Vaishampayana said:—Listen, O king, to the sacred theme, as narrated by me, heavenly, destructive of sins, wonderful and abounding in various meanings and sacred stories (19). He, who circulates this story or listens to it constantly, multiplies his own family and is spoken high of in the celestial region (20). This universe, permeated by Isvara (God), emanated from Pradhāna Purusha who is the unmanifest cause, eternal and identical with the existent and non-existent (21). Know him, O monarch, as Brahmā (Creator) of incomparable energy, the creator of all beings and ever devoted to Nārāyana (Vishnu) (22). From _Mahat_ has emanated _Ahankara_; from the latter the five subtle elements have sprung and from them the grosser elements: thus the eternal work of creation is carried on.⁸ Hear, I shall relate as I have heard and as I think, of the long extending genealogies of families increasing the glory of their fore-fathers (23–24). The account of these pious men of everlasting glory always gives fruit and leads to the multiplication of race and attainment of heaven (25). On account of this theme being fruitful and because you are competent to hear it and are pure I shall relate, to you, beginning with the family of Vrishnis the most excellent creation of beings (26). Thereupon desirous of creating various creatures the Divine Self-sprung (Brahmā) at first created waters and then created seeds therein (27). The waters are designated as Nārā for they are the offspring of Nara. The deity first rested thereon and is therefore called Nārāyana (28). The egg, lying in the waters, assumed golden hue—from that sprang Brahmā, of his own accord and he is (therefore) called Self-sprung (29). Having lived there for many years the divine Hiranyagarbha divided the egg into two and they were called the heaven and earth (30). The Lord created Akāsa or space between the two portions and in the waters he created the floating earth and the ten quarters (31). There-upon desirous of creating the Patriarchs or lords of creation he created time, mind, speech, passion, anger and desire (32). The highly effulgent deity then created his seven mind-born sons—Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu and Vashistha. (33). These seven have been ascertained as Brāhmanas in the Puranas. These seven created by Brahmā, are like Nārāyana himself (34). There-upon Brahmā created Rudra born of his anger and Sanat Kumar, the predecessor of those born before (35). O descendant of Bharata, these seven and Rudra engaged in the work of creation. Skanda and Sanat Kumar sustained the energy of creation (36). Their seven great families consisted of Yakshas, Pishachas, the celestials and others who all performed heavenly deeds and created progeny and were adorned with Kaçyapa and other leading saints (37). He then created lightning, thunderbolt, the straight and bent rainbows, the rangers of the sky and clouds (38). He, then for the successful