Vayu Purana

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.

विप्रचित्तिञ्च राजानं दानवानामथादिशत्। अपां तु वरुणं राज्ये राज्ञां वैश्रवणं पतिम्। यक्षाणां राक्षसानाञ्च पार्थिवानां धनस्य च ।। ९.

He appointed Vipracitti as king of the Dānavas; Varuṇa as king of the waters; Vaiśravaṇa as lord of kings, yakṣas, rākṣasas, earthly rulers, and wealth.

वैवस्वतं पितॄणाञ्च यमं राज्येऽभ्यषेचयत्। सर्वभूतपिशाचानां गिरिशं शूलपाणिनम् ।। ९.

He anointed Vaivasvata Yama as king of the Pitṛs; and Girisha, wielder of the trident, as lord of all beings and piśācas.

शैलानां हिमवन्तञ्च नदीनामथ सागरम्। गन्धर्वाणामधिपतिं चक्रे चित्ररथं तदा ।। ९.

He made Himavat king of the mountains, and the ocean of the rivers; and appointed Citraratha as lord of the gandharvas.

उच्चैःश्रवसमश्वानां राजानञ्चाभ्यषेचयत्। मृगाणामथ शार्दूलं गोवृषञ्च चतुष्पदाम् ।। ९.

He anointed Uccaiḥśravas as king of horses; the tiger as king of beasts; and the bull as king of quadrupeds.

पक्षिणामथ सर्वेषां गरुडं पततां वरम्। गन्धानां मातुलञ्चैव भूतानामशरीरिणाम् ।। ९.

He made Garuḍa, the foremost of flyers, king of all birds; Mātula as lord of fragrances; and among beings without bodies.

शब्दाकाशबलानाञ्च वायुं बलवतां वरम्। सर्वेषां दंष्ट्रिणां शेषं नागानामथ वासुकिम् ।। ९.

He made Vāyu, the best among the strong, lord of those whose force is sound and space; Śeṣa as king of all those with fangs, and Vāsuki of the nāgas.

सरीसृपाणां सर्पाणां नागानाञ्चैव तक्षकम्। सागराणां नदीनाञ्च मेघानां वर्षितस्य च। आदित्यानामन्यतमं पर्जन्यमभिषिक्तवान् ।। ९.

Of the reptiles, serpents, and nāgas, Takṣaka; of the oceans, rivers, clouds, and rainfall; among the suns, Parjanya was anointed.

सर्वाप्सरोगणानाञ्च कामदेवं तथैव च। ऋतूनामथ मासानामार्त्तवानां तथैव च ।। ९.

Of all the hosts of apsarases, and likewise of Kāma; then of the seasons and months, and also of the periods.

पक्षाणाञ्च विपक्षाणां मुहूर्त्तानाञ्च पर्वणाम्। कलाकाष्ठाप्रमाणानां गते रयनयोस्तथा। गणितस्याथ योगस्य चक्रे संवत्सरं प्रभुम् ।। ९.

Of fortnights and their opposites, of moments and festivals, of measures of time and rays, and likewise of calculation and yoga, he made the year as their lord.

प्रजापतिर्वै रजसः पूर्वस्यान्दिशि विश्रुतम्। पुत्रं नाम्ना सुधामानं राजानं सोऽभ्यषेचयत् ।। ९.

Prajāpati, in the eastern direction of the atmosphere, anointed his son named Sudhāmā, renowned as king.