By “Vaishampaayana said, ‘It is known that the spiritual sons (Maanasa Putra in Sanskrit) of (Lord) Brahma were the six great Rishis (already mentioned). There was another of the name of Sthaanu. The sons of Sthaanu, gifted with great energy, were, it is known, eleven. They were Mrigavayadha, Sharva, Nirrukti of great fame; Ajaikapaada, Ahirbudnya, Pinaaki – the oppressor of enemies; Dahana, Ishwara, Kapaali of great splendour; Sthaanu, and the illustrious Bhava. These are called the eleven Rudras.
“It hath been already said, that Marichi, Angiras, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, and Kratu — these six Maharishis of great energy — are the sons of (Lord) Brahma.
“It is well-known in the world that (Rishi) Angiras’s sons are three — Brihaspati, Utathya, and Samvarta, all of rigid vows.
“O king (Janamejaya), it is said that the sons of Atri are numerous. Being Maharishis, they are all familiar with the Vedas, crowned with success attributable for Rishis, and of souls in perfect peace.
“O tiger among kings (Janamejaya), the sons of Pulastya of great wisdom are Rakshasas, Vanaraas, Kinnaras (half-men and half-horses), and Yakshas.
“O king (Janamejaya), the son of Pulaha were, it is said, the deers, the lions, the Kimpurushas (half-lions and half-men) and the tigers.
“The sons of Kratu, sacred as yagnas, are the companions of Surya, (the Valikhilyas), known in three worlds and devoted to truth and vows.
“O protector of the Earth (Janamejaya), the illustrious Rishi Daksha, of soul in complete peace, and of great self discipline, sprung from the right toe of (Lord) Brahma. From the left toe of (Lord) Brahma, sprang the wife of the high-souled Daksha. The Muni (Daksha) fathered upon her fifty daughters; and all those daughters were of faultless features, body parts and of eyes like lotus-petals. The lord Daksha, not having any sons, made those daughters his Putrikas (so that their sons might belong both to himself and to their husbands). Daksha gave, according to the sacred Shastras, ten of his daughters on Dharma, twenty-seven on Chandra (the Moon), and thirteen on (Rishi) Kaashyapa.
“Listen as I narrate the wives of Dharma according to their names. They are ten in all — Keerti, Lakshmi, Dhriti, Medha, Pushti, Sraddha, Kria, Buddhi, Lajja, and Mati. These are the wives of Dharma as appointed by the Self-create (Lord Brahma).
“It is known also throughout the world that the wives of Soma (Moon) are twenty-seven. The wives of Soma, all of sacred vows, are employed in indicating time; and they are the Nakshatras (stars), the Yoginis and they became so for assisting the courses of the worlds.
“(Lord) Brahma had another son named Manu. Manu had a son of the name of Prajapati. The sons of Prajapati were eight and were called Vasus whom I shall name in detail. They were Dhara, Dhruva, Soma, Aha, Anila, Anala, Pratyusha, and Prabhasa. These eight are known as the Vasus (Ashtavasu in Sanskrit).
“Of these (eight Vasus), Dhara and the truth-knowing Dhruva were born of Dhumra; Chandrama (Soma) and Shwasana (Anila) were born of the intelligent Shwasa; Aha was the son of Rata; Hutasana (Anala) of Shaandilya; and Pratyusha and Prabhasa were the sons of Prabhata.
“Dhara had two sons, Dravina and Huta-havya-vaha.
“The son of Dhruva is the illustrious Kala (Time), the destroyer of the worlds.
“Soma’s (Moon’s) son is the resplendent Varchaa. Varchaa fathered upon his wife Manohara three sons — Shishira, Praanaa and Ramanaa.
“Sons of Aha were Jyoti, Srama, Shaanta, and also Muni.
“The son of Agni is the handsome Kumaara (Lord Muruga) born in a forest of reeds. He is also called Kaartikeya because he was brought up by Krittika and others. After Kartikeya, there were born his three brothers Shaakha, Vishaakha, Naigamesha.
“The wife of Anila is Shiva, and Shiva’s son were Purojava and Avijnataagati. These two were the sons of Anila.
“The son of Pratyusha, you must know, is the Rishi named Devala; and Devala had two sons who were both exceedingly forgiving and of great mental power.
“The sister of Brihaspati, the first of women, uttering the sacred truth, engaged in severe Tapas, roamed over the whole earth; and she became the wife of Prabhasa, the eighth Vasu. She brought forth the illustrious Vishwakarma, the founder of all arts. He (Vishwakarma) was the originator of a thousand arts, the engineer of the immortals (Devas), the maker of all kinds of ornaments, and the first of artists. It was he who constructed the divine vimanas of Devas, and mankind are enabled to live in consequence of the inventions of that illustrious one (Vishwakarma). He is worshipped, for that reason, by men. He is eternal and unchangeable, this Vishwakarma.
“The illustrious Dharma, the dispenser of all happiness, assuming a human form, came out through the right chest of (Lord) Brahma. Ahasta (Dharma) has three excellent sons capable of charming every creature. They are Shama, Kaamaa, Harsha (Peace, Desire, and Joy). By their energy they are supporting the worlds. The wife of Kaamaa is Rati, of Shama is Praapti; and the wife of Harsha is Nandi. Upon them, indeed, are the worlds made to depend.
“The son of (Rishi) Marichi is (Rishi) Kaashyapa. (Rishi) Kaashyapa’s offspring are Devas and Asuras. Therefore, is Kaashyapa, the Father of the worlds. Tvashtri, of the form of Vadava (a female horse), became the wife of Savitri. She gave birth, in the skies, to two greatly fortunate twins, the Ashwinis (Ashwini Devas). O king (Janamejaya), the sons of Aditi (fathered by Rishi Kaashyapa) are twelve with (Lord) Indra heading them all. The youngest of them all was (Lord) Vishnu upon whom the worlds depend.
“These are the thirty-three Devas (the eight Vasus, the eleven Rudras, the twelve Adityas, Prajapati, and Vashatkara). I shall now recount their offspring according to their Pakshas, Kulas, and Ganas. The Rudras, the Saddhyas, the Maruts, the Vasus, the Bhargavas, and the Vishwadevas are each reckoned as a Paksha. Garuda the son of Vinata and the mighty Aruna also, and the illustrious Brihaspati are reckoned among the Adityas. The twin Ashwins (Ashwini Devas), all annual plants, and all inferior animals, are reckoned among the Guhyakas.
“These are the Ganas of Devas recited to you, O king (Janamejaya)! This recitation washes men of all sins.
“The illustrious Bhrigu came out, ripping open the chest of (Lord) Brahma. The learned Shukra (Asura Guru) is Bhrigu’s son. The learned Shukra becoming a planet (modern day Venus) and engaged according to the command of the Self-existent (Lord Brahma) in pouring and withholding rain, and in dispensing and remitting calamities, traverses, for sustaining the lives of all the creatures in the three worlds, through the skies. The learned Shukra, of great intelligence and wisdom, of rigid vows, leading the life of a Brahmachari, divided himself in to two by power of Tapas, and became the spiritual guide of both Daityas (clan of Asuras) and Devas.
“After Shukra was thus employed by (Lord) Brahma in seeking the welfare (of Devas and Asuras), (Rishi) Bhrigu fathered another excellent son. This was Chyavana who was like the blazing sun, of Dharmaatma, and of great fame. He came out of his mother’s womb in anger and became the cause of his mother’s release (from the hands of the Rakshasa), O king (Janamejaya).
“Aarushi, the daughter of Manu, became the wife of the wise Chyavana. On her was begotten Aurva of great reputation. He came out, ripping open the thigh of Arushi. Aurva begot Richika. Richika even in his boyhood became possessed of great power and energy, and of every Dharma. Richika fathered Jamadagni. The high-souled Jamadagni had four sons. The youngest of them all was Rama (Parasurama). (Parasu) Rama was superior to all his brothers in the possession of good qualities. He was skilful in all weapons, and became the slayer of the Kshatriyas. He had his passions under complete control. Aurva had a hundred sons with Jamadagni the eldest. These hundred sons had offspring by thousands spread over this earth.
“(Lord) Brahma had two other sons, viz., Dhata and Vidhata who stayed with Manu. Their sister is the auspicious Lakshmi having her abode amid lotuses. The spiritual sons of Lakshmi are the sky-ranging horses. The daughter born of Shukra, named Devi, became the eldest wife of Varuna. Of her were born a son named Bala and a daughter named Sura, to the joy of Devas. Adharma (Sin) was born when creatures (from want of food) began to devour one another. Adharma always destroys every creature. Adharma has Niriti for his wife, from where the Rakshasas who are called Nairitas (offspring of Niriti). She has also three other cruel sons always engaged in sinful actions. They are Bhaya (fear), Mahabhaya (terror), and Mrityu (Death) who is always engaged in slaying every created thing. As he is all-destroying, he has no wife, and no son.
“Tamra brought forth five daughters known throughout the worlds. They are Kaaki (crow), Shyeni (hawk), Phasi (hen), Dhritarashtri (goose), and Shuki (parrot). Kaaki brought forth the crows; Shyeni – the hawks and vultures; Phasi – the roosters; Dhritarashtri – all ducks and swans, and she also brought forth all Chakravakas; and the fair Shuki, of friendly qualities, and possessing all auspicious signs brought forth all the parrots.
“Krodha gave birth to nine daughters, all of wrathful disposition. Their names were Mrigi, Mrigamanda, Hari, Bhadramana, Matangi, Shaarduli, Shweta, Surabhi, and the agreeable Surasa blessed with every virtue.
“O foremost of men (Janamejaya), the offspring of Mrigi are all animals of the deer species.
“The offspring of Mrigamanda are all animals of the bear species and those called Srimara (sweet-footed).
“Bhadramana fathered the celestial elephants, Airavata.
“The offspring of Hari are all animals of the monkey species endued with great activity, so also all the horses. Those animals also, that are called Go-langula (the cow-tailed), are said to be the offspring of Hari.
“Shaarduli fathered lions and tigers in numbers, and also leopards and all other strong animals.
“O king (Janamejaya), the offspring of Matangi are all the elephants.
“Shweta fathered the large elephant known by the name of Shweta, endued with great speed.
“O king (Janamejaya), Surabhi gave birth to two daughters, the friendly Rohini and the far-famed Gandharvi. O Bharata (Janamejaya), she had also two other daughters named Vimala and Anala. From Rohini have sprung all cows, and from Gandharvi all animals of the horse species. Anala fathered the seven kinds of trees yielding pulpy fruits (They are the date, the palm, the hintala, the tali, the little date, the nut, and the coconut.) She had also another daughter called Shuki (the mother of the parrot species).
“Surasa bore a son called Kanka (a species of long-feathered birds).
“Shyeni, the wife of Aruna, gave birth to two sons of great energy and strength, named Sampati and the mighty Jatayu.
“Surasa also bore the Nagas, and Kadru, the Punnagas (snakes). Vinata had two sons Garuda and Aruna, known far and wide.
“O king of men, O foremost of intelligent persons (Janamejaya), thus has the genealogy of all the principal creatures been fully described by me. By listening to this, a man is fully cleansed of all his sins, and acquires great knowledge, and finally attains to the first of states in after-life!’“
SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > AADI PARVA > SAMBHAVA PARVA > CHAPTER 66 – ANALYSIS OF LINEAGES
SUMMARY
Vaishampaayana narrates to King Janamejaya about the lineages of various beings established in the Universe.
