Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.1644

c8.1644

PAKṢIVAṂŚA. The Purāṇic version of the origin of birds is given below: Descending in order from Viṣṇu came Brahmā—Marīci—Kaśyapaprajāpati. The latter got of his wife Tāmrā (daughter of Dakṣa) five daughters named Krauñcī, Bhāsī, Śyenī, Dhṛtarāṣṭrī and Śukī. From Krauñcī were born the Ulūkas, Bhāsī gave birth to Bhāsas, Śyenī to vultures and Dhṛtarāṣṭrī to swans and geese. From these originated the entire bird family of the world. (Chapter 4, Araṇya Kāṇḍa, Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa).