When Prahlada’s authority at last waned, he was untouched by either virtue or sin. Through deep meditation upon the Blessed Lord, he attained the highest liberation, freed from all bonds. Such was the power and wisdom of that daitya, O Maitreya—Prahlada, the one you inquire about, whose unwavering devotion to the Lord was renowned. Whoever hears of the deeds of that great-souled Prahlada finds their sins instantly destroyed. Indeed, any wrong committed—whether by day or night—is washed away simply by listening to or reciting his story; there can be no doubt of this, O Maitreya. Reciting Prahlada’s tale on the full moon, new moon, or on the eighth or twelfth day of the lunar fortnight bestows the merit of gifting a cow, O twice-born sage. Just as Hari protected Prahlada in every calamity, so too does he protect all who faithfully hear this story. Prahlada’s lineage continued with his sons Śibi, Vāṣkala, and others of long life. Virocana, also descended from Prahlada, was born, and from Virocana came Bali. Bali himself had a hundred sons, with Bāṇa as the eldest; all these sons of Hiraṇyākṣa were exceedingly powerful. Among them were Jharjhara, Śakuni, Bhūtasantāpana, Mahānābha, Mahābāhu, and another named Kālanābha. There were also Anupu, Dvimūrdhā, Śambara, Ayomukha, Śaṃkuśirā, Kapila, and Śaṃkara. Ekacakra of mighty arms, the powerful Tāraka, Svarbhānu, Vṛṣaparvan, and Puloma—all of great strength—were also born. These are the famed sons of Danu, along with the valiant Vipracitti. Svarbhānu had daughters: Prabhā, Śarmiṣṭhā, and Vārṣaparvaṇī; Upadānī and Hayaśirā were also celebrated maidens. Pulomā and Kālakā, daughters of Vaiśvānara, became the wives of Marīci. From them were born sixty thousand excellent Dānavas, known as the Paulomas and Kālakeyas, sons of Marīci. Others of great might, fierce and merciless, were born from Siṃhikā and as sons of Vipracitti—such as Tryaṃśa, the powerful Śalya, mighty Nabhā, Vātāpi, Namuci, Ilvala, and Khasṛma. There were also Āndhaka, Naraka, Kālanābha, the valorous Svarbhānu, and Vaktrayodhin, the great Asura. These are the foremost Dānavas, who strengthened the Danu lineage; their descendants number in the hundreds and thousands. From Prahlada himself, through great austerity and self-control, were born the Nivātakavacas in his line. Six daughters of Tāmrā, endowed with great strength, were named: Śukī, Śyenī, Bhāsī, Sugrīvī, Śucī, and Gṛddhrakā. Śukī gave birth to parrots, owls, and birds of the night; Śyenī to hawks; Bhāsī to herons and vultures; and Gṛddhrī to vultures as well. Śucī produced aquatic birds, while Sugrīvī gave rise to various other birds. From Tāmrā’s line also came horses, camels, and donkeys. Vinatā bore two sons: Garuḍa and Aruṇa, both abstaining from evil—Suparṇa, the foremost of flyers, and Dāruṇa, the devourer of serpents. Surasā gave birth to a thousand mighty serpents, many-headed and of great soul, celestial beings of immense energy. Kadrū too bore a thousand powerful serpents, subject to Suparṇa, possessing many heads. Among them the chief were Śeṣa, Vāsuki, Takṣaka, Śaṅkha, Śveta, Mahāpadma, Kambala, and Aśvatara, as well as Elāputra, Karkoṭa, and Dhanañjaya, and many other fierce, venomous serpents. All these fierce, flesh-eating beings—born on land, in water, and in the air—are the children of Krodhavaśā. From Krodhā came mighty Piśācas; Surabhi gave birth to cows and buffaloes; Irā to trees, creepers, vines, and all kinds of grass. Svasā produced Yakṣas and Rākṣasas; Muni gave birth to Apsarases; and Ariṣṭā, of great strength, produced the Gandharvas. Thus, both stationary and moving beings, numbering in the hundreds and thousands, are all descendants of Kaśyapa. This, O Brāhmaṇa, is the creation known as the Svārociṣa Manvantara. In the great Vaivasvata and Vāruṇa Manvantaras, and in the Kṛta age, the creation of beings by the Brahmā named Juhvāna is also described here. In ancient times, the Grandfather himself appointed the seven sages as his sons, for the protection of the Gandharvas, serpents, gods, and Dānavas, O best of beings. Now, Diti, having lost her sons, sought to please Kaśyapa. She worshipped him with great devotion, O best of ascetics. Pleased, Kaśyapa offered her a boon, and she chose to have a son—one powerful and mighty, capable of slaying Indra. The sage granted her this formidable boon, and after bestowing it, spoke to his wife: “If you, with utmost concentration, purity, and effort, carry the child for a hundred years, your son will slay Indra.” Having spoken thus, the sage Kaśyapa united with her, and she bore the embryo with great purity.