Vaishampayana said : Thereupon, Hari held a consultation with Indra regarding his incarnation on earth with all the celestials according to their respective parts.

Having then ordered the celestials, (what they should all do), Indra returned from the abode of Hari (Vaikuntha).

races The dwellers of heaven then, one after the other, took birth on earth for the destruction of the Asuras and for the welfare of the three worlds.

O best of kings, the celestials, as each preferred, took birth in the of Brahmarshis and Rajarshis.

They killed the Danavas, Rakshasas, Gandharvas, Nagas and other cannibals and creatures.

O best of the Bharata race, the Danavas, Rakshasas, Gandharvas and Nagas could not kill the (incarnate) celestials, even in their infancy, so strong were they.

Janamejaya said : I desire to hear the accounts of the births of the Devas, Danavas, Gandharvas, Apsaras, Manavas, Yakshas and Rakshasas from their beginning. Therefore, you should tell me all about the births of creatures.

Vaishampayana said : Bowing down my head to the Self-created (Brahma), I shall narrate to you in detail the origin of the celestials and of all creatures.

Brahma had six mind-born sons, (created out of his mind), namely Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha and Kratu.

Marichi had a son, named Kashyapa and from Kashyapa have sprung all creatures. Daksha begot thirteen illustrious daughters.

O best of kings, the daughters, of Daksha, were Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kala, Danayu, Sinhika, Krodha, Pradha, Vishva, Vinata, Kapila, Muni and Kadru. The sons and grandsons of these daughters, all of exceeding prowess, were infinite in number.

O descendant of the Bharata race, from Aditi were born the twelve. Adityas, who were all lords of the Universe. I shall now mention them to you according to their names.

(They were) Dhata, Mitra, Aryama, Shakra, Varuna, Ansha, Bhaga, Vivasvan, Pusha and Savita, the tenth.

The eleventh was Tvashtri and the twelvth was Vishnu. The youngest, however, was the best in merit.

Diti had only son, named Hiranyakashipu and the illustrious Hiranyakashipu had five sons, famous all over the world.

one The eldest was Prahlada, the next was Sanhlada, the third was Anuhlada, the fourth was Sibi and the youngest was Bashkala.

O descendant of the Bharata race, it is known everywhere that Prahlada had three sons, namely Virochana, Kumbha and Nikumbha.

Virochana's son was greatly powerful Bali and the son of Bali was the great Asura Bana.

He (Bana) was blessed with great fortune; he was a follower of Rudra and was, also known by the name of Mahakala.

O descendant of the Bharata race, Danu had thirty four sons, the eldest of them was the famous King Viprachitti. The others were Sambara, Namuchi, Puloma, Asiloma, Keshi, Durjaya, Ayashiras, Ashvashiras, Ashvashanku, Gaganamurdhan, Vegavan, Ketuman, Svarbhanu, Ashva, Ashvapati, Vrishaparva, Ajaka, Ashvagriva, Sukshma, Tuhunda, Ekapada, Ekachakra, Virupaksha, Hara, Ahara, Nichandra, Nikumbha, Kupata, Kapata, Sharabha, Shalabha, Surya and Chandrama.

These were the well-known sons of Danu. Surya and Chandrama (the sun and the moon) of the celestials were other persons and they were not the sons of Danu. Besides the above, there were ten more powerful and great sons of Danu, namely Ekaksha, heroic Mritapa, Pralamba, Naraka.

Vatapi, Shatrutapana, the great Asura Satha, Gavishtha, Vanayu and the Danava, named Dirghajihva.

O descendant of the Bharata race, the sons and grandsons of the above were numberless. Simhika gave birth to a son, called Rahu, the persecutor of the sun and the moon,

And (she gave birth to) three others, namely Suchandra, Chandraharta and Chandrapramardana. The numberless progeny of Krura was much wicked as she herself was.

Their race was wrathful, of crooked deeds and the persecutors of foes. Danayu had four sons, the best among the Asuras.

(They were) Vikshara, Bala, Vira and the great Asura Vritra. The sons of Kala were like Yama himself, all the slayers of their enemies.

They were greatly famous and powerful amongst the Danavas and were great oppressors of their enemies.

(They were) Vinashana, Krodha, Krodhahanta and Krodhashatru. These were the sons of Kala. As it is heard, there were also many others among the sons of Kala. Shukra, the son of a Rishi was the great preceptor of all the Asuras.

The illustrious Shukra had four sons who were also the preceptors of the Asuras. Their names were Tvashtadhara and Atri and two others of fearful deeds.

They were as effulgent as the sun himself. They were always engaged in acquiring the regions of Brahma. Thus have I narrated to you, as I heard them from the Purana, the accounts of the progeny of the Devas and the Danavas of great strength and power. The sons and grandsons, of these (Devas and Danavas) were so numberless that I am incapable of counting them.

O protector of the world, the Tarkshya, Arishtanemi, Garuda, Arun, Aruni and Varuni were known to be the sons of Vinata. Shesha of Ananta, Vasuki, Takshaka,

Kurma and Kulika are known to be the sons of Kadru, Bhimasena, Ugrasena, Suparna, Varuna,

Gopati, Dhritarashtra, Suryavarcha, Satyavarcha, Arkaparna, Prayuta,

Bhima and Chitraratha, all greatly famous, learned and self-controlled, then O king, was Shalishira, then fourteenth in the least, Parjanya,

The fifteenth, Kali and the sixteenth Narada; these Devagandharvas were known to be the sons of Muni.

O descendant of Bharata race, I shall now mention many others. Anavadhya, Manu, Vansha, Asura, Marganapriya,

Arupa, Subhaga and Bhasi were the daughters of Pradha. Siddha, Purna, Barhi and famous Purnayu,

Brahmachari, Ratiguna and Suparna, Vishvavasu, Bhanu and Suchandra:

These Devas and Gandharvas were also known to be the progeny of Pradha. It is also known that, that lady of good fortune Pradha, through the celestial Rishi (Kashyapa), brought forth the holy race of Apsaras, namely, Alambusha. Mishrakeshi, Vidyutaparna, Tilottama,

Aruna, Rakshita, Rambha, Manorama, Keshini, Subahu, Surata, Suraja and Supriya, these were the daughters (of Pradha). And Atibahu, celebrated Haha-Huhu and Tumburu, these four best of Gandharvas (were also the sons of Pradha.)

The Ambrosia, Brahmanas, the kine the Gandharvas and Apsaras were the offspring of Kapila, so is stated in the Purana.

Thus have been narrated to you duly the births of all the creatures and of the Gandharvas, Apsaras.

Nagas, Suparnas, Rudras and Maruts, of the kine and of the fortunate and holy Brahmanas.

This history, (if read or heard) extends period of life. It is sacred, it is worthy of all praise, it gives pleasure, if heard. It should be always heard and recited to others in a proper frame of mind.

He, who properly reads in the presence of the deities and Brahmanas, this account of the births of noble creature, obtains large progeny, good fortune and fame. He attains to the higher worlds hereafter.