Vayu Purana

कौरजं पञ्चशिखरं हेमकूटञ्च पर्वतम्। प्रचण्डवायुप्रभवैर्दीपितैः पझरागिभिः ॥ ८.

Kauraja, the five-peaked one, and Hemakūṭa mountain, blazing with fierce winds and inhabited by Pajharāgis.

शैलजालानि व्याप्तानि गारुडैस्तैर्महात्मभिः । भासीपुत्राः स्मृता भासा उलूका काककुक्कुटाः ॥ ८.

Those noble Garuḍas filled the ranges of mountains; their sons are known as Bhāsas, Ulūkas, Kāka-kukkuṭas.

मयूराः कलविङ्काश्च कपोता लावतित्तिराः। क्रौञ्ची वार्द्धीणसान् श्येनी कुररान्सारसान्बकान् ॥ ८.

Peacocks, Kalaviṅkas, pigeons, Lāva and Tittira birds; Krauñcī, Vārddhīnas, Śyenī, Kurarās, Sārasas, and Bakas.

इत्येवमादयोन्येऽपि क्रव्यादा ये च पक्षिणः। धृतराष्ट्री च हंसांश्च कलहंसांश्च भामिनी ॥ ८.

Thus, and others as well, the flesh-eating birds; Dhṛtarāṣṭrī, Hamsas, and Kalahaṃsas, O beautiful one.

चक्रवाकांश्च विहगान्सर्वांश्चैवादकान् द्विजान्। एतानेव विजज्ञेऽथ पुत्रपौत्रमनन्तकम् ॥ ८.

Chakravākas and all other birds, and all water-dwelling twice-born; these indeed were produced, with countless descendants of sons and grandsons.

गरुडस्यात्मजाः प्रोक्ता इरायाः श्रृणुत प्रजाः। इरा प्रजज्ञे कन्या वैतिस्रः कमललोचनाः ॥ ८.

These are said to be the sons of Garuḍa; now hear of the offspring of Irā. Irā gave birth to three daughters with lotus-like eyes.

वन स्पतीनां वृक्षाणां वीरुधाञ्चैव मातरः। लता चैवाथ वल्ली च वीरुधा चेति तास्तु वै ॥ ८.

They are the mothers of forest trees, trees, and herbs; and also creepers and vines, and likewise the herbs.

लता वनस्पतीञ्जज्ञे ह्यपुष्पान् पुलिनस्थितान् । युक्तान्पुष्पफलैर्वृक्षान् लता वै सम्प्रसूयते ॥ ८.

The creeper gave birth to forest trees, those without flowers, standing on riverbanks; and the creeper also produced trees bearing flowers and fruits.

अथ वल्ली तु गुल्मांश्च त्वक्सारास्तृणजातयः। वीरुधा तदपत्यानि वंशश्चात्र समाप्यते ॥ ८.

Then the vine gave rise to bushes, fibrous plants, and grasses; these are the offspring of the herbs, and thus the bamboo is included here.

एते कश्यपदायादा व्याख्याताः स्थाणुजङ्गमाः । तेषां पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च यैरिदं पूरितं जगत् ॥ ८.

Thus have the immobile and mobile descendants of Kaśyapa been described; their sons and grandsons have filled this world.

इति सर्गैकदेशस्य कीर्तितोऽवयवो मया। मारीचोऽयं प्रजा सर्गः समासेन प्रकीर्तितः। न शक्यं व्यासतो वक्तुमपि वर्षशतैर्द्विजाः ॥ ८.

Thus I have recounted a portion of this creation episode; this is the progeny of Marīci, briefly told. It cannot be fully described even in a hundred years, O twice-born.

अदितिर्धर्मशीला तु बलशीला दितिः स्मृता। तपःशीला तु सुरभि र्मायाशीला दनुः स्मृता ॥ ८.

Aditi is known for her righteous nature, Diti for her strength; Surabhi for her austerity, Danu for her magical power.

क्रूरशीला तथा कद्रुः क्रौञ्च्यथ श्रुतिशालिनी । इरा ग्रहणशीला तु दनायुर्भक्षणे रता ॥ ८.

Kadru is of cruel disposition, Krauñcī is learned in the Vedas; Irā is inclined to grasping, Danāyu delights in eating.

वाहशीला तु विनता ताम्रा वै पाशशालिनी। स्वभावा लोकमातॄणां शीलान्येतानि सर्वशः ॥ ८.

Vinata is devoted to bearing burdens, Tāmrā is skilled in binding; these are the natural dispositions of the mothers of the worlds.

धर्मतः शीलतो बुद्ध्या क्षमया बलरूपतः। रजः सत्त्वतमो वृत्ता धार्मिकाधार्मिकास्तु वै ॥ ८.

By righteousness, by conduct, by intellect, by forbearance, by strength and form; their natures are of passion, goodness, and darkness, both righteous and unrighteous.

मातृतुल्याश्चाबिजाताः कश्यपस्यात्मजाः प्रजाः। देवतासुरगन्धर्वा यक्षराक्षसपन्नगाः। पिशाचाः पशवश्चैव मृगाः पतङ्गवीरुधः ॥ ८.

The offspring of Kaśyapa, born from mothers of similar kind, are: gods, asuras, gandharvas, yakṣas, rākṣasas, serpents, piśācas, cattle, wild animals, birds, and plants.

यस्माद्दाक्षायणीष्वेते जज्ञिरे मानुषीष्विह। मन्वन्तरेषु सर्वेषु तस्माच्छ्रेष्ठास्तु मानुषाः ॥ ८.

Since all these, O Dākṣāyaṇī, were born among humans in every manvantara, therefore humans are the best.

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां मानुषाः साधकास्तु वै। ततोऽधः स्रोतसस्ते वै उत्पद्यन्ते सुरासुराः ॥ ८.

Humans are indeed the agents for dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa; below them, beings of lesser streams are born, such as gods and demons.

जायन्ते कार्यसिद्धयर्थं मानुषेषु पुनः पुनः। इत्येवं वंशप्रभवः प्रसङ्ख्यातस्तपस्विनाम् ॥ ८.

They are repeatedly born among humans for the fulfillment of actions; thus, the origin of lineages of ascetics is enumerated.

सुराणामसुराणाञ्च गन्धर्वाप्सरसां तथा। यक्षरक्षःपिशाचानां सुपर्णोरगपक्षिणाम् ॥ ८.

Of gods and demons, as well as gandharvas and apsarases, likewise yakṣas, rākṣasas, piśācas, suparṇas, nāgas, and birds.

व्यालानां शिखिनाञ्चैव ओषधीनाञ्च सर्वशः। कृमिकीटपतङ्गानां क्षुद्राणां जलजाश्च ये। पशूनां ब्राह्णानाञ्च श्रीमतां पुण्यलक्षणम् ॥ ८.

Of wild beasts, peacocks, and all plants; of worms, insects, and small creatures, those born in water; of animals, brāhmaṇas, and those marked by auspicious merit.

आयुष्यश्चैव धन्यश्च श्रीमान् हितसुखावहः। श्रोतव्यश्चैव सततं ग्राह्यश्चैवानुसूयता ॥ ८.

It is life-giving, prosperous, splendid, bringing benefit and happiness; it should always be heard and accepted without envy.

इमन्तु वंशं नियमेन यः पठेन्महात्मनां ब्राह्णवैद्यसंसदि । अपत्यलाभं हि लबेत्सुपुष्कलं श्रियं धनं प्रेत्य च शोभनां गतिम् ॥ ८.

Whoever recites this lineage of great souls regularly in an assembly of brāhmaṇas and physicians will indeed obtain abundant offspring, wealth, prosperity, and, after death, an excellent destination.

एवं प्रजासु सृष्टासु कश्यपे न महात्मना। प्रतिष्ठितासु सर्वासु स्थावरासु चरासु च ।। ९.

Thus, when all creatures, both immobile and mobile, had been created by the great-souled Kaśyapa and established everywhere—

अभिषिच्याधिपत्येषु तेषां मुख्यः प्रजापतिः। ततः क्रमेण राज्यानि व्यादेष्टुमुपचक्रमे ।। ९.

Having anointed the leaders among them as rulers, the chief Prajāpati then began to assign kingdoms in order.

द्विजातीनां वीरुधाञ्च नक्षत्राणां ग्रहैः सह। यज्ञानां तपसाञ्चैव सोमं राज्येऽभ्यषेचयत ।। ९.

He anointed Soma as king over the twice-born, plants, stars along with planets, sacrifices, and asceticism.

बृहस्पतिं तु विश्वेषां ददावङ्गिरसां पतिम्। भृगूणामधिपञ्चैव काव्यं राज्येऽभ्यषेचयत् ।। ९.

He gave Bṛhaspati as lord to all the descendants of Aṅgiras, and anointed Kāvyā as king over the Bhṛgus.

आदित्यानां पुनर्विष्णुं वसूनामथ पावकम् । प्रजापतीनां दक्षञ्च मरुतामथ वासवम् ।। ९.

He anointed Viṣṇu as king of the Ādityas, Pāvaka of the Vasus, Dakṣa of the Prajāpatis, and Vāsava of the Maruts.

दैत्यानामथ राजानं प्रह्लादं दितिनन्दनम्। नारायणं तु साध्यानां रुद्राणां वृषभध्वजम् ।। ९.

He made Prahlāda, son of Diti, king of the Daityas; Nārāyaṇa of the Sādhyas; and the bull-bannered Rudra of the Rudras.