Vayu Purana

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.

अत्र वो वर्णयिष्यामि यथाप्रज्ञं यथाश्रुतम्। मन्वन्तरेषु जायन्ते पितरो देवसूनवः ।। १०.

Here I shall describe to you, according to my knowledge and what I have heard, that in the manvantaras the ancestors are born as the sons of the gods.

अतीतानागते ज्येष्ठाः कनिष्ठाः क्रमशस्तु ते। देवैः सार्द्धं पुरातीताः पितरो येऽन्तरेषु वै। वर्त्तन्ते साम्प्रतं ये तु तान्वै वक्ष्यामि निश्चयात् ।। १०.

Among those who have passed and those yet to come, there are elders and juniors in order; those ancestors who were with the gods in previous cycles, and those who exist now—I will certainly speak of them.

श्राद्धञ्चैषां मनुष्याणां श्राद्धमेव प्रवर्त्तते। देवानसृजन् ब्रह्मा नायक्षन्निति वै पुनः । तमुत्सृज्य तदात्मानमसृजंस्ते फलार्थिनः ।। १०.

The śrāddha for these ancestors is performed by humans; Brahmā created the gods, but they did not eat. Abandoning that, desiring fruit, they created themselves.

ते शप्ता ब्रह्मणा मूढा नष्टसंज्ञा भविष्यथ। न स्म किञ्चिद्विजानन्ति ततो लोके ह्यमुह्यत ।। १०.

Cursed by Brahmā, they became deluded and lost awareness; they did not know anything, and thus the world was bewildered.

ते भूयः प्रणताः सर्वे याचन्ति स्म पितामहम्। अनुग्रहाय लोकानां पुनस्तानब्रवीत्प्रभुः ।। १०.

Then all of them, bowing again, begged the Grandfather for favor, and the Lord spoke to them again for the sake of the worlds.

प्रायश्चित्तं चरध्वं वै व्यभिचारो हि यः कृतः । पुत्रान्स्वान्परिपृच्छध्वं ततो ज्ञानमवाप्स्यथ ।। १०.

Perform penance for the transgression you have committed; ask your own sons, and then you will obtain knowledge.

ततस्ते स्वान्सुतांश्चैव प्रायश्चित्तजिघृक्षवः। अपृच्छन् संयतात्मानो विधिवच्च मिथो मिथः ।। १०.

Desiring to atone, they approached their own sons with controlled minds, and questioned each other according to the proper method.

तेभ्यस्ते नियतात्मानः पुत्राः शंसुरनेकधा। प्रायश्चित्तानि धर्मज्ञा वाङ्मनः कर्म्मजानि तु ।। १०.

Those sons, with disciplined minds, told them in many ways about the penances—those born of speech, mind, and action—knowing righteousness.

ते पुत्रानब्रुवन्प्रीता लब्धसंज्ञा दिवौकसः। यूयं वै पितरोऽस्माकं ये वयं प्रतिबोधिताः। धर्मज्ञानञ्च कामश्च को वरो वः प्रदीयताम् ।। १०.

Those gods, regaining awareness, joyfully said to their sons: 'You are indeed our ancestors, for you have awakened us. What boon of knowledge of righteousness or desire shall be granted to you?'

पुनस्तानब्रवीद्ब्रह्मा यूयं वै सत्यवादिनः। तस्माद्यदुक्तं युष्माभिस्तत्तथा न तदन्यथा ।। १०.

Then Brahmā spoke to them again: 'You are speakers of truth; therefore, what you have said shall be so, and not otherwise.'