Skandapurana 3.2.9

Vyāsa said:

"Listen, O tiger among kings, to this sacred, supreme narrative.

Being praised, the Lord of the World spoke these words:

Viṣṇu said:

'For what purpose have all the best of the gods, headed by Brahmā, come?

Is all well on earth? Whence has fear come to you?'

Then Brahmā, truly delighted, addressed these words to Keśava:

'There is no fear for us in the three worlds, with all that moves and is still.

I have come to your presence to make a single request.

I shall declare that to you; listen to these words of mine.

An excellent sacred ford was formerly established by Dharma.

Desiring to see that, O Lord Janārdana, by your grace,

set your mind on going there, O Lord of the gods of gods,

so that the unsurpassed Dharmāraṇya may attain the status of a true sacred ford.'"

Viṣṇu said:

"Well done, well done, O highly fortunate one! Let there be haste thither; do not delay!

My mind too is set eagerly upon that very place, longing to see it."

Vyāsa said:

Having mounted Garuḍa, Govinda went there very swiftly indeed.

Then by Dharma those gods along with Indra and the hosts of seers,

headed by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśa, were seen from afar, and he rejoiced.

Dharmarāja, seeing those gods with Viṣṇu at their head,

came there from his own hermitage, taking worship [materials] before them.

He quickly rose from his seat, and taking the materials for worship and greeting,

he then performed worship for each one individually.

The son of the Sun duly performed worship of them there.

Having seated them on thrones and performed great worship,

Yama said:

"This sacred field has become a sacred ford by your grace, O son of Devakī,

and today by the ritual of your satisfaction and by the mercy of Śiva.

Today my birth is fruitful; today my austerity is fruitful;

today my dwelling place is fruitful, through the arrival of the lords of heaven."

Vyāsa said:

Thus praised, Viṣṇu then spoke these sweet words:

"I am pleased, O sovereign lord of Dharma, by your hymn of praise, O all-pervading one!

Ask something of me; I will grant your wish.

Whatever is desired by you, that I shall grant to you, without doubt."

Yama said:

"If you are pleased, O Lord of gods, if you will fulfill my desire,

establish hermitages of seers in the greatly sacred Dharmāraṇya,

where brahmins dwell and sacrificers perform sacrifices."

Filled with the sound of the Vedas, that supreme sacred ford shines.

Lacking brahmins, creatures will afflict this sacred ford.

Therefore, O Śauri, bring here brahmins and many seers,

so that Dharmāraṇya shines throughout the three worlds, both moving and unmoving.

Then Viṣṇu, thousand-eyed, thousand-headed, and thousand-footed,

the lover of righteousness, assumed thousands of forms at that time.

In whichever place there were brahmins of good conduct and auspicious vows,

skilled in all virtues of righteousness, versed in every scripture,

renowned in austerity and knowledge, devoted to the recitation of the Veda—

all these seers, eighteen thousand in number, were settled [there].

Brought from various regions, they were settled there by the gods,

along with many hermitages fashioned there by the lords of creation.

In accordance with the instruction on righteousness, by Kṛṣṇa, Brahmā, and Śiva,

Keśava established them in their respective places as appropriate.

Yudhiṣṭhira said:

From which lineage were born these brahmins who have crossed to the end of the Vedas,

who were established along with their households, surrounded by sons and grandsons,

accompanied by many disciples, and devoted to the agnihotra?

Tell me properly their settlements and their names.

Vyāsa said:

Listen, O tiger among kings, regarding the dwellers of Dharmāraṇya,

the great-souled brahmins, the seers of upward-drawn seed;

I shall tell you their names and those of their sons and grandsons.

There are twenty-four clans of the twice-born, O bull of the Pāṇḍavas.

Their branches and sub-branches, as well as sons, grandsons, and the like—

many sons were born, by hundreds and thousands.

I shall declare to you the names of the twenty-four primary [clans].

The seers of the twice-born are declared; hear also their ancestral lineages:

Bhāradvāja, Vatsa, Kauśika, and Kuśa,

Śāṇḍilya, Kāśyapa, Gautama, and Chāndhana,

Jātūkarṇya, Vatsa, Vasiṣṭha, and Dhāraṇa,

Ātreya, Bhāṇḍila, and Laukika; after these,

Kṛṣṇāyana, Upamanyu, Gārgya, Mudgala, Mauṣaka,

Puṇyāsana, Parāśara, and after that Kauṇḍinya,

and also Gānyāsana—these are the twenty-four ancestral lineages.

For the clan of Jāmadagnya, there are five ancestral sages:

Bhārgava, Cyavana, Āpnuvāna, Aurva, and Jāmadagnika.

These five are celebrated, famous throughout the world, O king.

Born from such clans, the brahmins, masters of the Vedas,

engaged in worship of the twice-born and devoted to performing various sacrifices,

were endowed with virtue and committed to the six duties.

Such illustrious twice-born had come from diverse lands.

[…] the third, and there are five ancestral sages:

joined as Bhārgava, Cyāvana, Āpnuvāna, Aurva, and Jāmadagnya.

Ātreya, Arcanānasa, and Śyāvāśva is the third.

The brahmins born in this clan are harsh and cunning,

wealthy, steadfast in duty, and versed in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas,

all devoted to gift-giving and enjoyment, acknowledged in Vedic and traditional rites.

Those of the Māṇḍavya clan should be known as endowed with five ancestral sages:

Bhārgava, Cyāvana, Atri, Āpnuvāna, and Aurva.

Brahmins born in this clan are devoted to Vedic revelation and tradition,

afflicted with disease, greedy, harsh, yet engaged in sacrificing and conducting sacrifices,

all devoted to sacred rites, the Māṇḍavyas, O best of Kurus.

Those born in the clan of Gārgya have three ancestral sages:

Aṅgiras, Ambarīṣa, and Yauvanāśva is the third.

Those born in this clan are of upright conduct, truthful in speech,

tranquil, varied in complexion, poor, and wearing ragged garments,

endowed with affection for their company, and steadfast in the Vedic scriptures.

For the twice-born of the Vatsa clan, O king, there are indeed five ancestral sages:

Bhārgava, Cyavana, Āpnuvāna, Aurva, and Jāmadagnika.

By these [seers], indeed, five are renowned. The twice-born embody the nature of Brahman;

they are tranquil, self-restrained, virtuous, and well-endowed with righteous sons.

Though destitute of Vedic recitation, they are skilled in all rites,

handsome, well-behaved, and steadfast in all duties.

All are devoted to the virtue of giving; the twice-born are givers of food and givers of water,

compassionate, virtuous, and devoted to the welfare of all beings.

The Kāśyapa brahmins, O king, are endowed with three ancestral sages:

Kāśyapa, Avatsāra, and Naidhruva is the third.

They are knowers of the Veda, fair-complexioned, committed to vows, and performers of sacrifices,

fond of fine garments, highly capable, and always devoted to revering their gurus.

Possessed of honor and reputation, and devoted to the welfare of all beings,

these twice-born scions of Kāśyapa perform great sacrifices.

Those born in the Dhārīṇa lineage are endowed with three ancestral sages:

namely, Agasti, Darvi, Śvetāśva, [or] Dadhyavāhana.

Those who are born in this lineage, though dedicated to religious rites,

are all cruel in their deeds, and likewise pot-bellied.

With pendulous ears and large tusks, these twice-born are devoted to wealth,

wrathful, spiteful, and terrifying to all living beings.

Those brahmins who originate from Laugākṣa are dedicated to truth.

Their three ancestral sages embody knowledge of reality:

Kaśyapa, Vatsa, and Vasiṣṭha as the third.

Renowned for good conduct, they are Vaiṣṇavas of varied occupations,

covered with abundant body hair, dark-complexioned brahmins,

tranquil, generous, of good character, and always faithful to their own wives.

Those born in the Kuśika lineage are endowed with three ancestral sages:

Viśvāmitra, Devarāta, and Audala—these three.

Those born in this lineage are weak and depressed in mind,

untruthful-speaking brahmins, handsome, O best of kings,

skilled in all sciences, brahmins foremost among knowers of Brahman.

Those belonging to the Upamanyu lineage are endowed with three ancestral sages:

Vasiṣṭha, Bharadvāja, and Indrapramada.

The brahmins born in this lineage are cruel, devious in conduct,

fault-finding, malicious, vile, intent on hoarding everything,

skilled at stirring up quarrels, wealthy, and arrogant,

ever wicked and devoted to keeping bad company,

diseased, weak, and devoid of legitimate livelihoods.

The brahmins born in the Vātsya lineage are endowed with five ancestral sages:

Bhārgava, Cyāvana, Āpnuvāna, Aurva, and Jāmadagnya.

The brahmins born in this lineage are stout and possessed of vast intellect,

engaged in all rites, and steadfast in all duties,

skilled in the meaning of the Vedas and treatises, devoted to sacrificing and officiating for others,

virtuous in conduct, handsome, and far-sighted in intellect.

Those belonging to the Vātsyāyana lineage are endowed with five ancestral sages:

Bhārgava, Cyāvana, Āpnuvāna, Aurva, and Jāmadagnya.

These previously mentioned ancestral sages have been declared to you, O Bhārata.

Those born in this lineage are ever devoted to domestic sacrifices;

greedy and wrathful, they produce numerous progeny.

Ever devoted to ablutions, gifts, and the like, with senses restrained,

constructors of stepwells, wells, and ponds by the thousands,

constant in vows and discerning of virtues, yet foolish and bereft of the Vedas.

Those born in the Kauśika lineage are endowed with three ancestral sages:

Viśvāmitra, Aghamarṣaṇa, and Kauśika as the third.

The brahmins born in this lineage are knowers of Brahman,

tranquil, restrained, virtuous, and dedicated to all duties,

yet childless, rough, and devoid of brilliance, though best of the twice-born.

Those belonging to the Bhāradvāja lineage are endowed with five ancestral sages:

Āṅgirasa, Bārhaspatya, Bhāradvāja, Sainyasa,

and Gārgya—these are to be known as the five ancestral sages.

The brahmins born in this lineage are wealthy, auspicious,

adorned with clothes and ornaments, and devoted to reverence for the twice-born.

Devoted entirely to feeding brahmins, intent upon all righteous duties.

Those who were born in the lineage of Kaśyapa have three ancestral seers:

Kaśyapa, Apavatsāra, and Raibhya—these three are celebrated.

The brahmins born in this gotra have red eyes and fierce glances;

They are all addicted to the pleasures of the tongue, yet all of them seek the highest truth;

They are poor and diseased, thieves and speakers of falsehood;

They are ignorant of the meaning of the śāstras and devoid of the Veda and smṛti.

And the brahmins born among the Śunakas are intent on meditation,

Practitioners of austerity, yogins, masters of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas,

Virtuous, of good conduct, and devoted to the worship of Viṣṇu,

Short in stature, of varied complexion, having many women, best of the twice-born,

Compassionate, straightforward, peaceful, and intent on feeding brahmins.

Those born among the Śaunakas possess three ancestral seers:

Bhārgava, Śaunahotra, and Gārtsapramada—these are the three.

The brahmins born in this region are irresistible, O king,

Very fierce, large-bodied, tall, and arrogant with pride,

Distressing in form, dark-complexioned, and learned in all the śāstras,

Voracious eaters, proud, capable, free from passion and hatred,

Adorned with fine garments and ornaments, indeed, brahmins who expound the Veda.

Those who are born in the gotra of Vasiṣṭha possess three ancestral seers:

Vasiṣṭha, Bhāradvāja, and Indrapramada.

The brahmins born in this gotra are masters of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas,

Sacrificers, inclined to sacrifice, sweet-voiced, and happy,

Spiteful, wealthy, possessing sons, and virtuous,

Broad-chested, O king, heroic, and destroyers of foes.

Those born in the gotra of Gautama indeed have five ancestral seers:

Kautsa, Gārgya, Somavāha, Asita, and Devala.

The brahmins born in this gotra are exceedingly purifying,

All benefactors of others, devoted to the śruti and smṛti;

They sit like herons, are deceitful, and are intent on fraudulent conduct;

Skilled in the meaning of various śāstras, adorned with various ornaments,

Skilled in work with trees and [gardening], slow to forgive anger, and sickly.

Those born in the gotra of Aṅgiras possess three ancestral seers:

Āṅgirasa, Ambarīṣa, and Yauvanāśva as the third.

Those born in this gotra speak the truth,

Have conquered their senses, are handsome, eat little, and have auspicious faces,

Observant of great vows, knowers of the Purāṇas, devoted to making great gifts,

Free from malice, yet prone to greed, intent upon Vedic study,

Farsighted, of great splendor, yet deluded by great māyā.