Bhagavatapurana 3.12: atha dvādaśo'dhyāyaḥ

3.12.1

/0 maitreya uvāca
iti te varṇitaḥ kṣattaḥ kālākhyaḥ paramātmanaḥ /
mahimā veda-garbho 'tha yathāsrākṣīn nibodha me //

Maitreya said:
Thus has been described to you, O Vidura, the greatness called Time belonging to the Supreme Self;
now hear from me how Brahmā, holding the Vedas in his womb, brought forth creation.

1. Maitreya said:—"O Vidura, thus have I described to thee the glory of Paramatman under the name of Time. Now listen to me as I tell you how Vedagarbha (Brahma) proceeded with his creation.

3.12.2

sasarjāgre 'ndha-tāmisram atha tāmisram ādi-kṛt /
mahāmohaṃ ca mohaṃ ca tamaś cājñāna-vṛttayaḥ //

At first the creator generated darkness consisting of five forms:
utter darkness, deep gloom, great delusion, delusion, and obscurity.

2. In the beginning, Brahma the first maker created Andhatamisra, Tamisra, Maha-Moha, Moha and Tamas—the five varieties of Ajnana (nescience.)

3.12.3

dṛṣṭvā pāpīyasīṃ sṛṣṭiṃ nātmānaṃ bahv amanyata /
bhagavad-dhyāna-pūtena manasānyāṃ tato 'sṛjat //

Seeing this miserable creation, he did not hold himself in high regard;
he then brought forth another [creation] with a mind purified by meditation upon the Lord.

3. Seeing that creation to be very sinful, Brahma was not pleased with himself; then through his mind purified by meditation on the Supreme Being he brought out another creation.

3.12.4

sanakaṃ ca sanandaṃ ca sanātanam athātmabhūḥ /
sanat-kumāraṃ ca munīn niṣkriyān ūrdhva-retasaḥ //

The self-born [Brahmā] then created Sanaka, Sananda, Sanātana,
and the sage Sanat-kumāra, who were free from action and had sublimated their seed.

4. That is, Brahma created the sages *viz.*, Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana and Sanatkumara who renounced all karma and thoroughly controlled their seed (*i.e.*, who lived a life of celibacy all through).

3.12.5

tān babhāṣe svabhūḥ putrān prajāḥ sṛjata putrakāḥ /
tan naicchan mokṣa-dharmāṇo vāsudeva-parāyaṇāḥ //

The self-born spoke to those sons: “Bring forth offspring, my sons!”
Devoted to the dharma of liberation and intent on Vāsudeva, they did not desire to do so.

5. Brahma said to them, “O my sons, create beings to people the world with;” but they did not like to do so, since they were given to duty leading to *moksha* and were wholly devoted to Vasudeva.

3.12.6

so 'vadhyātaḥ sutair evaṃ pratyākhyātānuśāsanaiḥ /
krodhaṃ durviṣahaṃ jātaṃ niyantum upacakrame //

Disregarded in this manner by his sons, who rejected his command,
he attempted to restrain the unbearable anger that arose within him.

6. Thus disregarded by the sons who set aside his commands, Brahma was full of irresistible anger; but he began to restrain it.

3.12.7

dhiyā nigṛhyamāṇo 'pi bhruvor madhyāt prajāpateḥ /
sadyo 'jāyata tan-manyuḥ kumāro nīla-lohitaḥ //

Though being restrained by his intellect, that wrath of the progenitor
was instantly born from the space between his eyebrows as a blue-and-red boy.

7. Though it was being restrained by the power of the mind, that passion was born at once as a son of a mixed complexion, blue and red, from the middle of the brows of Prajapati.

3.12.8

sa vai ruroda devānāṃ pūrvajo bhagavān bhavaḥ /
nāmāni kuru me dhātaḥ sthānāni ca jagad-guro //

He, the eldest of the gods, the lord Bhava, wept indeed:
“Assign names to me, O creator, and dwellings, O teacher of the universe!”

8. The son who was so born before all the other gods was Bhava and he cried:—“O, Father, give me names and appoint me places, O Lord of the world.

3.12.9

iti tasya vacaḥ pādmo bhagavān paripālayan /
abhyadhād bhadrayā vācā mā rodīs tat karomi te //

Thus fulfilling his request, the lotus-born Lord
addressed him with gentle words: “Do not weep; I shall grant that to you.

9. The lotus-born (Brahma) intending to comply with the request thus made by him (Bhava) said to him in sweet words, “Child, do not weep, I shall do it for thee.”

3.12.10

yad arodīḥ sura-śreṣṭha sodvega iva bālakaḥ /
tatas tvām abhidhāsyanti nāmnā rudra iti prajāḥ //

Because you wept like an anxious child, O best of the gods,
creatures shall therefore call you by the name Rudra.

10. O Foremost one among the gods, since thou weptest like an anxious boy, people will call thee Rudra by name.

3.12.11

hṛd indriyāṇy asur vyoma vāyur agnir jalaṃ mahī /
sūryaś candras tapaś caiva sthānāny agre kṛtāni te //

The heart, the senses, the breath of life, the ether, the wind, fire, water, the earth,
the sun, the moon, and austerity—these dwellings have already been made for you.

11. I have already appointed these places for you *viz.*, the mind, the Indriyas, the vital breath, the sky, Vayu, Agni, the water, the earth, the sun and the moon and Tapas.

3.12.12

manyur manur mahinaso mahāñ chiva ṛtadhvajaḥ /
ugraretā bhavaḥ kālo vāmadevo dhṛtavrataḥ //

Manyu, Manu, Mahinasa, Mahān, Śiva, Ṛtadhvaja,
Ugraretas, Bhava, Kāla, Vāmadeva, and Dhṛtavrata [are your names].

12. Thou hast also these names : Manyu, Manu, Mahinasa Mahan, Siva, Ritudhvaja, Ugraretas, Bhava, Kala, Vamadeva and Dhritavrata.

3.12.13

dhīr dhṛti-rasalomā ca niyut sarpir ilāmbikā /
irāvatī svadhā dīkṣā rudrāṇyo rudra te striyaḥ //

Dhī, Dhṛti, Rasalomā, Niyut, Sarpis, Ilā, Ambikā,
Irāvatī, Svadhā, Dīkṣā, and Rudrāṇī—these are your wives, O Rudra.

13. And, O Rudra, thou wilt have these women for thee, viz., Dhee, Vrithi, Usana, Uma, Niyutsarpi, Ila, Ambika, Iravati, Sudha, Diksha and Rudrani.

3.12.14

gṛhāṇaitāni nāmāni sthānāni ca sa-yoṣaṇaḥ /
ebhiḥ sṛja prajā bahvīḥ prajānām asi yat patiḥ //

Accept these names and dwellings together with your wives;
with these, bring forth numerous offspring, since you are a lord of creatures.”

14. Accept these names and places and also these wives, and with these create many peoples, since thou art the Lord of peoples.

3.12.15

ity ādiṣṭaḥ sva-guruṇā bhagavān nīla-lohitaḥ /
sattvākṛti-svabhāvena sasarjātma-samāḥ prajāḥ //

Thus commanded by his father, the blue-and-red lord
created offspring equal to himself in power, form, and nature.

15. Thus commanded by the Father, the glorious Rudra created beings equal to him by virtue of his strength, form and activity (energy).

3.12.16

rudrāṇāṃ rudra-sṛṣṭānāṃ samantād grasatāṃ jagat /
niśāmyāsaṅkhyaśo yūthān prajāpatir aśaṅkata //

Seeing the innumerable multitudes of Rudras born of Rudra
devouring the universe on all sides, the progenitor grew apprehensive:

16. Seeing that the numberless hosts of Rudras produced by the first Rudra began to devour the world on all sides, Prajapati was filled with fear.

3.12.17

alaṃ prajābhiḥ sṛṣṭābhir īdṛśībhiḥ surottama /
mayā saha dahantībhir diśaś cakṣurbhir ulbaṇaiḥ //

“Enough with creating offspring such as these, O foremost of gods,
who are burning the directions along with me with their fierce eyes!

17. He said to Rudra:—"O Foremost among the gods, enough with thy creation of sons of this character who with their fiery eyes burn all the directions along with me."

3.12.18

tapa ātiṣṭha bhadraṃ te sarva-bhūta-sukhāvaham /
tapasaiva yathā pūrvaṃ sraṣṭā viśvam idaṃ bhavān //

Engage in austerity; may all be well with you, bringing happiness to all living beings;
only through austerity will you create this universe as before.

18. "May you be blest. Perform tapas that may bring happiness to all beings, so that by means of tapas thou wilt create this universe as it was before.

3.12.19

tapasaiva paraṃ jyotir bhagavantam adhokṣajam /
sarva-bhūta-guhāvāsam añjasā vindate pumān //

Only through austerity does a person easily attain the supreme light,
the Lord, Adhokṣaja, who dwells within the cave of the hearts of all living beings.”

19. For only by means of tapas man surely attains to Adhokshaja, the Supreme Light, the Omnipotent Lord, abiding in the heart of all beings."

3.12.20

/0 maitreya uvāca
evam ātmabhuvādiṣṭaḥ parikramya girāṃ patim /
bāḍham ity amum āmantrya viveśa tapase vanam //

Maitreya said:
Thus instructed by the self-born [Brahmā], he circumambulated the master of speech,
and saying “So be it,” took his leave and entered the forest to perform austerity.

20. Maitreya said :—Being thus commanded by Brahma, Rudra went round the Lord of Speech, agreeing to do his bidding and with his leave went into a forest for tapas.

3.12.21

athābhidhyāyataḥ sargaṃ daśa putrāḥ prajajñire /
bhagavac-chakti-yuktasya loka-santāna-hetavaḥ //

Then, as he meditated upon creation, ten sons were born
to him who was endowed with the Lord's power, to propagate the worlds:

21. Then, as Brahmā was revolving thoughts of creation, ten sons, the sources of all the races of the world, were born of him, since he was endowed with the divine power of promoting Creation.

3.12.22

marīcir atry-aṅgirasau pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ /
bhṛgur vasiṣṭho dakṣaś ca daśamas tatra nāradaḥ //

Marīci, Atri and Aṅgiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu,
Bhṛgu, Vasiṣṭha, Dakṣa, and the tenth among them, Nārada.

22. They are Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrigu, Vasistha, Daksha, and Narada the tenth of them.

3.12.23

utsaṅgān nārado jajñe dakṣo 'ṅguṣṭhāt svayambhuvaḥ /
prāṇād vasiṣṭhaḥ sañjāto bhṛgus tvaci karāt kratuḥ //

Nārada was born from Svayambhū's lap, and Dakṣa from his thumb;
Vasiṣṭha was born from his life-breath, Bhṛgu from his skin, and Kratu from his hand;

23—24. Narada was born from Brahma’s lap, Daksha from his thumb; Vasishta from his breath, Bhrigu from his skin, Kratu from his hand, Pulaha from his navel, Pulastya the sage from his ears, Angiras from the mouth, Atri from his eyes and Marichi from his mind.

3.12.24

pulaho nābhito jajñe pulastyaḥ karṇayor ṛṣiḥ /
aṅgirā mukhato 'kṣṇo 'trir marīcir manaso 'bhavat //

Pulaha was born from his navel, and the sage Pulastya from his ears;
Aṅgiras from his mouth, Atri from his eyes, and Marīci came from his mind.

3.12.25

dharmaḥ stanād dakṣiṇato yatra nārāyaṇaḥ svayam /
adharmaḥ pṛṣṭhato yasmān mṛtyur loka-bhayaṅkaraḥ //

Dharma was born from his right breast, where Nārāyaṇa himself resides;
and adharma from his back, from which comes death that terrifies the world.

25. Dharma was born of his right breast in whom Narayana is directly present. Adharma was born of his back from whom arises Mrityu (death) most terrible to the world.

3.12.26

hṛdi kāmo bhruvaḥ krodho lobhaś cādhara-dacchadāt /
āsyād vāk sindhavo meḍhrān nirṛtiḥ pāyor aghāśrayaḥ //

From his heart arose desire, from his brows anger, and greed from his lower lip;
from his mouth arose speech, from his phallus the oceans, and from his anus Nirṛti, the abode of sin.

26. Kama was born of his heart and Krodha or anger from his brows and Lobha (covetousness) from his lower lip, speech from his face, rivers from his organ of generation and Nirriti the resort of all sin from his anus.

3.12.27

chāyāyāḥ kardamo jajñe devahūtyāḥ patiḥ prabhuḥ /
manaso dehataś cedaṃ jajñe viśva-kṛto jagat //

From his shadow Kardama was born, the lord and husband of Devahūti.
Thus from the mind and the body of the creator of all, this universe was born.

27. From his shadow was born Kardama, the powerful lord of Devahuti. Thus the world was produced out of Brahma's mind and body.

3.12.28

vācaṃ duhitaraṃ tanvīṃ svayambhūr haratīṃ manaḥ /
akāmāṃ cakame kṣattaḥ sa-kāma iti naḥ śrutam //

Seeing his daughter Vāc, slender-waisted and captivating his mind,
Svayambhū, filled with desire, longed for her who was without desire, O Kṣattṛ—so we have heard.

28. Swayambhu full of passion loved Speech (Saraswati), his own beautiful daughter, who captivated his mind, though she had no passion; so we are told, O Vidura.

3.12.29

tam adharme kṛta-matiṃ vilokya pitaraṃ sutāḥ /
marīci-mukhyā munayo viśrambhāt pratyabodhayan //

Seeing their father intent upon adharma, his sons,
the sages headed by Marīci, spoke out to admonish him out of trust:

29. Seeing that their father had set his mind on the path of unrighteousness, Marichi and other sages, his own sons, called his attention to the matter through the courage of their sincerity.

3.12.30

naitat pūrvaiḥ kṛtaṃ tvad ye na kariṣyanti cāpare /
yas tvaṃ duhitaraṃ gaccher anigṛhyāṅgajaṃ prabhuḥ //

“This was not done by those before you, nor will others do it hereafter—
that you, the master, unable to restrain your lust, should approach your own daughter.

30. And they said, "This was not done by the ancients nor will people do it in future; thou approachest thy daughter without subduing Kama though able to do so.

3.12.31

tejīyasām api hy etan na suślokyaṃ jagad-guro /
yad-vṛttam anutiṣṭhan vai lokaḥ kṣemāya kalpate //

Even for the most glorious, O teacher of the world, this is not honorable;
for it is by following their conduct that the world attains welfare.

31. "Indeed, O father of the world, this course cannot be praiseworthy even on the part of those that are strong in celestial fire, by imitating whose conduct the world may (hope to) be fit for a prosperous life.

3.12.32

tasmai namo bhagavate ya idaṃ svena rociṣā /
ātma-sthaṃ vyañjayām āsa sa dharmaṃ pātum arhati //

Reverence to that Lord who by his own light
revealed this [universe] existing within himself! He ought to protect dharma.”

32. "To thy glorious self we bow—Thou who hast by the light of thine own wisdom given a manifest form to this world which was in thyself, shouldst protect Dharma."

3.12.33

sa itthaṃ gṛṇataḥ putrān puro dṛṣṭvā prajāpatīn /
prajāpati-patis tanvaṃ tatyāja vrīḍitas tadā /
tāṃ diśo jagṛhur ghorāṃ nīhāraṃ yad vidus tamaḥ //

Seeing his sons, the lords of creatures, thus speaking before him,
the lord of the lords of creatures felt ashamed and then cast off that body;
the directions seized that dreadful [body], which they know as fog and darkness.

33. When he saw before him his own sons, the progenitors of the world, wisely speaking thus, the Lord of Prajāpatis was ashamed and cast off his body.

34. The directions embraced that fearful body which the learned speak of as mist or darkness. Once when he was contemplating how he should create the well-arranged worlds as they were before, the Vedas issued forth from the four faces of the maker (his four faces.)

3.12.34

kadācid dhyāyataḥ sraṣṭur vedā āsaṃś catur-mukhāt /
kathaṃ srakṣyāmy ahaṃ lokān samavetān yathā purā //

Once, as the creator meditated, “How shall I create
the worlds assembled as before?”, the Vedas came forth from his four mouths:

3.12.35

cātur-hotraṃ karma-tantram upaveda-nayaiḥ saha /
dharmasya pādāś catvāras tathaivāśrama-vṛttayaḥ //

The ritual duties of the four kinds of priests, along with the maxims of the Upavedas,
the four quarters of dharma, and likewise the modes of life for the orders.

35. The extensive sacrificial course comprising the duties of the four priests along with Upavedas (Logic and other disciplines), the four feet of Dharma, as well as the Asramas and their duties were produced at the time.

3.12.36

/0 vidura uvāca
sa vai viśva-sṛjām īśo vedādīn mukhato 'sṛjat /
yad yad yenāsṛjad devas tan me brūhi tapo-dhana //

Vidura said:
He, the lord of the creators of the universe, produced the Vedas and the rest from his mouths;
tell me, O you whose wealth is austerity, what the god produced by which [mouth].

36. Vidura said:—O sage, whose wealth is *tapas*, you said that the Lord of Prajapatis produced the Vedas out of his mouth. Be pleased to tell me what particular things he produced by the several organs or means.

3.12.37

/0 maitreya uvāca
ṛg-yajuḥ-sāmātharvākhyān vedān pūrvādibhir mukhaiḥ /
śāstram ijyāṃ stuti-stomaṃ prāyaścittaṃ vyadhāt kramāt //

Maitreya said:
With his mouths beginning with the eastern, he produced the Vedas named Ṛg, Yajus, Sāman, and Atharvan in order,
as well as instruction, sacrifice, the stuti and stoma, and expiation.

37. Maitreya said:—"Through his mouth beginning with that facing the east, he produced the Vedas known as Rik, Yajus,

Sama and Atharva, which are respectively used as Sastra (शस्त्रम्) Ijjya, the Adhvaryus part, Songs, and Prayaschitta.

3.12.38

āyur-vedaṃ dhanur-vedaṃ gāndharvaṃ vedam ātmanaḥ /
sthāpatyaṃ cāsṛjad vedaṃ kramāt pūrvādibhir mukhaiḥ //

In order, with his mouths beginning with the eastern, he also produced
Āyurveda, Dhanurveda, Gāndharvaveda, and Sthāpatyaveda from himself.

38. Again through the same faces in the same order, he produced Ayurveda, Dhanurveda, Gandharva Veda, the art of the sthapatis (sculpture etc).

3.12.39

itihāsa-purāṇāni pañcamaṃ vedam īśvaraḥ /
sarvebhya eva vaktrebhyaḥ sasṛje sarva-darśanaḥ //

The omniscient Lord created the fifth Veda—
the histories and Purāṇas—from all his mouths together.

39. And through all faces, the Lord Brahma, possessed of all knowledge, gave out the fifth Veda comprising the Itihasa and the Puranas.

3.12.40

ṣoḍaśy-ukthau pūrva-vaktrāt purīṣy-agniṣṭutāv atha /
āptoryāmātirātrau ca vājapeyaṃ sagosavam //

From his eastern mouth [arose] the Ṣoḍaśin and the Uktha; then the Purīṣin and Agniṣṭut;
and the Āptoryāma and Atirātra, the Vājapeya along with the Gosava.

40. Again through the eastern face He produced Shodasi and Uktha and then in order Pureeshee (पुरीषी) and (अग्निष्टुत्) Agnishtut, Aptoryama आप्तोर्यामा, Atiratra, Vajapeya and Gosawa.

3.12.41

vidyā dānaṃ tapaḥ satyaṃ dharmasyeti padāni ca /
āśramāṃś ca yathā-saṅkhyam asṛjat saha vṛttibhiḥ //

Knowledge, charity, austerity, and truth—these are the feet of dharma;
and he created the orders of life together with their livelihoods in proper order:

41. 42. Then He produced the four feet of Dharma viz, Learning, or, Knowledge, Charitable gifts, Tapas, Satya or Truthfulness and the Asramas with their respective functions or duties viz. Savitra (the study of Gayatri), Prajapatya (vows to be observed for a year), Brahma (study of the Vedas to the end) and Brihat (the great vow of celibacy), agriculture, help given to Sacrificial acts, Saleena (living by asking for others' help) and Silonchcha (gleaning of scattered corn)—all these to be followed by those that lead a house-holder's life.

3.12.42

sāvitraṃ prājāpatyaṃ ca brāhmaṃ cātha bṛhat tathā /
vārtā sañcaya-śālīna- śiloñcha iti vai gṛhe //

Sāvitra, Prājāpatya, Brāhma, and Bṛhat;
and for the householder: agriculture, accumulation, ungathered gleaning, and picked ears of grain;

3.12.43

vaikhānasā vālakhilyau- dumbarāḥ phenapā vane /
nyāse kuṭīcakaḥ pūrvaṃ bahvodo haṃsa-niṣkriyau //

In the forest: the Vaikhānasa, Vālakhilya, Audumbara, and Phenapa;
in renunciation: first the Kuṭīcaka, Bahvoda, Haṃsa, and Niṣkriya.

43. Those that dwell in the forest are of four classes, viz Vaikhanasas, who live upon corn that grows wild, Valakhilyas who accept only fresh food just made ready, Audumbaras who live upon fruits and other things obtained in the direction they first go in the morning, and Phenapas who subsist upon fruits,

leaves and the like that have fallen on the ground.—In the ascetic life there are four classes, viz, kuteechaka, Bahooda, Haṃsa and Nishkriya.

3.12.44

ānvīkṣikī trayī vārtā daṇḍa-nītis tathaiva ca /
evaṃ vyāhṛtayaś cāsan praṇavo hy asya dahrataḥ //

Logic, the triple Veda, commerce, and likewise statecraft;
so too arose the sacred utterances, and from his heart [arose] the praṇava.

44. Then in the same order He produced the services relating to Moksha, Dharma, Kama and Artha. Similarly from his heart came forth the Vyahritis and Pranava.

3.12.45

tasyoṣṇig āsīl lomabhyo gāyatrī ca tvaco vibhoḥ /
triṣṭum māṃsāt snuto 'nuṣṭub jagaty asthnaḥ prajāpateḥ //

From the hairs of the all-pervading lord of creatures arose the Uṣṇih, and the Gāyatrī from his skin;
the Triṣṭubh from his flesh, the Anuṣṭubh from his sinews, the Jagatī from his bones,

45 & 46. The Ushnik metre issued from His hair, Gayatri from his skin, Trishtup from His flesh, Anushtup from His tendons, Jagati from the bones of Prajapathi, Pankti from his marrow, Brihati from His prana (the vital breath); the five clases of consonants were formed out of his Jiva (Life) and swaras (vowels) formed His body.

3.12.46

majjāyāḥ paṅktir utpannā bṛhatī prāṇato 'bhavat /
sparśas tasyābhavaj jīvaḥ svaro deha udāhṛta //

From his marrow the Paṅkti arose, and the Bṛhatī was from his breath.
The contact consonants were his life, and the vowels are said to be his body.

3.12.47

ūṣmāṇam indriyāṇy āhur antaḥ-sthā balam ātmanaḥ /
svarāḥ sapta vihāreṇa bhavanti sma prajāpateḥ //

The sibilants are called his senses, and the semivowels his own strength;
and by the play of the lord of creatures arose the seven musical notes.

47. The sibilants are said to be his Indriyas and the semi-vowels, य, र, ल, व, form His strength and the seven notes of music are formed by the sport of Prajapati.

3.12.48

śabda-brahmātmanas tasya vyaktāvyaktātmanaḥ paraḥ /
brahmāvabhāti vitato nānā-śakty-upabṛṃhitaḥ //

Higher than that [Brahman] who is the soul of the sonic Brahman, whose nature is the manifest and unmanifest,
Brahman shines forth, all-pervading, strengthened by diverse powers.

48. (Since) Brahma is Sabda-brahman i.e. he has for his body the Vyakta (Vaikhari) and Avyakta (Pranava), the Supreme Being shines to him (is distinctly realised by him),—shines to him while in Avyakta as Perfect and all-pervading Brahman, and while in Vyakta as Indra and other forms endowed with various powers.

3.12.49

tato 'parām upādāya sa sargāya mano dadhe /
ṛṣīṇāṃ bhūri-vīryāṇām api sargam avistṛtam //

Then, assuming another [form], he set his mind on creation.
Yet, seeing that the creation by the sages, though they were of abundant potency, was not spreading,

49 & 50. Then Brahma assumed a different body and thought of proceeding with the creation. Seeing that also the creation of Rishis possessed of great virtue was not sufficiently extensive, He began, O Vidura, to think over it again in His mind: "It is really a wonder that though I am busy every day, living beings do not increase; perhaps the Providence is interrupting it."

3.12.50

jñātvā tad dhṛdaye bhūyaś cintayām āsa kaurava /
aho adbhutam etan me vyāpṛtasyāpi nityadā //

He considered it further in his heart, O descendant of Kuru:
“Ah, how strange this is, that though I am always occupied [with creating],

3.12.51

na hy edhante prajā nūnaṃ daivam atra vighātakam /
evaṃ yukta-kṛtas tasya daivaṃ cāvekṣatas tadā //

The creatures indeed do not increase! Fate must surely be an obstacle here.”
While he was thus engaged, looking upon fate,

51 & 52. While Brahma was thus doing what was proper and looking forward to the Providence, his form became divided into two and on this account he is called Kaya. And from the two divisions of that form a male and a female were produced.

3.12.52

kasya rūpam abhūd dvedhā yat kāyam abhicakṣate /
tābhyāṃ rūpa-vibhāgābhyāṃ mithunaṃ samapadyata //

The body of Ka became divided into two, which is called a body;
and from those two divided forms, a couple was produced.

3.12.53

yas tu tatra pumān so 'bhūn manuḥ svāyambhuvaḥ svarāṭ /
strī yāsīc chatarūpākhyā mahiṣy asya mahātmanaḥ //

The male among them became the sovereign Svāyambhuva Manu,
and the woman was named Śatarūpā, the queen of this great soul.

53. Of the twins he who was the male was Swayambhuva Manu, the Emperor, and the female was called Satarupa and she was the queen of that great man.

3.12.54

tadā mithuna-dharmeṇa prajā hy edhām babhūvire /
sa cāpi śatarūpāyāṃ pañcāpatyāny ajījanat //

Then, by the law of pairing, creatures indeed multiplied;
and he also begot five children upon Śatarūpā:

54. Then indeed in their relation as husband and wife, creatures began to multiply; and he begot five children on Satarupa.

3.12.55

priyavratottānapādau tisraḥ kanyāś ca bhārata /
ākūtir devahūtiś ca prasūtir iti sattama //

Priyavrata and Uttānapāda, and three daughters, O Bhārata:
Ākūti, Devahūti, and Prasūti, O best of men.

55. They were Priyavrata and Uttanapada and three daughters Akuti, Devahuti and Prasuti.

3.12.56

ākūtiṃ rucaye prādāt kardamāya tu madhyamām /
dakṣāyādāt prasūtiṃ ca yata āpūritaṃ jagat //

He gave Ākūti to Ruci, and the middle one to Kardama;
and he gave Prasūti to Dakṣa, from whom the world was filled.

56. He gave Akuti to Ruchi, the second daughter to Kardama and Prasuti to Daksha, through whom the whole world was filled (with people).