Mahabharata – 86

by 

Sankar Mukherjee

&

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                                            Aadivamsavatarana Parva

Vaisampayana said that Brahma had six  sons.They were the six great world famous sages.And his sons -- the great spirited eleven Rudras.They were Mrigavyadha, Sarpa, Niriti, Ajaikapat, Ahivradhna, Pinaki,Dahana, Iswara, Kapali, Sthanu & Bhaga. They are called the eleven Rudras.Six spiritual sons of Brahma were Marichi,Atri,Angira, Pulastya, Pulaha,& Kratu.These six great sages were of great energy. Angira' had three sons --Vrihaspati, Utathya, & Samvarta, all of rigid vows.

 Atri had numerous sons. And all are famous as the great Rishis & all are well conversant with the Vedas. They achieved the  highest level of  ascetic realization & their  souls  were in perfect peace.  O king, the sons of Pulastya of great wisdom are Rakshasas, Monkeys, Kinnaras & Yakshas.

 The sons of Pulaha were the Rabbits, the lions, the tigers, bears, and wolves.

And the sons of Kratu were as sacred as sacrifice & were comparable with the Surya in their penance.The Valakhilyas of rigid vow known in the three worlds and devoted to truth & honesty were also the sons of Kratu.

 O Monarch! the illustrious Daksha, originated from the right thumb of Brahma. And from the left thumb of Brahma the wife of Daksha originated. And in her womb Daksha produced  fifty daughters. And when Dakshaprajapati missed his sons, he  made those daughters as  his Putrika putra. All those daughters were with eyes like lotus & were most beautiful.

And Daksha  according to the rules laid down in the scriptures, bestowed  ten of his daughters to Dharma, twenty-seven to  Chandra ,& thirteen to Kasyapa.

Now  I am telling you the names of the wives of Dharma --Kirti, Lakshmi, Dhriti, Medha, Pushti, Sraddha, Kria, Buddhi, Lajja, and Mati. These are the wives of Dharma. In order to realise Dharma in once life one had better worship these wives of Dharma.It is well known in the world that the wives of Moon are twenty-seven. And the wives of Moon, all of sacred vows are  employed in indicating time good or bad. And they are the Nakshtras & they are  assisting the courses of the worldly affairs.

And Brahma had another son named Manu. And Manu had a son ---  Prajapati. And the sons of Prajapati were eight &known as Vasus I am telling their names. They were Dhara, Dhruva, Chandra,Din,Vayu,Agni, Pratyusha, & Prabhasa. These eight are known as the Vasus. Dhumraa’s son Dhara & Brahmavudya’s son Dhruva.Manasvini’s son Chandrama & Swasha’s son Vayu. Dina was the son of Rata,& Agni  of Shandili.Also Pratyusha & Prabhasa were the sons of Prabhataa.

And Dhara had two sons, Dravina and Hutahavyavaha. And the son of Dhruva is the great Kala, the destroyer of the worlds.

And Chandra had four legitamate sons through Rohinii.They are  Varcha,Prana, Sisira &  Ramana.Amongst them because of the Varcha men become full of spiritual prowess. And the sons of Dina are four  -- they are Jyotih, Sama, Santa, &  Muni. And the son of Agni is the handsome Kumara born in a forest of reeds. And after Kumara there were born his three brothers Sakha, Visakha, Naigameya. As Kumara  was reared by six Krittikas he is also called Kartikeya.

 And the wife of Vayu is Siva, and Siva's son were Manojava and Avijnaatagati.

The son of Pratyusha is the sage named Devala; and Devala had two sons who were both exceedingly forgiving and of great mental power.