Vayu Purana

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.

दक्षपुत्राश्च हर्यश्वा विवर्द्धयिषवः प्रजाः। समागता महावीर्या नारदस्तानुवाच ह ।। ४.

Daksha's sons, the Haryashvas, desiring to increase progeny and endowed with great strength, gathered together; Narada addressed them.

बालिशा बल यूयं वै न प्रजानीथ भूतलम्। अन्तमूर्द्ध्वमधश्चैव कथं स्रक्ष्यथ वै प्रजाः ।। ४.

You are young and inexperienced; you do not know the earth below, above, or in between—how then will you create offspring?

किं प्रमाणन्तु मेदिन्याः स्रष्टव्यानि तथैव च। अविज्ञायेह स्रष्टव्यमन्यथा किं नु स्रक्ष्यथ। अल्पं वापि बहुर्वापि तत्र दोषस्तु दृश्यते ।। ४.

What is the measure of the earth, and what should be created? Without knowing this, how will you create? Whether little or much, there is fault in that.

ते तु तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रयाताः सर्वतोदिशम्। वायुन्तु समनुप्राप्य गतास्ते वै पराभवम् ।। ४.

Hearing these words, they departed in all directions; reaching the path of Vayu, they met with destruction.

अद्यापि न निवर्त्तन्ते भ्रमन्तो वायुमिश्रिताः । एवं वायुपथं प्राप्य भ्रमन्ते ते महर्षयः ।। ४.

Even today, they do not return, wandering with the wind; thus, having entered the path of Vayu, those great sages roam.

स्वेषु पुत्रेषु नष्टेषु दक्षः प्राचेतसः पुनः। वैरिम्यामेव पुत्राणां सहस्रमसृजत् प्रभुः ।। ४.

With his sons lost, Daksha, son of Prachetas, again created a thousand sons from Vairini.

प्रजा विवर्द्धयिषवः शबलाश्वाः पुनस्तु ते। पूर्वमुक्तं वचस्तत्र श्राविता नारदेन ह ।। ४.

Desiring to increase progeny, those Shabalashvas again heard the words previously spoken by Narada.

तच्छ्रत्वा वचनं सर्वे कुमारास्ते महौजसः। अन्योऽन्यमूचुस्ते सर्वे सम्यगाह महानृषिः। भ्रातॄणां पदवी चैव गन्तव्या नात्र संशयः ।। ४.

Hearing those words, all those mighty youths said to each other, 'The great sage has spoken rightly; we must follow the path of our brothers—there is no doubt.'

ज्ञात्वा प्रमाणं पृत्व्याश्च सुखं स्रक्ष्यामहे प्रजाः। तेऽपि तेनैव मार्गेण प्रयाताः सर्वतोदिशम्। अद्यापि न निवर्त्तन्ते समुद्रेभ्य इवापगाः ।। ४.

Knowing the measure of the earth, we will happily create offspring; they too departed in all directions by that same path, and even today do not return, like rivers to the sea.

ततः प्रभृति वै भ्राता भ्रातुरन्वेषणे रतः। प्रयातो नश्यति तथा तन्न कार्यं विजानता ।। ४.

From that time, a brother, seeking his brother, perishes in the same way; one who knows this should not act thus.