Table of Contents
Genealogy of creation
Recap
In the last post, Rishi Vaishampayan had started telling the reason for the devas, daityas and danavs to take birth on earth. At the end of that, Janamejaya had wanted to know who had taken birth as whom. This post continues from there.
Rishi Vaishampayana spoke, “In response to your question, I will start by telling you about the sons of Brahma. Brahma had six mind-born sons who emerged from his mind, when he had been in meditation and had thought about them. They were Marichi, Atri, Angira, Kratu, Pulastya, and Pulaha. Marichi’s son was Kashyapa. When Prajapati Daksha saw Kashyapa, he gave thirteen of his daughters in marriage to the rishi. Let me tell you the names of the thirteen daughters. They were Aditi, Kapila, Danu, Kadru, Muni, Krodha, Danayu, Simhika, Kala, Diti, Pradha, Vishva, and Vinata.
Children of Kashyapa
After having told you about the genealogy (Brahma to Marichi to Kashyapa) I will now tell you in detail, who was born to whom. To these thirteen wives of Kashyapa were born powerful people.
- 1. Aditi gave birth to the twelve Adityas. They were Dhata, Mitra, Amsha, Bhaga, Varuna, Aryaman, Tvashta, Vishnu, Vivasvan, Pusha, Shakra and Savita.
- 2. Diti had a son called Hiranyakasipu, who grew up to be an enemy of the Devas. As a son of Diti, he became a Daitya. Hiranyakashipu in turn had five famous sons. The most famous of these sons was Prahlada, who was a devotee of Vishnu, the preserver of the three worlds. Prahlada had three sons who were great warriors. They were Virochana, Kumbha and Nikumbha. Virochana had one son, the powerful and noble Bali. Bali in turn had a son, the powerful Bana, who, with his thousand arms, worshipped Mahadeva and also got the name Mahakala.
- 3. Danu’s sons became known as Danavas. There were forty of them; the well-known amongst them were Viprachitti, Sambara, Puloma and Ashvapati. Their sons and grandsons spread across the earth, heaven and the underworld.
- 4. Simhika had four sons who were known for their cruel deeds. They were the Saimhikeyas. The eldest of the sons was Rahu, who was cut into two by Vishnu.
- 5. Danayu had four sons in succession, Vikshara, Bala, Vira, and Vritra, the Danayushas.
- 6. Krodha, Vinashana, and others were the invincible sons of Kala They were called the Krodhavashas.
- 7. Vinata had six sons: Aruna, Aruni, Tarkshya, Arishtanemi, Garuda and Varuni. As sons of Vinata, they were the Vainateya. The greatest of these was Garuda, who became the vehicle of Vishnu. He later went on to become the Lord of all birds and also the destroyer of serpents.
- 8. Ananta, Vasuki and many more were the thousand sons of Kadru. They were the Kadraveya.
- 9. Anurambha, Akira, Alambusha, Mishrakeshi, Rambha, Tilottama, Subahu, Surata and others were the daughters of Vishva who became famous all over as Apsaras.
- 10. Kapila gave birth to the cows and some gandharvas and apsaras. Among them, the gandharva kings Haha and Huhu became very famous. Chitraratha, some Apsaras, and Kinnaras were also born to her.
- 11. Sixteen sons were born to Muni. They became famous throughout the three worlds as the Mauneya Gandharvas.
- 12. Krodha gave birth to Kapila and Kashyapa (not the rishis).
- 13. Pradha gave birth to some gandharvas.
Progeny of the other mind born sons of Brahma
So far, I have told you about the children of Kashyapa, the son of Marichi. Brahma had five other sons, so let me tell you about those sons and their children.
Rishi Angira was one of those mind-born sons. He had three virtuous sons - Brihaspati, Utathya, and Samvarta.
Rishi Pulastya’s son was Vishrava, who fathered Kubera and other yakshas. He was also the father of the rakshasas Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Vibhishana.
Rishi Atri’s sons were great brahmins.
Sons of Kratu were great rishis who became associated with rituals and sacrifices.
Daksha and Dharma
From Brahma’s right thumb, Daksha Prajapati had emerged. From Brahma’s left thumb, fifty women emerged. Dharma emerged from Daksha’s right hand, who married ten daughters of Daksha. These ten were Kirti, Lakshmi, Dhriti, Medha, Pushti, Shraddha, Kriya, Buddhi, Lajja and Mati. Dharma had three sons and I will tell you, their names. These sons are Shama (Tranquillity), Harsha (Joy), and Kama (Desire) and they live in everyone. I will tell you about their wives’ names. Rati (Passion) married Kama, Prapti (Acquisition) married Shama and Nanda (Delight) married Harsha.
Twenty-seven of Daksha’s daughters including Ashwini were married to Chandra and thirteen of his daughters were married to Rishi Kashyapa.
One of the sons of Brahma was Manu. Manu had a son called Prajapati. Prajapati had sons who were the Vasus. There were eight of them.
Agni and Vishvakarma were the sons of the Vasus. Deer, lions, tigers, and others also descended from the Vasus.
So far, I have told you about creation. I will now tell you about the incarnations.
The Incarnations
Danu’s son Viprachitti was born in Magadha as Jarasandha, who later became the king of Magadha.
Diti’s son Hiranyakashipu was born as Shishupala. His son Anuhlada was born as Dhrishtaketu. (Dhrishtaketu was the son of Shishupala). Another son of his, Samhlada, was born as Shalya.
Vashkala was born as Bhagadatta, and Kalnemi as Kamsa.
A Danava called Sharabha took birth as Paurava.
A Danava called Garishtha took birth as Ugrasena.
The danava Dirghajihva was born as the king of Kashi.
The son of Danu, Vritra, was born as king Maniman.
A yaksha called Kalketu was born as the king of Matsya.
The asura Vritra was born as Manimana.
A son of Krodha, Haridhashva, was born as Rukmi, son of king Bhishmaka.
The sons of Danu, Kalaketus took birth as Kichaka, Kalinga, and Vrishasena.
From a portion of Brihaspati, was born Drona, the son of Rishi Bharadvaj.
Having been cursed by Vashishtha, a vasu was cursed to be born on earth as the son of Ganga.
One of the Rudras was born as Kripacharya.
A portion of the Vasus were born as Satyaki and Drupada.
A portion of the gandharvas were born as Virata and Kritavarma.
The Gandharva Subahu became Dhritarashtra, Lord of the Kurus
Vidura was an incarnation of Dharma.
The goddesses Siddhi, Dhriti and Mati (wives of Dharma) were born as Kunti, Madri and Gandhari respectively. Draupadi was born in the house of Drupada.
The age Kali took birth as Duryodhana, son of Dhritarashtra. Rishi Pulastya's portions were born as Duryodhana's brothers. They were the hundred sons of the king.
Yuyutsu was the son of a maid and Dhritarashta. He was born over and above the sons of the king. Along with these, Dhritarashtra had a daughter called Dushala. Dushala went on to marry the king, Jayadhratha.
I have thus shared and told you about your ancestors and which celestial being was born on earth, as whom."
Analysis
Mahabharata talks about avatar (incarnation). There are full
incarnations where the being descends as a human being and, a partial incarnation
where a specific portion or energy takes birth as a human. An example in the
text – Drona was a portion of Brihaspati.
When the earth becomes overburdened, certain destinies need
to be fulfilled, human birth takes place. Taking birth becomes a mechanism
through a lesson needs to be taught or a destiny needs to be fulfilled
(Bhagavad Gita or birth of Bhishma because of the curse of rishi Vashishtha).
Summary of Sambhava sub-parva
The Sambhava sub-parva is the seventh and the largest sub-parva of Adi Parva.
Here is a summary of the sub parva
| Section | Key Events & Themes | Notable Figures |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ancestral Roots | The descent of various beings . | |
| 2. Kacha and Devayani | Kacha's quest to learn the secret of reviving the dead; ends in a mutual curse between the student and the teacher’s daughter. | Kacha, Shukracharya, Devayani |
| 3.The Bharata Dynasty | The meeting of a king and a rishi's daughter in a forest, leading to the birth of the great Emperor Bharata. | Dushyanta, Shakuntala, Bharata |
| 4. King Yayati's Choice | A complex marriage dynamic leading to a curse of premature aging and the transfer of youth from son to father. | Yayati, Sharmishtha, Puru |
| 5. Bhishma’s Vow | To ensure his father's happiness, Devavrata takes a vow of celibacy and gives up the throne, becoming the guardian of the lineage. | Bhishma, Shantanu, Satyavati |
| 6. The New Generation | The birth of the three brothers via Niyoga, followed by the birth of the 100 Kauravas and the 5 Pandavas through divine invocation. | Vyasa, Dhritarashtra, Pandu, Kunti |
| 7. Training & Rivalry | The princes return to the capital for education; the emergence of Dronacharya and the first public challenge by Karna. | Dronacharya, Arjuna, Karna |
| 8. The House of Lac | A lethal trap set in Varanavata to eliminate the Pandavas; they survive by digging a secret tunnel. | Duryodhana, Purochana, Vidura |
| 9. Exile & Swayamvara | Survival in the forest, the slaying of Rakshasas, and Arjuna winning the hand of the princess of Panchala. | Bhima, Draupadi |
| 10. Partition of the Land | To prevent immediate conflict, the Kuru kingdom is split; the Pandavas are assigned a desolate wasteland. | Dhritarashtra, Pandavas |
| 11. The New Capital | The clearing of the Khandava forest and the construction of a magnificent palace by the architect Maya. | Krishna, Arjuna, Maya Danava |
This portion is the start of the Sambhava sub-Parva of Adi Parva of the Mahabharata. This talks about who took birth on earth as whom, in answer to Janamejaya’s question. It states one thing – everyone comes from that One source. All share a common ancestry. The "Good" and "Evil" are not separate forces but branches of the same tree. This passage is like a "Who’s Who" of the Mahabharata. The mention of Kali manifesting as Duryodhana signifies the transition into the Kali Yuga. This passage is also like a scriptural biological classification – apart from humans, the passage also talks about the origin of animals and birds.
What this says
A direct connection is found with the sons of Dharma and us. Kama (Desire): The drive that makes us want things. When paired with Rati (Passion), it is the creative and reproductive force of life. Harsha (Joy): The happiness and exhilaration we feel and then Harsha’s companion, Nanda (Delight), is the satisfaction. Shama (Tranquillity) is the mental peace. It is balanced by Prapti (Acquisition/Achievement). Peace comes when we are content with what we have achieved.
As I said before, everything is from one source, there is a connection with the conflicts in us. The Adityas are the higher virtues. The daityas and danavas the ego, anger and disruptive tendencies. So, if I want to speak the truth, I need to channel my "Aditya" portion. When I am spiteful or greedy, daitya or danava is taking over.
The daughters of Daksha who married Dharma are the social and personal values. They are: Kirti (Reputation/Fame), Lakshmi (Prosperity/Grace), Dhriti (Fortitude/Patience), Medha (Intellect/Insight), Pushti (Nourishment/Completeness), Shraddha (Faith/Sincerity), Kriya (Action/Work), Buddhi (Wisdom/Judgment), Lajja (Modesty/Conscience) and Mati (Opinion/Determination). Thus, from these emerge tranquillity, joy and desire.
Lineages do not define someone. Prahlada and Bali were noble and devoted figures.
There are two persons who were not mentioned by Kashidas. Rishi Bhrigu was a son of Brahma, and his son was Shukra or Shukracharya. The mention of Shukracharya will come when I talk about Kacha and Devyani.
Some Discrepancies
This follows the pattern of Vyasa and apart from some discrepancies that I could find.
The Vyasa’s text talks about many more people. Also, both Kashidas and Vyasa mention the one-hundred sons of Dhritarashtra, which I have skipped.
Birth of Daksha and the women
The Shloka in Mahabharata is:
दक्षस्त्वजायताङ्गुष्ठाद् दक्षिणाद् भगवानृषिः ।
ब्रह्मणः पृथिवीपाल शान्तात्मा सुमहातपाः ॥
वामादजायताङ्गुष्ठाद् भार्या तस्य महात्मनः ।
तस्यां पञ्चाशतं कन्याः स एवाजनयन्मुनिः ॥
dakṣastvajāyatāṅguṣṭhād dakṣiṇād bhagavānṛṣiḥ |
brahmaṇaḥ pṛthivīpāla śāntātmā sumahātapāḥ ||
vāmādajāyatāṅguṣṭhād bhāryā tasya mahātmanaḥ |
tasyāṃ pañcāśataṃ kanyāḥ sa evājanayanmuniḥ ||
The term that has been used is ङ्गुष्ठाद् means thumb. The English translations (KMG and Bibek Debroy both say toe. I have left it as thumb.
The verse of Kashidas in this sense is a bit confusing. Mahabharata says from the right ‘thumb’ was born Daksha and from the left ‘thumb’ his wife, who had fifty daughters.
Another thing is both the English versions says Daksha had no sons, but the Hindi version (Gita Press) says Daksha had sons who were lost. The term used is नष्टपुत्रः (sons who were lost or destroyed).
There is a word mentioned here – Shama, one of the sons of Dharma. Phonetically, it needs to be written as Śama (शम). This means tranquillity, mental quietude, or restraint of the mind. Shama (forgiveness) is someone else. Kṣamā (क्षमा) is a daughter of Daksha, and if phonetics is not used, one would write both names as Shama, thus I wanted to clear out the confusion.
Dharma, as per Vyasa’s Mahabharata was born from Brahma’s right breast.
The sons of the Vasus
This is what Mahabharata has to say about the children on the Vasus:
The Eight Vasus and Their Families
The Vasus are a group of eight brothers. Their parents and children are listed below:
- Dhara: He had two sons: Dravina and Huta-havya-vaha.
- Dhruva: He is the father of Kala (Time).
- Soma (Chandramas): His son is Varchas, who fathered three sons—Sisira, Prana, and Ramana—with his wife Manohara.
- Anila (Swasana): His wife is Siva, and they had two sons: Manojava and Avijnataagati.
- Aha: His four sons are Jyotih, Sama, Santa, and Muni.
- Anala (Hutasana/Agni): His son is the handsome Kumara (also known as Kartikeya), who was raised by the Krittikas. Kumara has three brothers: Sakha, Visakha, and Naigameya.
- Pratyusha: His son is the sage Devala, who was known for his great patience and mental strength.
- Prabhasa: He married the sister of Vrihaspati, a highly respected woman dedicated to truth and discipline.
The son of Prabhasa and Vrihaspati’s sister is Viswakarma.
Some notable differences
As per Vyasa, it was an asura called Swarbhanu who was born as Ugrasena. The name mentioned here is Garishtha who is supposed to be the brother of Swarbhanu and both were sons of Viprachitti.
Vyasa’s epic says the Krodhavasas were born as Rukmi and many more. Anyone with a yellow horse would get the name Haridashva.
Vyasa says Satyaki Drupada Kritavarma and Virata were born from the Maruts.
The children of Kashyapa and these thirteen wives
The progeny of Kashyapa in other texts
List of children of Kashyapa and his 13 wives differ based on Mahabharata and some puranas (Vishnu and Bhagavata).
Sharing the list here
From the Mahabharata (Sambhava Parva)
The Mahabharata shared these lineages originating from the thirteen sisters:
- Aditi: Mother of the twelve Adityas (including Shakra, Surya, and Vamana).
- Diti: Mother of the Daityas (Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha).
- Danu: Mother of the Danavas (including Viprachitti and Puloman).
- Kala: Mother of various Asura clans.
- Danayu: Mother of four sons: Vikshara, Bala, Vira, and Vritra.
- Simhika: Mother of Rahu and other Grahas (celestial bodies).
- Krodha: Mother of many fierce beings and spirits.
- Pradha: Mother of various Gandharvas and Apsaras.
- Vishva: Mother of the Yakshas.
- Vinata: Mother of Aruna (the charioteer of the sun) and Garuda.
- Kadru: Mother of the Naga race (including Shesha and Vasuki).
- Muni: Mother of another group of Gandharvas.
- Kapila: Often associated with the creation of certain flora and fauna.
From Vishnu and Bhagavata Purana
From (Vishnu and Bhagavata Purana)
While the numbers of the wives are consistent, names and children names differ:
- Aditi: Mother of the Devas.
· Diti: Mother of the Daityas and Maruts. As per Vishnu Purana, after her sons (the Daityas) were killed by the Devas Diti asked her husband, Rishi Kashyapa, for a son powerful enough to slay Indra. Kashyapa granted the boon on the condition that she maintain strict ritual purity. Fearing for his life, Indra attended to Diti during her penance, waiting for a lapse in her discipline. In the final year, Diti accidentally fell asleep in an impure posture, her hair touching her feet. Indra used his Vajra to enter her womb and split the single embryo into seven pieces. When these pieces began to cry, he split each of the seven into seven more, creating forty-nine pieces. To quiet the crying infants, Indra said, "Ma ruda" ("Do not cry"). From this, they were named the Maruts. Instead of being born as enemies of the Devas, these forty-nine beings were purified by Diti’s penance and became the Marut-Ganas—the storm deities and close allies of Indra.
- Danu: Mother of the Danavas.
- Arishta: Mother of the Gandharvas.
- Surasa: Mother of the Rakshasas (in some Puranic variations).
- Khasa: Mother of the Yakshas and Rakshasas.
- Surabhi: Mother of cows and buffaloes.
- Ira: Mother of trees, shrubs, and all types of vegetation.
- Tamra: Mother of various birds and beasts of prey (through her five daughters).
- Vinata: Mother of the feathered race (birds).
- Kadru: Mother of all serpents.
- Krodhavasha: Mother of sharp-toothed animals and carnivorous creatures.
- Muni: Mother of the Apsaras.
A similar list is available in Ramayana (Aranya Kanda Canto14)
Matsya Purana and Brahma Purana also contain the Srishti-tattva (principles of creation) that list the daughters of Daksha and their marriages to Dharma, Kashyapa, and Chandra.
Kunti is said to be an incarnation of Siddhi. While Mahabharata (all versions) say Siddhi was born as Kunti, she is not named as a wife of Dharma. Siddhi means success , which is combination of Kirti (Fame) and Lakshmi (Prosperity).
Conclusion
Our scriptures are like the Records of our heritage. If the Mahabharata is the "History," the Puranas are the "Reference Manuals." They all point to the same fact: our world is not a collection of random accidents, but a very well-organized family tree where even our feelings have a formal place.
And next week, the story of Shakuntala.
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