Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 3 · Chapter 12

Creation of the Kumāras and Others

3.12.1

मैत्रेय उवाच इति ते वर्णित: क्षत्त: कालाख्य: परमात्मन: । महिमा वेदगर्भोऽथ यथास्राक्षीन्निबोध मे ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvaca iti te varnitah ksattah kalakhyah paramatmanah mahima veda-garbho ’tha yathasraksin nibodha me

Sri Maitreya said: O learned Vidura, so far I have explained to you the glories of the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His feature of kala. Now you can hear from me about the creation of Brahma, the reservoir of all Vedic knowledge.

3.12.2

ससर्जाग्रेऽन्धतामिस्रमथ तामिस्रमादिकृत् । महामोहं च मोहं च तमश्चाज्ञानवृत्तय: ॥ २ ॥

sasarjagre ’ndha-tamisram atha tamisram adi-krt mahamoham ca moham ca tamas cajnana-vrttayah

Brahma first created the nescient engagements like self-deception, the sense of death, anger after frustration, the sense of false ownership, and the illusory bodily conception, or forgetfulness of one’s real identity.

3.12.3

दृष्ट्वा पापीयसीं सृष्टिं नात्मानं बह्वमन्यत । भगवद्ध्यानपूतेन मनसान्यां ततोऽसृजत् ॥ ३ ॥

drstva papiyasim srstim natmanam bahv amanyata bhagavad-dhyana-putena manasanyam tato ’srjat

Seeing such a misleading creation as a sinful task, Brahma did not feel much pleasure in his activity, and therefore he purified himself by meditation on the Personality of Godhead. Then he began another term of creation.

3.12.4

सनकं च सनन्दं च सनातनमथात्मभू: । सनत्कुमारं च मुनीन्निष्क्रियानूर्ध्वरेतस: ॥ ४ ॥

sanakam ca sanandam ca sanatanam athatmabhuh sanat-kumaram ca munin niskriyan urdhva-retasah

In the beginning, Brahma created four great sages named Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana and Sanat-kumara. All of them were unwilling to adopt materialistic activities because they were highly elevated due to their semen’s flowing upwards.

3.12.5

तान् बभाषे स्वभू: पुत्रान् प्रजा: सृजत पुत्रका: । तन्नैच्छन्मोक्षधर्माणो वासुदेवपरायणा: ॥ ५ ॥

tan babhase svabhuh putran prajah srjata putrakah tan naicchan moksa-dharmano vasudeva-parayanah

Brahma spoke to his sons after generating them My dear sons he said, now generate progeny But due to their being attached to Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they aimed at liberation, and therefore they expressed their unwillingness.

3.12.6

सोऽवध्यात: सुतैरेवं प्रत्याख्यातानुशासनै: । क्रोधं दुर्विषहं जातं नियन्तुमुपचक्रमे ॥ ६ ॥

so ’vadhyatah sutair evam pratyakhyatanusasanaih krodham durvisaham jatam niyantum upacakrame

On the refusal of the sons to obey the order of their father, there was much anger generated in the mind of Brahma, which he tried to control and not express.

3.12.7

धिया निगृह्यमाणोऽपि भ्रुवोर्मध्यात्प्रजापते: । सद्योऽजायत तन्मन्यु: कुमारो नीललोहित: ॥ ७ ॥

dhiya nigrhyamano ’pi bhruvor madhyat prajapateh sadyo ’jayata tan-manyuh kumaro nila-lohitah

Although he tried to curb his anger, it came out from between his eyebrows, and a child mixed blue and red was immediately generated.

3.12.8

स वै रुरोद देवानां पूर्वजो भगवान् भव: । नामानि कुरु मे धात: स्थानानि च जगद्गुरो ॥ ८ ॥

sa vai ruroda devanam purvajo bhagavan bhavah namani kuru me dhatah sthanani ca jagad-guro

After his birth he began to cry: O destiny maker, teacher of the universe, kindly designate my name and place.

3.12.9

इति तस्य वच: पाद्मो भगवान् परिपालयन् । अभ्यधाद्भद्रया वाचा मा रोदीस्तत्करोमि ते ॥ ९ ॥

iti tasya vacah padmo bhagavan paripalayan abhyadhad bhadraya vaca ma rodis tat karomi te

The all-powerful Brahma, who was born from the lotus flower, pacified the boy with gentle words, accepting his request, and said: Do not cry. I shall certainly do as you desire.

3.12.10

यदरोदी: सुरश्रेष्ठ सोद्वेग इव बालक: । ततस्त्वामभिधास्यन्ति नाम्ना रुद्र इति प्रजा: ॥ १० ॥

yad arodih sura-srestha sodvega iva balakah tatas tvam abhidhasyanti namna rudra iti prajah

Thereafter Brahma said: O chief of the demigods, you shall be called by the name Rudra by all people because you have so anxiously cried.

3.12.11

हृदिन्द्रियाण्यसुर्व्योम वायुरग्निर्जलं मही । सूर्यश्चन्द्रस्तपश्चैव स्थानान्यग्रे कृतानि ते ॥ ११ ॥

hrd indriyany asur vyoma vayur agnir jalam mahi suryas candras tapas caiva sthanany agre krtani te

My dear boy, I have already selected the following places for your residence: the heart, the senses, the air of life, the sky, the air, the fire, the water, the earth, the sun, the moon and austerity.

3.12.12

मन्युर्मनुर्महिनसो महाञ्छिव ऋतध्वज: । उग्ररेता भव: कालो वामदेवो धृतव्रत: ॥ १२ ॥

manyur manur mahinaso mahan chiva rtadhvajah ugrareta bhavah kalo vamadevo dhrtavratah

Lord Brahma said: My dear boy Rudra, you have eleven other names: Manyu, Manu, Mahinasa, Mahan, Siva, Rtadhvaja, Ugrareta, Bhava, Kala, Vamadeva and Dhrtavrata.

3.12.13

धीर्धृतिरसलोमा च नियुत्सर्पिरिलाम्बिका । इरावती स्वधा दीक्षा रुद्राण्यो रुद्र ते स्त्रिय: ॥ १३ ॥

dhir dhrti-rasaloma ca niyut sarpir ilambika iravati svadha diksa rudranyo rudra te striyah

O Rudra, you also have eleven wives, called the Rudranis, and they are as follows: Dhi, Dhrti, Rasala, Uma, Niyut, Sarpi, Ila, Ambika, Iravati, Svadha and Diksa.

3.12.14

गृहाणैतानि नामानि स्थानानि च सयोषण: । एभि: सृज प्रजा बह्वी: प्रजानामसि यत्पति: ॥ १४ ॥

grhanaitani namani sthanani ca sa-yosanah ebhih srja praja bahvih prajanam asi yat patih

My dear boy, you may now accept all the names and places designated for you and your different wives, and since you are now one of the masters of the living entities, you may increase the population on a large scale.

3.12.15

इत्यादिष्ट: स्वगुरुणा भगवान्नीललोहित: । सत्त्वाकृतिस्वभावेन ससर्जात्मसमा: प्रजा: ॥ १५ ॥

ity adistah sva-guruna bhagavan nila-lohitah sattvakrti-svabhavena sasarjatma-samah prajah

The most powerful Rudra, whose bodily color was blue mixed with red, created many offspring exactly resembling him in features, strength and furious nature.

3.12.16

रुद्राणां रुद्रसृष्टानां समन्ताद् ग्रसतां जगत् । निशाम्यासंख्यशो यूथान् प्रजापतिरशङ्कत ॥ १६ ॥

rudranam rudra-srstanam samantad grasatam jagat nisamyasankhyaso yuthan prajapatir asankata

The sons and grandsons generated by Rudra were unlimited in number, and when they assembled together they attempted to devour the entire universe. When Brahma, the father of the living entities, saw this, he became afraid of the situation.

3.12.17

अलं प्रजाभि: सृष्टाभिरीद‍ृशीभि: सुरोत्तम । मया सह दहन्तीभिर्दिशश्चक्षुर्भिरुल्बणै: ॥ १७ ॥

alam prajabhih srstabhir idrsibhih surottama maya saha dahantibhir disas caksurbhir ulbanaih

Brahma told Rudra: O best among the demigods, there is no need for you to generate living entities of this nature. They have begun to devastate everything on all sides with the fiery flames from their eyes, and they have even attacked me.

3.12.18

तप आतिष्ठ भद्रं ते सर्वभूतसुखावहम् । तपसैव यथापूर्व स्रष्टा विश्वमिदं भवान् ॥ १८ ॥

tapa atistha bhadram te sarva-bhuta-sukhavaham tapasaiva yatha purvam srasta visvam idam bhavan

My dear son, you had better situate yourself in penance, which is auspicious for all living entities and which will bring all benediction upon you. By penance only shall you be able to create the universe as it was before.

3.12.19

तपसैव परं ज्योतिर्भगवन्तमधोक्षजम् । सर्वभूतगुहावासमञ्जसा विन्दते पुमान् ॥ १९ ॥

tapasaiva param jyotir bhagavantam adhoksajam sarva-bhuta-guhavasam anjasa vindate puman

By penance only can one even approach the Personality of Godhead, who is within the heart of every living entity and at the same time beyond the reach of all senses.

3.12.20

मैत्रेय उवाच एवमात्मभुवादिष्ट: परिक्रम्य गिरां पतिम् । बाढमित्यमुमामन्‍त्र्य विवेश तपसे वनम् ॥ २० ॥

maitreya uvaca evam atmabhuvadistah parikramya giram patim badham ity amum amantrya vivesa tapase vanam

Sri Maitreya said: Thus Rudra, having been ordered by Brahma, circumambulated his father, the master of the Vedas. Addressing him with words of assent, he entered the forest to perform austere penances.

3.12.21

अथाभिध्यायत: सर्गं दश पुत्रा: प्रजज्ञिरे । भगवच्छक्तियुक्तस्य लोकसन्तानहेतव: ॥ २१ ॥

athabhidhyayatah sargam dasa putrah prajajnire bhagavac-chakti-yuktasya loka-santana-hetavah

Brahma, who was empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, thought of generating living entities and begot ten sons for the extension of the generations.

3.12.22

मरीचिरत्र्याङ्गिरसौ पुलस्त्य: पुलह: क्रतु: । भृगुर्वसिष्ठो दक्षश्च दशमस्तत्र नारद: ॥ २२ ॥

maricir atry-angirasau pulastyah pulahah kratuh bhrgur vasistho daksas ca dasamas tatra naradah

Marici, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrgu, Vasistha, Daksa, and the tenth son, Narada, were thus born.

3.12.23

उत्सङ्गान्नारदो जज्ञे दक्षोऽङ्गुष्ठात्स्वयम्भुव: । प्राणाद्वसिष्ठ: सञ्जातो भृगुस्त्वचि करात्क्रतु: ॥ २३ ॥

utsangan narado jajne dakso ’ngusthat svayambhuvah pranad vasisthah sanjato bhrgus tvaci karat kratuh

Narada was born from the deliberation of Brahma, which is the best part of the body. Vasistha was born from his breathing, Daksa from a thumb, Bhrgu from his touch, and Kratu from his hand.

3.12.24

पुलहो नाभितो जज्ञे पुलस्त्य: कर्णयोऋर्षि: । अङ्गिरा मुखतोऽक्ष्णोऽत्रिर्मरीचिर्मनसोऽभवत् ॥ २४ ॥

pulaho nabhito jajne pulastyah karnayor rsih angira mukhato ’ksno ’trir maricir manaso ’bhavat

Pulastya was generated from the ears, Angira from the mouth, Atri from the eyes, Marici from the mind and Pulaha from the navel of Brahma.

3.12.25

धर्म: स्तनाद्दक्षिणतो यत्र नारायण: स्वयम् । अधर्म पृष्ठतो यस्मान्मृत्युर्लोकभयङ्कर: ॥ २५ ॥

dharmah stanad daksinato yatra narayanah svayam adharmah prsthato yasman mrtyur loka-bhayankarah

Religion was manifested from the breast of Brahma, wherein is seated the Supreme Personality of Godhead Narayana, and irreligion appeared from his back, where horrible death takes place for the living entity.

3.12.26

हृदि कामो भ्रुव: क्रोधो लोभश्चाधरदच्छदात् । आस्याद्वाक्सिन्धवो मेढ्रान्निऋर्ति: पायोरघाश्रय: ॥ २६ ॥

hrdi kamo bhruvah krodho lobhas cadhara-dacchadat asyad vak sindhavo medhran nirrtih payor aghasrayah

Lust and desire became manifested from the heart of Brahma, anger from between his eyebrows, greed from between his lips, the power of speaking from his mouth, the ocean from his penis, and low and abominable activities from his anus, the source of all sins.

3.12.27

छायाया: कर्दमो जज्ञे देवहूत्या: पति: प्रभु: । मनसो देहतश्चेदं जज्ञे विश्वकृतो जगत् ॥ २७ ॥

chayayah kardamo jajne devahutyah patih prabhuh manaso dehatas cedam jajne visva-krto jagat

Sage Kardama, husband of the great Devahuti, was manifested from the shadow of Brahma. Thus all became manifested from either the body or the mind of Brahma.

3.12.28

वाचं दुहितरं तन्वीं स्वयम्भूर्हरतीं मन: । अकामां चकमे क्षत्त: सकाम इति न: श्रुतम् ॥ २८ ॥

vacam duhitaram tanvim svayambhur haratim manah akamam cakame ksattah sa-kama iti nah srutam

O Vidura, we have heard that Brahma had a daughter named Vak who was born from his body and who attracted his mind toward sex, although she was not sexually inclined towards him.

3.12.29

तमधर्मे कृतमतिं विलोक्य पितरं सुता: । मरीचिमुख्या मुनयो विश्रम्भात्प्रत्यबोधयन् ॥ २९ ॥

tam adharme krta-matim vilokya pitaram sutah marici-mukhya munayo visrambhat pratyabodhayan

Thus, finding their father so deluded in an act of immorality, the sages headed by Marici, all sons of Brahma, spoke as follows with great respect.

3.12.30

नैतत्पूर्वै: कृतं त्वद्ये न करिष्यन्ति चापरे । यस्त्वं दुहितरं गच्छेरनिगृह्याङ्गजं प्रभु: ॥ ३० ॥

naitat purvaih krtam tvad ye na karisyanti capare yas tvam duhitaram gaccher anigrhyangajam prabhuh

O father, this performance in which you are endeavoring to complicate yourself was never attempted by any other Brahma, nor by anyone else, nor by you in previous kalpas, nor will anyone dare to attempt it in the future. You are the supreme being in the universe, so how is it that you want to have sex with your daughter and cannot control your desire?

3.12.31

तेजीयसामपि ह्येतन्न सुश्लोक्यं जगद्गुरो । यद्‌वृत्तमनुतिष्ठन् वै लोक: क्षेमाय कल्पते ॥ ३१ ॥

tejiyasam api hy etan na suslokyam jagad-guro yad-vrttam anutisthan vai lokah ksemaya kalpate

Even though you are the most powerful being, this act does not suit you because your character is followed for spiritual improvement by people in general.

3.12.32

तस्मै नमो भगवते य इदं स्वेन रोचिषा । आत्मस्थं व्यञ्जयामास स धर्मं पातुमर्हति ॥ ३२ ॥

tasmai namo bhagavate ya idam svena rocisa atma-stham vyanjayam asa sa dharmam patum arhati

Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, who, by His own effulgence, while situated in Himself, has manifested this cosmos. May He also protect religion for all goodness.

3.12.33

स इत्थं गृणत: पुत्रान् पुरो दृष्ट्वा प्रजापतीन् । प्रजापतिपतिस्तन्वं तत्याज व्रीडितस्तदा । तां दिशो जगृहुर्घोरां नीहारं यद्विदुस्तम: ॥ ३३ ॥

sa ittham grnatah putran puro drstva prajapatin prajapati-patis tanvam tatyaja vriditas tada tam diso jagrhur ghoram niharam yad vidus tamah

The father of all Prajapatis, Brahma, thus seeing all his Prajapati sons speaking in that way, became very much ashamed and at once gave up the body he had accepted. Later that body appeared in all directions as the dangerous fog in darkness.

3.12.34

कदाचिद् ध्यायत: स्रष्टुर्वेदा आसंश्चतुर्मुखात् । कथं स्रक्ष्याम्यहं लोकान् समवेतान् यथा पुरा ॥ ३४ ॥

kadacid dhyayatah srastur veda asams catur-mukhat katham sraksyamy aham lokan samavetan yatha pura

Once upon a time, when Brahma was thinking of how to create the worlds as in the past millennium, the four Vedas, which contain all varieties of knowledge, became manifested from his four mouths.

3.12.35

चातुर्होत्रं कर्मतन्त्रमुपवेदनयै: सह । धर्मस्य पादाश्चत्वारस्तथैवाश्रमवृत्तय: ॥ ३५ ॥

catur-hotram karma-tantram upaveda-nayaih saha dharmasya padas catvaras tathaivasrama-vrttayah

The four kinds of paraphernalia for conducting the fire sacrifice became manifest: the performer (the chanter), the offerer, the fire, and the action performed in terms of the supplementary Vedas. Also the four principles of religiosity (truth, austerity, mercy and cleanliness) and the duties in the four social orders all became manifest.

3.12.36

विदुर उवाच स वै विश्वसृजामीशो वेदादीन् मुखतोऽसृजत् । यद् यद् येनासृजद् देवस्तन्मे ब्रूहि तपोधन ॥ ३६ ॥

vidura uvaca sa vai visva-srjam iso vedadin mukhato ’srjat yad yad yenasrjad devas tan me bruhi tapo-dhana

Vidura said: O great sage whose only wealth is penance, kindly explain to me how and with whose help Brahma established the Vedic knowledge which emanated from his mouth.

3.12.37

मैत्रेय उवाच ऋग्यजु:सामाथर्वाख्यान् वेदान् पूर्वादिभिर्मुखै: । शास्त्रमिज्यां स्तुतिस्तोमं प्रायश्चित्तं व्यधात्क्रमात् ॥ ३७ ॥

maitreya uvaca rg-yajuh-samatharvakhyan vedan purvadibhir mukhaih sastram ijyam stuti-stomam prayascittam vyadhat kramat

Maitreya said: Beginning from the front face of Brahma, gradually the four Vedas—Rk, Yajur, Sama and Atharva—became manifest. Thereafter, Vedic hymns which had not been pronounced before, priestly rituals, the subject matters of the recitation, and transcendental activities were all established, one after another.

3.12.38

आयुर्वेदं धनुर्वेदं गान्धर्वं वेदमात्मन: । स्थापत्यं चासृजद् वेदं क्रमात्पूर्वादिभिर्मुखै: ॥ ३८ ॥

ayur-vedam dhanur-vedam gandharvam vedam atmanah sthapatyam casrjad vedam kramat purvadibhir mukhaih

He also created the medical science, military art, musical art and architectural science, all from the Vedas. They all emanated one after another, beginning from the front face.

3.12.39

इतिहासपुराणानि पञ्चमं वेदमीश्वर: । सर्वेभ्य एव वक्त्रेभ्य: ससृजे सर्वदर्शन: ॥ ३९ ॥

itihasa-puranani pancamam vedam isvarah sarvebhya eva vaktrebhyah sasrje sarva-darsanah

Then he created the fifth Veda—the Puranas and the histories—from all his mouths, since he could see all the past, present and future.

3.12.40

षोडश्युक्थौ पूर्ववक्त्रात्पुरीष्यग्निष्टुतावथ । आप्तोर्यामातिरात्रौ च वाजपेयं सगोसवम् ॥ ४० ॥

sodasy-ukthau purva-vaktrat purisy-agnistutav atha aptoryamatiratrau ca vajapeyam sagosavam

All the different varieties of fire sacrifices (sodasi, uktha, purisi, agnistoma, aptoryama, atiratra, vajapeya and gosava) became manifested from the eastern mouth of Brahma.

3.12.41

विद्या दानं तप: सत्यं धर्मस्येति पदानि च । आश्रमांश्च यथासंख्यमसृजत्सह वृत्तिभि: ॥ ४१ ॥

vidya danam tapah satyam dharmasyeti padani ca asramams ca yatha-sankhyam asrjat saha vrttibhih

Education, charity, penance and truth are said to be the four legs of religion, and to learn this there are four orders of life with different classifications of castes according to vocation. Brahma created all these in systematic order.

3.12.42

सावित्रं प्राजापत्यं च ब्राह्मं चाथ बृहत्तथा । वार्तासञ्चयशालीनशिलोञ्छ इति वै गृहे ॥ ४२ ॥

savitram prajapatyam ca brahmam catha brhat tatha varta sancaya-salina- siloncha iti vai grhe

Then the thread ceremony for the twice-born was inaugurated, as were the rules to be followed for at least one year after acceptance of the Vedas, rules for observing complete abstinence from sex life, vocations in terms of Vedic injunctions, various professional duties in household life, and the method of maintaining a livelihood without anyone’s cooperation by picking up rejected grains.

3.12.43

वैखानसा वालखिल्यौदुम्बरा: फेनपा वने । न्यासे कुटीचक: पूर्वं बह्वोदो हंसनिष्क्रियौ ॥ ४३ ॥

vaikhanasa valakhilyau- dumbarah phenapa vane nyase kuticakah purvam bahvodo hamsa-niskriyau

The four divisions of retired life are the vaikhanasas, valakhilyas, audumbaras and phenapas. The four divisions of the renounced order of life are the kuticakas, bahvodas, hamsas and niskriyas. All these were manifested from Brahma.

3.12.44

आन्वीक्षिकी त्रयी वार्ता दण्डनीतिस्तथैव च । एवं व्याहृतयश्वासन् प्रणवो ह्यस्य दहृत: ॥ ४४ ॥

anviksiki trayi varta danda-nitis tathaiva ca evam vyahrtayas casan pranavo hy asya dahratah

The science of logical argument, the Vedic goals of life, and also law and order, moral codes, and the celebrated hymns bhuh, bhuvah and svah all became manifested from the mouths of Brahma, and the pranava omkara was manifested from his heart.

3.12.45

तस्योष्णिगासील्लोमभ्यो गायत्री च त्वचो विभो: । त्रिष्टुम्मांसात्स्‍नुतोऽनुष्टुब्जगत्यस्थ्न: प्रजापते: ॥ ४५ ॥

tasyosnig asil lomabhyo gayatri ca tvaco vibhoh tristum mamsat snuto ’nustub jagaty asthnah prajapateh

Thereafter the art of literary expression, usnik, was generated from the hairs on the body of the almighty Prajapati. The principal Vedic hymn, gayatri, was generated from the skin, tristup from the flesh, anustup from the veins, and jagati from the bones of the lord of the living entities.

3.12.46

मज्जाया: पङ्‌क्तिरुत्पन्ना बृहती प्राणतोऽभवत् ॥ ४६ ॥

majjayah panktir utpanna brhati pranato ’bhavat

The art of writing verse, pankti, became manifested from the bone marrow, and that of brhati, another type of verse, was generated from the life-breath of the Lord of the living entities.

3.12.47

स्पर्शस्तस्याभवज्जीव: स्वरो देह उदाहृत । ऊष्माणमिन्द्रियाण्याहुरन्त:स्था बलमात्मन: । स्वरा: सप्त विहारेण भवन्ति स्म प्रजापते: ॥ ४७ ॥

sparsas tasyabhavaj jivah svaro deha udahrta usmanam indriyany ahur antah-stha balam atmanah svarah sapta viharena bhavanti sma prajapateh

Brahma’s soul was manifested as the touch alphabets, his body as the vowels, his senses as the sibilant alphabets, his strength as the intermediate alphabets and his sensual activities as the seven notes of music.

3.12.48

शब्दब्रह्मात्मनस्तस्य व्यक्ताव्यक्तात्मन: पर: । ब्रह्मावभाति विततो नानाशक्त्युपबृंहित: ॥ ४८ ॥

sabda-brahmatmanas tasya vyaktavyaktatmanah parah brahmavabhati vitato nana-sakty-upabrmhitah

Brahma is the personal representation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the source of transcendental sound and is therefore above the conception of manifested and unmanifested. Brahma is the complete form of the Absolute Truth and is invested with multifarious energies.

3.12.49

ततोऽपरामुपादाय स सर्गाय मनो दधे ॥ ४९ ॥

tato ’param upadaya sa sargaya mano dadhe

Thereafter Brahma accepted another body, in which sex life was not forbidden, and thus he engaged himself in the matter of further creation.

3.12.50

ऋषीणां भूरिवीर्याणामपि सर्गमविस्तृतम् । ज्ञात्वा तद्‍धृदये भूयश्चिन्तयामास कौरव ॥ ५० ॥

rsinam bhuri-viryanam api sargam avistrtam jnatva tad dhrdaye bhuyas cintayam asa kaurava

O son of the Kurus, when Brahma saw that in spite of the presence of sages of great potency there was no sufficient increase in population, he seriously began to consider how the population could be increased.

3.12.51

अहो अद्भुतमेतन्मे व्यापृतस्यापि नित्यदा । न ह्येधन्ते प्रजा नूनं दैवमत्र विघातकम् ॥ ५१ ॥

aho adbhutam etan me vyaprtasyapi nityada na hy edhante praja nunam daivam atra vighatakam

Brahma thought to himself: Alas, it is wonderful that in spite of my being scattered all over, there is still insufficient population throughout the universe. There is no other cause for this misfortune but destiny.

3.12.52

एवं युक्तकृतस्तस्य दैवञ्चावेक्षतस्तदा । कस्य रूपमभूद् द्वेधा यत्कायमभिचक्षते ॥ ५२ ॥

evam yukta-krtas tasya daivam caveksatas tada kasya rupam abhud dvedha yat kayam abhicaksate

While he was thus absorbed in contemplation and was observing the supernatural power, two other forms were generated from his body. They are still celebrated as the body of Brahma.

3.12.53

ताभ्यां रूपविभागाभ्यां मिथुनं समपद्यत ॥ ५३ ॥

tabhyam rupa-vibhagabhyam mithunam samapadyata

The two newly separated bodies united together in a sexual relationship.

3.12.54

यस्तु तत्र पुमान् सोऽभून्मनु: स्वायम्भुव: स्वराट् । स्त्री याऽसीच्छतरूपाख्या महिष्यस्य महात्मन: ॥ ५४ ॥

yas tu tatra puman so ’bhun manuh svayambhuvah svarat stri yasic chatarupakhya mahisy asya mahatmanah

Out of them, the one who had the male form became known as the Manu named Svayambhuva, and the woman became known as Satarupa, the queen of the great soul Manu.

3.12.55

तदा मिथुनधर्मेण प्रजा ह्येधाम्बभूविरे ॥ ५५ ॥

tada mithuna-dharmena praja hy edham babhuvire

Thereafter, by sex indulgence, they gradually increased generations of population one after another.

3.12.56

स चापि शतरूपायां पञ्चापत्यान्यजीजनत् । प्रियव्रतोत्तानपादौ तिस्र: कन्याश्च भारत । आकूतिर्देवहूतिश्च प्रसूतिरिति सत्तम ॥ ५६ ॥

sa capi satarupayam pancapatyany ajijanat priyavratottanapadau tisrah kanyas ca bharata akutir devahutis ca prasutir iti sattama

O son of Bharata, in due course of time he (Manu) begot in Satarupa five children—two sons, Priyavrata and Uttanapada, and three daughters, Akuti, Devahuti and Prasuti.

3.12.57

आकूतिं रुचये प्रादात्कर्दमाय तु मध्यमाम् । दक्षायादात्प्रसूतिं च यत आपूरितं जगत् ॥ ५७ ॥

akutim rucaye pradat kardamaya tu madhyamam daksayadat prasutim ca yata apuritam jagat

The father, Manu, handed over his first daughter, Akuti, to the sage Ruci, the middle daughter, Devahuti, to the sage Kardama, and the youngest, Prasuti, to Daksa. From them, all the world filled with population.