From the mighty lineage of Danu were born powerful sons: Ekacakra, whose arms were strong as thunderbolts; Tāraka, famed for his might; Svarbhānu, of great prowess; Vṛṣaparvan, and Puloma, both renowned for their strength. Alongside these illustrious Dānavas stood the valiant Vipracitti. Svarbhānu, in turn, had daughters of beauty and renown: Prabhā, Śarmiṣṭhā, and Vārṣaparvaṇī, as well as the famed maidens Upadānī and Hayaśirā. Pulomā and Kālakā, daughters of Vaiśvānara, became the wives of Marīci. From their union sprang forth sixty thousand excellent Dānavas, celebrated as the Paulomas and Kālakeyas, the sons of Marīci. Others of great might and ferocity, merciless and formidable, were born from Siṃhikā and also as sons of Vipracitti. Among these were Tryaṃśa, the powerful Śalya, mighty Nabhā, Vātāpi, Namuci, Ilvala, and Khasṛma. Āndhaka, Naraka, Kālanābha, the valiant Svarbhānu, and the great Asura Vaktrayodhin also came forth. These were the foremost Dānavas, who brought glory to the lineage of Danu, and their descendants—sons and grandsons—numbered in the hundreds and thousands. From Prahlāda, the illustrious Daitya, were born the Nivātakavacas, a formidable line produced through great austerity and self-control. Tāmrā, endowed with strength, had six daughters: Śukī, Śyenī, Bhāsī, Sugrīvī, Śucī, and Gṛddhrakā. Śukī was the mother of parrots, owls, and birds of the night; Śyenī gave birth to hawks; Bhāsī to herons and vultures; Gṛddhrī to vultures as well. Śucī produced aquatic birds, and Sugrīvī gave rise to many kinds of birds. From Tāmrā’s line also came horses, camels, and donkeys. Vinatā bore two illustrious sons: Garuḍa and Aruṇa, both abstaining from evil. Garuḍa, the foremost of flyers, and Dāruṇa, the devourer of serpents, shone among all. From Surasā were born a thousand serpents of immense energy and many heads—celestial beings of great soul. Kadrū gave birth to a thousand powerful serpents, also of immense energy and many heads, and subject to the mighty Garuḍa. Among these serpents, the chief were Śeṣa, Vāsuki, Takṣaka, Śaṅkha, Śveta, Mahāpadma, Kambala, and Aśvatara. Also born were the Nāga Elāputra, Karkoṭa, and Dhanañjaya, along with many other fierce and venomous serpents. All these fierce, flesh-eating beings—whether born on land, in water, or in the air—are known as the progeny of Krodhavaśā. From Krodhā were born mighty Piśācas; Surabhi gave birth to cows and buffaloes; Irā to trees, creepers, vines, and all manner of grass. Svasā produced the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas; Muni gave birth to the celestial Apsarases; Ariṣṭā, endowed with great strength, produced the Gandharvas. Thus, from Kaśyapa sprang all these descendants—both moving and stationary beings—whose sons and grandsons filled the world in countless numbers. This, O Brāhmaṇa, is the creation known as the Svārociṣa Manvantara. In the great eras of Vaivasvata and Vāruṇa, and in the Kṛta age, the creation of beings by Brahmā, named Juhvāna, is also recounted. In ancient times, the Grandfather himself appointed the seven sages as his sons, entrusting them with the protection of Gandharvas, serpents, gods, and Dānavas, O best of beings. At this time, Diti, stricken with grief at the loss of her sons, sought to please her husband Kaśyapa. With devotion and proper worship, she approached him, O best of ascetics. Pleased by her austerities, Kaśyapa offered her a boon, and she chose to bear a son—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 thus spoken, the sage Kaśyapa united with Diti, and she bore the embryo with great purity. Knowing that this embryo was destined to bring about his own destruction, Maghavan—Indra, lord of the gods—approached Diti with humility and served her. Desiring to enter her womb, Indra waited, and as the hundred years neared completion, he perceived an opportunity through his own power. One day, Diti, without cleansing her feet, lay down to sleep. At that moment, Indra entered her womb. Wielding his thunderbolt, Indra split the great embryo into seven parts. As each part was struck, the child cried out in terrible anguish. Indra repeatedly said, “Do not cry!” But the embryo was divided into seven, and, enraged, Indra struck again, splitting each part into seven once more. Thus arose the gods called Maruts, swift as the wind. At this time, O Brāhmaṇa, the sage Parāśara spoke: When Pṛthu was anointed as king by the great sages, the Lord of the World assigned sovereignties in due order. Brahmā gave Soma lordship over the stars, planets, priests, and all plants, as well as over sacrifices and austerities. The kingship of kings was given to Vaiśravaṇa; Varuṇa received sovereignty over the waters; Viṣṇu was made lord of the Ādityas; and Pāvaka (Agni) was made lord of the Vasus. Dakṣa was given lordship over the progenitors; Vāsava (Indra) was made lord of the Maruts; and Prahlāda was granted the rulership of the Daityas and Dānavas.