(Sambhava Parva)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Then Indra had a consultation with Narayana about the
latter's descent on the earth from heaven with all the gods according to
their respective parts. And, having commanded all the dwellers in heaven,
Indra returned from the abode of Narayana. And the dwellers in heaven
gradually became incarnate on earth for the destruction of the Asuras and
for the welfare of the three worlds. And then, O tiger among kings, the
celestials had their births, according as they pleased, in the races of
Brahmarshis and royal sages. And they slew the Danavas, Rakshasas,
Gandharvas and Snakes, other man-eaters, and many other creatures. And, O
bull in the Bharata race, the Danavas, Rakshasas and Gandharvas and Snakes,
could not slay the incarnate celestials even in their infancy, so strong
they were.'
"Janamejaya said, 'I desire to hear from the beginning of the births of
the gods, the Danavas, the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, men, Yakshas and
Rakshasas. Therefore, it behoveth thee to tell me about the births of all
creatures.'
"Vaisampayana said, 'Indeed, I shall, having bowed down to the Self-create,
tell thee in detail the origin of the celestials and other creatures. It
is known that Brahman hath six spiritual sons, viz., Marichi, Atri,
Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha and Kratu. And Marichi's son is Kasyapa, and
from Kasyapa have sprung these creatures. Unto Daksha (one of the
Prajapatis) were born thirteen daughters of great good fortune. The
daughters of Daksha are, O tiger among men and prince of the Bharata race,
Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kala, Danayu, Sinhika, Krodha, Pradha, Viswa, Vinata,
Kapila, Muni, and Kadru. The sons and grandsons of these, gifted with
great energy, are countless. From Aditi have sprung the twelve Adityas who
are the lords of the universe. And, O Bharata, as they are according to
their names, I shall recount them to thee. They are Dhatri, Mitra, Aryaman,
Sakra, Varuna, Ansa, Vaga, Vivaswat, Usha, Savitri, Tvashtri, and Vishnu.
The youngest, however, is superior to them all in merit. Diti had one son
called Hiranyakasipu. And the illustrious Hiranyakasipu had five sons, all
famous throughout the world. The eldest of them all was Prahlada, the next
was Sahradha; the third was Anuhrada; and after him were Sivi and Vashkala.
And, O Bharata, it is known everywhere that Prahlada had three sons. They
were Virochana, Kumbha, and Nikumbha. And unto Virochana was born a son,
Vali, of great prowess. And the son of Vali is known to be the great Asura,
Vana. And blessed with good fortune, Vana was a follower of Rudra, and was
known also by the name of Mahakala. And Danu had forty sons, O Bharata!
The eldest of them all was Viprachitti of great fame, Samvara, and Namuchi
and Pauloman; Asiloman, and Kesi and Durjaya; Ayahsiras, Aswasiras, and
the powerful Aswasanku; also Gaganamardhan, and Vegavat, and he called
Ketumat; Swarbhanu, Aswa, Aswapati, Vrishaparvan, and then Ajaka; and
Aswagriva, and Sukshama, and Tuhunda of great strength, Ekapada, and
Ekachakra, Virupaksha, Mahodara, and Nichandra, and Nikumbha, Kupata, and
then Kapata; Sarabha, and Sulabha, Surya, and then Chandramas; these in
the race of Danu are stated to be well-known. The Surya and Chandramas
(the Sun and the Moon) of the celestials are other persons, and not the
sons of Danu as mentioned above. The following ten, gifted with great
strength and vigour, were also, O king, born in the race of Danu;--Ekaksha,
Amritapa of heroic courage, Pralamva and Naraka, Vatrapi, Satrutapana, and
Satha, the great Asura; Gavishtha, and Vanayu, and the Danava called
Dirghajiva. And, O Bharata, the sons and the grandsons of these were known
to be countless. And Sinhika gave birth to Rahu, the persecutor of the Sun
and the Moon, and to three others, Suchandra, Chandrahantri, and
Chandrapramardana. And the countless progeny of Krura (krodha) were as
crooked and wicked as herself. And the tribe was wrathful, of crooked
deeds, and persecutors of their foes. And Danayu also had four sons who
were bulls among the Asuras. They were Vikshara, Vala, Vira, and Vritra
the great Asura. And the sons of Kala were all like Yama himself and
smiter of all foes. And they were of great energy, and oppressors of all
foes. And the sons of Kala were Vinasana and Krodha, and then Krodhahantri,
and Krodhasatru. And there were many others among the sons of Kala. And
Sukra, the son of a Rishi, was the chief priest of the Asuras. And the
celebrated Sukra had four sons who were priests of the Asuras. And they
were Tashtadhara and Atri, and two others of fierce deeds. They were like
the Sun himself in energy, and set their hearts on acquiring the regions
of Brahman.
"'Thus hath been recited by me, as heard in the Purana, of progeny of the
gods and the Asuras, both of great strength and energy. I am incapable, O
king, of counting the descendants of these, countless as they are, are not
much known to fame.
"'And the sons of Vinata were Tarkhya and Arishtanemi, and Garuda and
Aruna, and Aruni and Varuni. And Sesha of Ananta, Vasuki, Takshaka, Kumara,
and Kulika are known to be the sons of Kadru; and Bhimasena, Ugrasena,
Suparna, Varuna, Gopati, and Dhritarashtra, and Suryavarchas the seventh,
Satyavachas, Arkaparna, Prayuta, Bhima, and Chitraratha known to fame, of
great learning, and a controller of his passions, and then Kalisiras, and,
O king, Parjanya, the fourteenth in the list, Kali, the fifteenth, and
Narada, the sixteenth--these Devas and Gandharvas are known to be the sons
of Muni (Daksha's daughter as mentioned before). I shall recount many
others, O Bharata! Anavadya Manu, Vansa, Asura, Marganapria, Anupa,
Subhaga, Vasi, were the daughters brought forth by Pradha, Siddha, and
Purna, and Varhin, and Purnayus of great fame, Brahmacharin, Ratiguna, and
Suparna who was the seventh; Viswavasu, Bhanu, and Suchandra who was the
tenth, were also the sons of Pradha. All these were celestial Gandharvas.
And it is also known that this Pradha of great fortune, through the
celestial Rishi (Kasyapa, her husband), brought forth the sacred of the
Apsaras, Alamvusha, Misrakesi, Vidyutparna, Tilottama, Aruna, Rakshita,
Rambha, Manorama, Kesini, Suvahu, Surata, Suraja, and Supria were the
daughters, and Ativahu and the celebrated Haha and Huhu, and Tumvuru were
the sons--the best of Gandharvas--of Pradha and Amrita. The Brahmanas,
kine, Gandharvas, and Apsaras, were born of Kapila as stated in the Purana.
"'Thus hath been recited to thee by me the birth of all creatures duly--of
Gandharvas and Apsaras, of Snakes, Suparnas, Rudras, and Maruts; of kine
and of Brahmanas blessed with great good fortune, and of sacred deeds. And
this account (if read) extendeth the span of life, is sacred, worthy of
all praise, and giveth pleasure to the ear. It should be always heard and
recited to others, in a proper frame of mind.
"'He who duly readeth this account of the birth of all high-souled
creatures in the presence of the gods and Brahmanas, obtaineth large
progeny, good fortune, and fame, and attaineth also to excellent worlds
hereafter.'"