celestials, who have profuse effulgence before them, were celebrated by the name of eight Vasus. I will mention their names at length (37). Apa, Dhruva, Soma, Dhara, Anila, Anala, Pratyusha, and Pravasha—these eight are known as eight Vasus (38), Apa’s sons were Vaitandya, Srānta and Muni. Dhruva’s son was the Divine Kāla, the destroyer of creatures (39). Soma’s son was the Divine Varchas who begat Varcaaswi. Dhara’s son was Dravina the carrier of sacrificial oblations. He begat on his wife Manoharā, Sishira, Prāna and Ramana (40). Anila’s wife was Shivā whose son was Manojava. Anila, whose course is not known, had two sons (41). Agni’s son Kumara shone in the thickets of Sara grass. His names are Shakha, Vishakha, Naigameya and Prishthaja (42). And on account of his being an offspring of Kirtikās⁹ he was called Kartikeya: With the fourth part of his energy Agni created Skanda and Sanat Kumar (43). Pratyusha’s son was the Rishi Devala whose two sons were forgiving and observant of hard austerities (44). Shorn of attachment Vrihaspati’s sister, the beautiful Yogasiddhā, who led a life of celibacy, ranged all over the earth (45). She became the wife of the eighth Vasu Prabhasa. The noble Patriarch Vishwakarma was born of her (46). He made chariots for the celestials, was their architect, the maker of thousands of fine things and dresses and the foremost of artizans. Adopting his art as their profession mankind are now making their livelihoods (47-48). By the grace of Siva and having her heart purified by virtue of asceticism, Surabhi gave birth, through Kaçyapa, to the eleventh Rudra (49). O descendant of Bharata, Ajaikapāt, Ahir-Budhna, Rudrashwa, Tasta, Srimān and Vishwarupa, those were the highly illustrious sons of Tastu (50). Hara, Vahurupa, Tryamvaka, Aparājita, Vrishākapi, Sambhu, Kapardi, Raivata, Mrigavyadha, Sarpa and Kapāli—these are known as the eleven Rudras who lord over the three worlds (51-52). O foremost of Bhāratas, in Purānas, hundreds, of such Rudras of incomparable energy, have been mentioned who have spread over the mobile and immobile creation (53). O foremost of Bhāratas, hear from me of the wives of Kaçyapa who have spread over all the worlds: They are Aditi, Diti, Dana, Aristha, Suravā, Surabhi, Vinatā, Tāmrā, Krodhavashā, Irā, Kadru, Muni and Swasā; hear now of their offspring (54-55). In the previous Manwantara they were twelve leading celestials. In the Manwantara of Vaivaswata they used to address one another by the name of Tushita (56). During the reign of the present highly illustrious Manu Chakshusha, they all assembled together for the benefit of all creatures and said (57). "Let us all enter into the womb of Aditi to be born in the Manwantara of Vaivaswata and we will attain well-being (58)".