Let us now hear the wondrous tale of creation and the appointment of sovereigns, as revealed in the sacred Viṣṇu Purāṇa. From Kaśyapa, the great sage, arose many beings both stationary and moving. His wives gave birth to diverse races: Svasā brought forth the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas, Muni gave birth to the radiant Apsarases, and Ariṣṭā, endowed with great strength, produced the Gandharvas. These offspring of Kaśyapa multiplied, with sons and grandsons numbering into the hundreds and thousands, filling the worlds with their presence. This, O Brāhmaṇa, is known as the creation during the Svārociṣa Manvantara. In the mighty ages of Vaivasvata and Vāruṇa, and in the Kṛta era, the creation of beings by the Brahmā named Juhvāna is also recounted. In ancient times, the Grandfather, the progenitor of all, appointed the seven sages as his sons, entrusting them with the protection of Gandharvas, serpents, gods, and Dānavas. Now hear of Diti, who, grieving the loss of her sons, sought to please her husband Kaśyapa. With proper worship and devotion, she approached him, and the sage, gratified by her effort, offered her a boon. Diti asked for a powerful son, one mighty enough to slay Indra, the king of the gods. Kaśyapa granted her this formidable boon and spoke: “If you carry the child for a hundred years with utmost concentration, purity, and effort, your son will indeed slay Indra.” Having spoken thus, Kaśyapa united with Diti, and she bore the embryo with great purity. But Indra, known as Maghavan, lord of the gods, learned that this embryo would bring about his own destruction. With humility, he approached Diti and served her, waiting for the moment to enter her womb. As the hundred years neared completion, Indra perceived an opening by his own power. Diti, neglecting to cleanse her feet, entered her bed and fell asleep. At that moment, Indra entered her womb. Wielding his thunderbolt, Indra split the great embryo into seven parts. As he struck, the child cried out terribly. Indra repeatedly commanded, “Do not cry!” But the embryo was divided into seven, and Indra, enraged, split each part again into seven. Thus arose the gods called Maruts, swift as the wind. Now, O sage, listen to the account of the appointment of sovereigns. When Pṛthu was anointed as king by the great sages, the Lord of the World, in due order, assigned the sovereignties. Brahma gave Soma dominion over the stars, planets, priests, and all plants, as well as authority over sacrifices and austerities. The kingship of kings was given to Vaiśravaṇa; the waters to Varuṇa; the Ādityas to Viṣṇu; and the Vasus to Pāvaka, who is Agni. Dakṣa was made lord of the progenitors; Vāsava (Indra) was given the Maruts; Prahlāda received the rulership of the Daityas and Dānavas. Yama, lord of righteousness, was anointed king of the ancestors. To the elephants, Airavata was made their sovereign; to the roaring lions, their lord was appointed. Garuda became king of the birds; Indra of the gods; Ucchaihshravas of the horses; and the bull of the cows. Among all beasts, the lion was made king; Shesha, imperishable, became lord of the serpents. The Himalaya was made king of the immovables; Kapila, the sage among sages; and the tiger, lord of the clawed and fanged beasts. The Plaksha tree was anointed as king of the trees, and similarly, rulers were appointed with preeminence among other kinds. After dividing the kingdoms and appointing the guardians of the directions, Brahma, the lord of progenitors, established them everywhere. In the east, Sudhanvan, son of the Prajapati Vairaja, was made king and guardian; in the south, Shankhapada, son of Kardama; in the west, Ketumant, son of Rajasa; and in the north, Hiraṇyaroma, son of Parjanya, unconquerable and mighty. By these guardians, the entire earth with its seven continents and cities is protected in accordance with righteousness, each in their own region. All these kings, and others as well, are manifestations of the great-souled Viṣṇu in the maintenance of the world. All those who have been, who are, and who will be—every lord of beings, O twice-born—are portions of Viṣṇu, lord of all beings. Those who are lords of the gods, of the Daityas, the Dānavas, and the flesh-eaters; the lords of animals, birds, humans, serpents, and Nagas; the lords of trees, mountains, and planets—those who have passed, who are present, and who will come—all are born from portions of Viṣṇu, the lord of all beings. For, O wise one, apart from Hari, the lord of all, none else has the power to sustain the world in its order. He, the eternal, creates the world at the beginning, preserves it in its existence, and destroys it at the end, taking on the forms of rajas, sattva, and others. In creation, he is fourfold; in preservation, he abides in four ways; and at dissolution, Janardana brings about the end in four forms. By one portion, he becomes Brahma, possessing an unmanifest form; and from other portions, the lords of beings, mixed with Marici, arise. Thus, the divine order is maintained, and all sovereigns, guardians, and beings are but manifestations of the eternal Viṣṇu, who sustains and guides the worlds.