Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 3 Chapter 12:21-37

Book 3: Chapter 12

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 3: Chapter 12: Verses 21-37 The multiplication of creation Equipped with the creative energy of the Lord, Brahma now contemplated further creation and presently produced ten more sons, who were instrumental in multiplying the creation, viz., Marici, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrgu, Vasistha and Daksa, Narada being the tenth. Narada sprang up from Brahma's lap, Daksa from his thumb, Vasistha from his breath, Bhrgu from his skin and Kratu was evolved from his hand. Pulaha emanated from his navel, the sage Pulastya from his ears, Angira from his mouth, Atri from his eyes and Marici came out of his mind. Dharma (the god of virtue), from whom was descended Lord Narayana Himself (in the form of the twin brothers Nara and Narayana), appeared from his right breast. Even, so Adharma (the spirit presiding over unrighteousness), from whom sprang the god of death, the terror of the whole world, appeared from his back. From his heart sprang up Kama(the god of love), Anger from his brows, and Greed from his lower lip, Vak (the goddess of speech) from his mouth, the oceans from his penis, and Nirrti (the chief of the Raksasas and the regent of the south-west), the spirit presiding over sin, from his anus. The sage Kardama, the spouse of Devahuti (the mother of Lord Kapila) and a master of his self, was evolved from his shadow. (In this way) the whole of this creation was evolved either from the mind or from the body of Brahma (the maker of the universe). Vidura, we are told that, eager to push on the work of creation, Brahma (the self-born) fell in love with his own daughter, Vak, who was most handsome and captivating, but she had no carnal desire in her. Finding that their father had set his heart on unrighteousness, his sons, Marici and the other sages, remonstrated with him out of filial affection: "It is strange that you, a master of your self, should seek to copulate with your own daughter, unable to control your passion! It is something which was never done by your predecessors in office (the Brahmas that preceded you) nor will it be done hereafter by your successors (the Brahmas that are going to follow you). This is not something praiseworthy even for the all-powerful, 0 preceptor of the world ! For it is by following the conduct of such people that the world finds its way to happiness. Obeisance to the Lord who by His own light of wisdom manifested this universe, which already lay dormant in Him! May He protect the cause of righteousness." Brahma (the lord of Prajapatis) felt much ashamed to see his own sons, the lords of created beings, thus pleading with him before his very eyes, and immediately cast off his body. The four quarters picked up that fearful body, which continued in the form of fog, also known by the name of darkness. Once when Brahma (the Creator) was pondering how should he be able to create the worlds as an organic whole as before, the four Vedas issued from his four mouths (one from each). Even so the four supplementary Vedas, logic and other allied sciences (such as dialectics, Mimamsa and so on), the functions of the four priests required to officiate at a sacrificial performance, the elaborate procedure of performing sacrifices, the four pillars of virtue, the four Asramas (stages of life) and the duties assigned to each also appeared from his mouths. Vidura said : When that lord of the Prajapatis (the progenitors of the world) evolved from his mouths the Vedas and other things (enumerated by you), tell me, in detail, O great ascetic, what did he produce from which mouth or other organ? Maitreya replied : Brahma brought out the four Vedas called the Rgveda, the Yajurveda, the Samaveda and the Atharvaveda severally from his mouths facing the east, south, west and north; and in the same order did he create Sastra (the duty of the priest called Hota) Ijya (the duty of the Adhwaryu), Stutistoma (the duty of the Udgata) and Prayascitta (the duty of the Brahma).