the sacred lineage and dwelling of elephants revealed.