Vayu Purana

करोति नाम यद्वाचो वाचं क्रूरमुदाहृतम्। दक्षाभिशप्तः कुपितः कश्यपस्तेन सोऽभवत् ।। ४.

Because of the harsh words spoken, Kaśyapa, cursed by Dakṣa in anger, thus became so.

तस्माच्च कश्यपेनोक्तो ब्रह्मणा परमेष्ठिना। तस्माद्दक्षः कश्यपाय कन्यास्ताः प्रत्यपद्यत। सर्वाश्च ब्रह्मवादिन्यः सर्वास्ता लोकमातरः ।। ४.

Then, as instructed by Brahmā, the supreme lord, Dakṣa gave his daughters to Kaśyapa; all were learned in the Vedas and became mothers of the worlds.

इत्येतमृषिसर्गन्तु पुण्यं यो वेद वारुणम्। आयुष्मान् पुण्यवान् शुद्धः सुखमाप्नोत्यनुत्तमम्। धारणात् श्रवणाच्चैव सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ।। ४.

Whoever knows this sacred account of the Ṛṣis, called Vāruṇa, becomes long-lived, virtuous, and pure, and attains supreme happiness; by reciting and hearing it, one is freed from all sins.

अथाब्रुवन् पुनः सर्वे मुनयो रोमहर्षणम्। विनिवृत्ते प्रजासर्गे षष्ठे वै चाक्षुषस्य ह । निसर्गः सम्प्रवृत्तोऽयं मनोर्वैव स्वतस्य ह ।। ४.

Then all the sages again addressed Romaharṣaṇa: 'Now, after the sixth creation of beings, in the time of Cākṣuṣa, the spontaneous creation of Manu Vaivasvata has begun.'

प्रजाः सृजेति व्यादिष्टः स्वयं दक्षः स्वयम्भुवा। ससर्ज दक्षो भूतानि गतिमन्ति ध्रुवाणि च । उपस्थितेऽन्तरे ह्यस्मिन् मनोर्वैवस्वतस्य ह ।। ४.

Dakṣa, commanded by the self-born, himself created beings; Dakṣa produced creatures, both mobile and immobile, and when the interval of Manu Vaivasvata arrived.

ततः प्रवृत्तो दक्षस्तुप्रजाः स्रष्टुञ्चतुर्विधाः। जरायुजा अण्डजाश्च उद्भिज्जाः स्वेदजास्तथा ।। ४.

Then Daksha began to create beings of four kinds: those born from the womb, those born from eggs, those born from moisture, and those that sprout from the earth.

दशवर्ष सहस्राणि तप्त्वा घोरं महत्तपः। सम्भावितो योगबलैरणिमाद्यैर्विशेषतः ।। ४.

For ten thousand years he performed severe and intense austerities, being especially endowed with yogic powers such as animā and others.

आत्मानं व्यभजन् श्रीमान् मनुष्योरगराक्षसान्। देवासुरसगन्धर्वान् दिव्यसंहननप्रजान् । ईश्वरानात्मनस्तुल्यान् रूपद्रविणतेजसा ।। ४.

He, the illustrious one, divided himself to create humans, serpents, and rākṣasas, as well as gods, asuras, and gandharvas—beings of divine form—lords equal to himself in appearance, wealth, and brilliance.

तथैवान्यानि मुदितो गतिमन्ति ध्रुवाणि च। मानसान्येव भूतानि सिसृक्षुर्विविधाः प्रजाः ।। ४.

In the same way, joyfully desiring to create various beings, he produced other steadfast and mobile creatures, all born from his mind.

ऋषीन् देवान् सगन्धर्वान् मनुष्योरगराक्षसान्। यक्षभूतपिशाचांश्च वयःपशुमृगांस्तथा ।। ४.

He created seers, gods, gandharvas, humans, serpents, rākṣasas, yakṣas, spirits, piśācas, birds, cattle, and wild animals as well.

यदास्य मनसा सृष्टा न व्यवर्द्धन्त ताः प्रजाः। अपध्याता भगवता महादेवेन धीमता ।। ४.

But when those beings, created by his mind, did not multiply, they were reflected upon by the wise Lord Mahādeva.

मैथुनेन च भावेन सिसृक्षुर्विविधाः प्रजाः। असिक्रीं चावहत् पत्नीं वीरणस्य प्रजापतेः ।। ४.

Desiring to create various beings through the method of sexual union, he took Asiknī as the wife of Vīraṇa, the lord of creatures.

सुतां सुमहता युक्तां तपसा लोकधारिणीम्। यया धृतमिदं सर्वं जगत् स्थावरजङ्गमम् ।। ४.

She was a daughter, endowed with great austerity and supporting the worlds, by whom all this universe, both moving and unmoving, is sustained.

अत्राप्युदा हरन्तीमौ श्लोकौ प्राचेतसं प्रति। दक्षस्योद्वहतो भार्यामसिक्नीं वीरिणीं पराम् ।। ४.

Here too, two verses are recited concerning Prācetasa Daksha marrying Asiknī, the supreme daughter of Vīriṇa.

कूपानां नियुतं दक्षः सर्पिणां साभिमानिनाम्। नदीगिरिषु सर्ज्जंस्ताः पृष्ठतोऽनुययौ प्रभुः ।। ४.

Daksha, the lord, followed after the multitude of wells of serpents, proud and powerful, as they were released into rivers and mountains.

तं दृष्ट्वा ऋषिभिः प्रोक्तं प्रतिष्ठास्यति वै प्रजाः। प्रथमात्र द्वितीया तु दक्षस्येह प्रजापतेः ।। ४.

Seeing him, the sages declared: 'Here, the beings will be established; first here, then a second time by Daksha, the lord of creatures.'

तथागच्छद्यथाकालं कूपानां नियुते तु सः। असिक्नीं वैरिणीं यत्र दक्षः प्राचेतसोऽवहत् ।। ४.

Thus, in due course, he came to the multitude of wells, where Daksha, the son of Pracetas, married Asiknī, the daughter of Vīriṇa.

अथ पुत्रसहस्रं स वैरिण्याममितौजसा। असिवन्यां जनयामास दक्षः प्राचेतसः प्रभुः ।। ४.

Then Daksha, the son of Pracetas, the mighty lord, begot a thousand sons of great vigor with Vairiṇī, in the region of Asivān.

तांस्तु दृष्ट्वा महातेजाः स विवर्द्धयिषून् प्रजाः. देवर्षिः प्रियसंवादो नारदो ब्रह्मणः सुतः। नाशाय वचनं तेषां शापायैवात्मनोऽब्रवीत् ।। ४.

Seeing them, the great-souled sage Nārada, beloved of all and son of Brahmā, wishing to prevent their multiplication, spoke words to them that led to their destruction and brought a curse upon himself.

यः स वै प्रोच्यतेविप्रः कश्यपस्येति कृत्रिमः। दक्षशापभयाद्भीतो ब्रह्मार्षिस्तेन कर्मणा ।। ४.

He who is called the sage Kaśyapa is said to be so only by convention; out of fear of Daksha's curse, the Brahmarṣi assumed that role.

यः कश्यपसुतस्याथ परमेष्ठी व्यजायत। मानसः कश्यपस्येह दक्षशापभयात् पुनः ।। ४.

Then, from the mind of Parameṣṭhin (Brahmā), was born one as the son of Kaśyapa; here, out of fear of Daksha's curse, a mind-born son of Kaśyapa appeared again.

तस्मात् स कश्यपस्याथ द्वितीयं मानसोऽभवत्। स हि पूर्वसमुत्पन्नो नारदः परमेष्ठिनः ।। ४.

Therefore, he became the second mind-born son of Kaśyapa; for Nārada, born earlier from Parameṣṭhin, was so indeed.

येन दक्षस्य पुत्रास्ते हर्यश्वा इति विश्रुताः । निन्दार्थं नाशिताः सर्वे विनष्टाश्च न संशयः ।। ४.

By him, all the sons of Daksha, known as the Haryaśvas, were destroyed for the sake of censure; all perished, without a doubt.

तस्योद्यतस्तदा दक्षः क्रुद्धो नाशाय वै प्रभुः । ब्रह्मर्षीन् वै पुरस्कृत्य याचितः परमेष्ठिना ।। ४.

Then Daksha, enraged and intent on destruction, was restrained by the Lord, who, accompanied by the Brahmarshis, was entreated by Parameshthin.

ततोऽभिसन्धितं चक्रे दक्षस्तु परमेष्ठिना। कन्यायां नारदो मह्यं तव पुत्रो भवत्विति ।। ४.

Thereupon, at Parameshthin's request, Daksha resolved that Narada should become your son, born from his daughter.

ततो दक्षः सुतां प्रादात् प्रियां वै परमेष्ठिने । तस्मात् स नारदो जज्ञे भूयः शान्तो भयादृषिः ।। ४.

So Daksha gave his beloved daughter to Parameshthin; thus, Narada was born again, a sage calmed by fear.

तदुपश्रुत्य विप्रास्ते जातकौतूहलाः पुनः । अपृच्छन् वदतां श्रेष्ठं सूतं तत्त्वार्थदर्शिनम् ।। ४.

Hearing this, the Brahmins, filled with renewed curiosity, questioned the wise Suta, knower of truth, who was foremost among speakers.

कथं विनाशिताः पुत्रा नारदेन महात्मना। प्रजापतिसुतास्ते वै प्रजाः प्राचेतसात्मजाः ।। ४.

How were the sons of Prajapati, the Pracetas' descendants, destroyed by the great-souled Narada?

स तथ्यं वचनं श्रुत्वा जिज्ञासासम्भवं शुभम् । प्रोवाच मधुरं वाक्यं तेषां सर्वगुणान्वितम् ।। ४.

Hearing their truthful and auspicious inquiry, he spoke to them sweet words, endowed with every virtue.