Vayu Purana

तस्य गोत्रान्वये जाताश्चत्वारः प्रथिता भुवि। श्यामाश्च मुद्गलाश्चैव बलारकगविष्ठिराः। एते नृणान्तु चत्वारः स्मृताः पक्षा महौजसाम् ।। ९.

In his lineage were born four who became renowned on earth: the Shyamas, Mudgalas, Balarakas, and Gavishthiras; these four are remembered as the mighty branches among men.

कश्यपान्नारदश्चैव पर्वतोऽरुन्धती तथा। जज्ञिरे च त्वरुन्धत्यास्तान्निबोधत सत्तमाः ।। ९.

From Kashyapa, Narada, Parvata, and Arundhati were born; now, O best of the good, listen to those born from Arundhati.

नारदस्तु वसिष्ठायारुन्धतीं प्रत्यपादयत्। ऊर्द्ध्वरेता महातेजा वृक्षशापात्तु नारदः ।। ९.

Narada gave Arundhati to Vasishtha; Narada, of great energy and with upward-flowing seed, became so due to the curse of a tree.

पुरा देवासुरे तस्मिन्संग्राम तारकामये। अनावृष्ट्या हते लोके व्यग्रे शक्रे सुरैः सह। वसिष्ठस्तपसा धीमान्धारयामास वै प्रजाः ।। ९.

Long ago, in the battle between gods and demons known as Tarakamaya, when the world was struck by drought and Indra was preoccupied with the gods, Vasishtha, wise and steadfast, sustained the creatures through his austerity.

अत्रौषधं मूलफलमोषधीश्च प्रवर्त्तयन् । तास्तेन जीवयामास कारुण्यादोषधेन तु ।। ९.

He caused herbs, roots, fruits, and medicinal plants to grow; by his compassion, he revived them with those medicines.

अरुन्धत्यां वसिष्ठस्तु शक्तिमुत्पादयद्द्विजाः। सागरञ्जनयच्छक्तेरदृश्यन्ती पराशरम् ।। ९.

Vasishtha begot Shakti upon Arundhati, O twice-born; Shakti begot Parashara upon Sagarānjanayā.

काली पराशराज्जज्ञे कृष्णद्वैपायनं प्रभुम्। द्वैपायनादरण्यां वै शुको जज्ञे गुणान्वितः ।। ९.

From Kali and Parashara was born Krishna Dvaipayana, the lord; from Dvaipayana and Arani was born Shuka, endowed with virtues.

उत्पद्यन्ते च पीवर्यां षडिमे शुकसूनवः। भूरिश्रवाः प्रभुः शम्भुः कृष्णो गौरश्च पञ्चमः ।। ९.

And in Pivari, six sons of Shuka are born: Bhurishrava, Prabhu, Shambhu, Krishna, and Gaura as the fifth.

कन्या कीर्तिमती चैव योगमाता दृढव्रता। जननी ब्रह्मदत्तस्य पत्नी सत्त्वगुहस्य च ।। ९.

There is also a daughter, Kirtimati, renowned as the mother of yoga and steadfast in vows; she is the mother of Brahmadatta and the wife of Sattvaguha.

श्वेताः कृष्णाश्च गौराश्च श्यामा धूम्राः समूलिकाः। ऊष्मपा दारकाश्चैव नीलाश्चैव पराशराः। पराशराणामष्टौ ते पक्षाः प्रोक्ता महात्मनाम् ।। ९.

The Shvetas, Krishnas, Gauras, Shyamas, Dhumras, Samulikas, Ushmapas, and Darakas, as well as the Nilas and Parasharas—these eight branches of the Parasharas are declared among the great souls.

अत ऊर्द्ध्वं निबोधध्वमिन्द्रप्रतिमसम्भवम्। वसिष्ठस्य कपिञ्जल्यां घृताच्यां समपद्यत। कुशीतियः समाख्यात इन्द्रप्रतिम उच्यते ।। ९.

Now listen further regarding the birth equal to Indra: In Vasishta, from Kapinjala and Ghritachi, was born Kushitiya, who is called Indra-like.

पृथोः सुतायाः सम्भूतः पुत्रस्तस्या भवद्वसुः। उपमन्युः सुतस्तस्य यस्येमे उपमन्यवः ।। ९.

From the daughter of Prithu was born a son, Vasus; his son was Upamanyu, from whom these Upamanyus descend.

मित्रावरुणयोश्चैव कुण्डिनो ये परिश्रुताः। एकार्षेयास्तथैवान्ये वसिष्ठा नाम विश्रुताः। एते पक्षा वसिष्ठानां स्मृता एकादशेव तु ।। ९.

Among Mitra and Varuna, those known as Kundinas, and others called Ekarsheyas, as well as the renowned Vasishtas—these are the branches of the Vasishtas, remembered as eleven in number.

इत्येते ब्रह्मणः पुत्रा मानसा ह्यष्ट विश्रुताः। भ्रातरः सुमहाभागा तेषां वंशाः प्रतिष्ठिताः ।। ९.

Thus, these eight mind-born sons of Brahma are famed; brothers of great fortune, whose lineages are established.

त्रींल्लोकान्धारयन्तीमान्देवर्षिगणसङ्कुलान् । तेषां पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। यैर्व्याप्ता पृथिवी सर्वा सूर्य्यस्येव गभस्तिभिः ।। ९.

These sustain the three worlds, filled with hosts of divine sages; their sons and grandsons number in the hundreds and thousands, by whom the entire earth is pervaded, like the rays of the sun.

एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य सुतस्य विदितात्मनः। उत्तरं परिपप्रच्छुः सूतपुत्रं द्विजातयः ।। १०.

Having heard these words of the wise son, the twice-born questioned the charioteer's son further.

कथं द्वितीयमुत्पन्ना भवानी प्राक्सती तु या। आसीद्दाक्षायणी पूर्वमुमा कथम जायत ।। १०.

How did Bhavani arise a second time, and who was she before? Formerly she was Dakshayani; how did Uma come to be born?

मेनायां पितृकन्यायां जनयामास शैलरुट्। केचैते पितरश्चैव येषां मेना तु मानसी ।। १०.

From Menā, the daughter of the ancestors, the mountain lord begot offspring; who are these ancestors, of whom Menā is the mind-born daughter?

मैनाकश्चैव दौहित्रो दौहित्री च तथा ह्युमा। एकपर्णा तथा चैव तथा या चैकपाटला ।। १०.

Mainaka is the grandson, and likewise Uma is the granddaughter; also Ekaparna, and similarly Ekapatala.

गङ्गा चैव सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा सर्वासां पूर्वजा तथा। पूर्वमेव मयोद्दिष्टं श्रृणुध्वं मम सर्वशः ।। १०.

And Ganga, the foremost of rivers, is the eldest of them all; this has already been explained by me, listen to it all from me.

अनेके पितरश्चैव वर्त्तन्ते व्क च वा पुनः। श्रोतुमिच्छामि भद्रन्ते श्राद्धस्य च परं विधिम् ।। १०.

There are many ancestors, and again others as well; I wish to hear from you, O blessed one, the supreme rite of Shraddha.

पुत्राश्च ते स्मृताः केषां कथञ्च पितरस्तु ते । पितरः कथमुत्पन्नाः कस्य पुत्राः किमात्मकाः ।। १०.

Whose sons are remembered, and how are their ancestors? How were the ancestors born, whose sons are they, and of what nature?

स्वर्गे तु पितरोऽन्ये ये देवानामपि देवताः। एवं वै श्रोतुमिच्छामि पितॄणां सर्गमुत्तमम्। यथावद्दत्तमस्माभिः श्राद्धं प्रीणाति वै पितॄन् ।। १०.

In heaven, some ancestors are even deities among the gods; thus I wish to hear the supreme origin of the ancestors, and how the Shraddha we offer properly pleases them.

यदर्थं तेन दृश्यन्ते तत्र किं कारणं स्मृतम्। स्वर्गे हि के तु वर्त्तन्ते पितरो नरके तु के ।। १०.

For what purpose are they seen there, and what cause is remembered? Which ancestors dwell in heaven, and which in hell?

अभिसन्धाय पितरं पितुश्च पितरं तथा। पितुः पितामहञ्चैव त्रिषु पिण्डेषु नामतः ।। १०.

Having in mind the father, the father's father, and the grandfather, offerings are made in three portions, each by name.

कानि श्राद्धानि देयानि कथं गच्छन्ति वै पितॄन् । कथञ्च शक्तास्ते दातुं नरकस्थाः फलं पुनः ।। १०.

Which śrāddha offerings should be given, and how do they reach the ancestors? And how can those who are in hell be able to receive the fruit again?

के चेह पितरो नाम कान् यजामो वयं पुनः । देवा अपि पुतॄन् स्वर्गे यजन्तीति हि नः श्रुतम् ।। १०.

Who indeed are called ancestors here, and whom should we worship again? We have heard that even the gods worship their sons in heaven.

एतदिच्छामि वै श्रोतुं विस्तरेण बहुश्रुत। स्पष्टाभिधानमर्थं वै तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति ।। १०.

I wish to hear this in detail, O learned one; you are worthy to speak clearly on this matter.

ऋषीणान्तु वचः श्रुत्वा सूतस्तत्त्वार्थदर्शिवान्। आचचक्षे यथाप्रश्रं ऋषीणां मानसं ततः ।। १०.

Having heard the words of the sages, the Sūta, who understood the true meaning, recounted as asked, the thoughts of the sages.