Vayu Purana

हस्त्योष्ठं दीर्घजङ्घञ्च अश्वदंष्ठ्रं महाहनुम्। रक्तजिह्वं जटाक्षञ्च स्थूलास्यं दीर्घनासिकम् ॥ ८.

With lips like an elephant, long thighs, fangs like a horse, a great jaw, a red tongue, matted eyes, a broad mouth, and a long nose.

गुह्यकं शितिकर्णञ्च महानन्दं महामुखम्। एवंविधं खशापुत्रं विजज्ञे साऽतिभीषणम् ॥ ८.

He was a guhyaka, with sharp ears, exceedingly joyful, with a huge mouth; thus was born to Khasha a son of such terrifying form.

तस्यानुजं द्वितीयन्तु खशा चैव व्यजायत। त्रिशीर्षञ्च त्रिपादञ्च त्रिहस्तं कृष्णलोचनम् ॥ ८.

Khasha then gave birth to a second son, his younger brother, who had three heads, three legs, three arms, and dark eyes.

ऊर्द्ध्वकेशं हरिच्छ्मश्रुं शिलासंहननं दृढम् । ह्रस्व कायं सुबाहुञ्च महाकायं महाबलम् ॥ ८.

With hair standing upright, tawny beard, a jaw as hard as stone, a short body, strong arms, a huge frame, and great strength.

आकर्णदारितास्यञ्च लम्बभ्रूं स्थूलनासिकम्। स्थूलोष्ठमष्टदंष्ट्रञ्च द्विजिह्वं शङ्कुकर्णकम् ॥ ८.

With a mouth torn up to the ears, drooping brows, a broad nose, thick lips, eight fangs, two tongues, and ears shaped like conch shells.

पिङ्गलोद्वृत्तनयनं जटिलं पिङ्गलं तथा। महाकर्णं महोरस्कं कटिहीनं कृशोदरम्। नखिनं लोहितग्रीवं सा कनिष्ठं प्रसूयते ॥ ८.

With tawny, protruding eyes, matted and tawny hair, great ears, a broad chest, lacking hips, a thin belly, clawed hands, and a red neck—such was the youngest son she bore.

सद्यः प्रसूयमात्रौ तु विवृद्धौ च प्रमाणतः। उपभोगसमर्थाभ्यां शरीराभ्यामुपस्थितौ। सद्योजातविवृद्धाङ्गौ मातरं पर्यभूष्यताम् ॥ ८.

As soon as they were born, they grew to full size, and with bodies fit for enjoyment, they stood ready; their limbs matured instantly, and they surrounded their mother.

ज्यायांस्तयोस्तु यः क्रूरो मातरं सोऽभ्यकर्षत। अब्रवीन्मातरायाहि भक्षार्थे क्षुधयार्द्दितः ॥ ८.

Of the two, the elder, who was fierce, seized his mother, saying, 'Come, mother, I am tormented by hunger and wish to eat.'

न्यषेधयत् पुनर्ह्येनं ज्यायांसन्तु कनिष्ठकः। अब्रवीत् सोऽसकृत्तं वै रक्षेमां मातरं खशाम्। बाहुभ्यां परिगृह्यैनं मातरं तां व्यमोचयत् ॥ ८.

But the younger restrained the elder again and again, saying, 'Let us protect our mother Khasha.' Embracing him with his arms, he freed their mother.

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु प्रादुर्भूतस्तयोः पिता । तौ दृष्ट्वा विकृताकारौ वसतां हीत्यभाषत ॥ ८.

At that very moment, their father appeared; seeing his sons of monstrous form, he said, 'Leave this place.'

तौ तु तं पितरं दृष्ट्वा बलवन्तौ त्वरान्वितौ । मातुरेव पुनस्वाङ्के प्रलपेतां स्वमायया ॥ ८.

But seeing their father, both sons, strong and swift, again clung to their mother’s lap, wailing by their own power.

अथोऽब्रवीदृषिर्भार्यामावाभ्यामुक्तवत्यसि । पूर्वमाचक्ष्व तत्त्वेन तथैवाभ्यां व्यतिक्रमम् ॥ ८.

Then the sage said to his wife, 'You have spoken with us before; now tell us truly, as before, about this transgression.'

मातुलं भजते पुत्रः पितॄन् भजति कन्यका। यथाशीला भवेन्माता तथाशीलो भवेत् सुतः ॥ ८.

A son follows his maternal uncle, a daughter follows her father; as is the mother’s character, so is the character of the son.

यद्वर्णा तु भवेद्भूमिस्तद्वर्णं सलिलं ध्रुवम्। मातॄणां शीलदोषेण तथा शीलगुणैः पुनः। विभिन्नास्तु प्रजाः सर्वास्तथा ख्यातिवशेन च ॥ ८.

Whatever color the earth has, the water surely has the same; due to the faults or virtues of mothers’ character, all creatures are thus distinguished, and also by reputation.

बलशीलादिभिस्तासामदितिर्धर्मतत्परा। धर्मशीलादिभिश्चैव प्रबोधबलशालिनी ॥ ८.

Of these, Aditi is devoted to righteousness, endowed with strength, character, and the like; by righteousness, character, and other virtues, she is full of wisdom and strength.

(गन्धशीला दितिश्चैव प्रवार्ध्ययनशालिनी।) गीतशीला तथाऽरिष्टा मायाशीला दनुः स्मृता। विनता तु पुनर्द्देवी वैहायसगतिप्रिया ॥ ८.

Gandhaśīlā, Diti, and Pravārdhyayana are known for their particular natures; Gītaśīlā and Ariṣṭā, Māyāśīlā is remembered as Danu; Vinatā, again, is a goddess who delights in moving through the sky.

तपोमयेन शीलेन सुरभिः समलंकृता। क्रोधशीला तथा कद्रूः क्रोधेनासुखशीलका ॥ ८.

Surabhi is adorned with a nature full of austerity; Kadrū is of an angry disposition, and her nature is marked by unhappiness through anger.

दनायुषायाः शीलं वै वैरनुग्रह लक्षणम्। त्वञ्च देवि महाभागे क्रोधशीला मतासि मे ॥ ८.

The nature of Danu’s offspring is characterized by favoring enmity; and you, O blessed goddess, are considered by me to be of an angry disposition.

इत्येतानि सशीलानि स्वभावाल्लोकनान्नृणाम्। कर्मतो यत्नतो बुद्ध्या रूपतो बलतस्तथा। क्षमातश्चैव भिन्नानि भावितार्थबलेन च ॥ ८.

Thus, these natures arise from inherent qualities, observation of people, actions, effort, intellect, appearance, strength, patience, and also from the force of intention.

रजःसत्त्वतमोवृत्तेर्विश्वरूपाः स्वभावतः। मातुलन्त्वनुयातास्ते पुत्रका गुणवृत्तिभिः ॥ ८.

By the influence of rajas, sattva, and tamas, they take on various forms by nature; and their sons follow their maternal line, according to the qualities and tendencies.

इत्येवमुक्त्वा भगवान् खशामप्रतिमां तदा। पुत्रावाहूय साम्ना वै चक्रे सोममभीतयः ॥ ८.

Having thus spoken, the blessed one then summoned the incomparable Khaśāma, and, with gentle words, made Soma fearless.

ताभ्याञ्च यत् कृतं तस्यास्तदाचष्ट तदा खशा। मात्रा यथा समाख्यातं कर्म ताभ्यां पृथक् पृथक्। तेन धात्वर्थयोगेन तत्त्वदर्शी चकार ह ॥ ८.

And whatever was done by those two, Khaśā then described; the actions performed by each, as told by their mother, were explained separately; thus, the seer of truth interpreted it according to the meaning of the roots.

यक्ष इत्येष धातुर्वै खादने कृषणे च सः। यक्षयेत्युक्तवान् यस्मात् तस्माद्यक्षो भवत्ययम् ॥ ८.

Yakṣa is the root for eating and thinning; since he said 'yakṣa,' therefore he is called Yakṣa.

रक्ष इत्येष धातुर्यः पालने स विभाव्यते। उक्तवांश्चैव यस्मात्तु रक्ष मे मातरं खशाम्। नाम्नाऽयं राक्षसस्तस्मात् भविष्यति तवात्मजः ॥ ८.

Rakṣa is the root for protecting, and is understood as such; and since he said, 'Protect my mother, Khaśā,' by that name, your son will be called Rākṣasa.

स तदा तद्विधान् दृष्ट्वा विस्मितः परिमृग्य च। तयोः प्रादिशदाहारं प्रजापतिरसृग्वसे ॥ ८.

Then, seeing that arrangement and searching carefully, the lord of creatures gave them food.

पिता तौ क्षुधितौ दृष्ट्वा वरञ्चेमं तयोर्ददौ। युवयोर्हस्तसंस्पर्शो नक्तमेन तु सर्वशः ॥ ८.

Their father, seeing them hungry, granted this boon: that you two may touch food only at night, and entirely so.

नक्ताहारविहारौ च दिवा स्वप्नोपभोगिनौ। नक्तञ्चैव बलीयांसौ दिवा सुप्तावुभौ युवाम् ॥ ८.

Living by eating and roaming at night, and enjoying sleep during the day, both of you will be stronger at night and sleep during the day.

मातरं रक्षतञ्चैव धर्मश्चैवानुशिष्यताम्। इत्युक्त्वा कश्यपः पुत्रौ तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ॥ ८.

Protect your mother, and follow righteousness; having thus instructed his sons, Kaśyapa vanished from there.

गते पितरि तौ वीरौ निसर्गादेव दारुणौ। विपर्ययेण वर्त्तन्तौ किम्भक्षौ प्राणिहिंसकौ ॥ ८.

When their father departed, those two heroes, by nature fierce, acted in opposition, eating flesh and harming living beings.