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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 3: Chapter 12: Verses 38-56
The multiplication of creation
In the same way he released Ayurveda (the science of medicine),Dhanurveda (the science of archery), Gandharvaveda (the science of music) and Sthapatyaveda (the science of architecture) severally from his easterly and other mouths. The all-seeing Brahma then discharged from all his four mouths the class of literature known by the name of ltihasa and Purana, which is recognized as the fifth Veda. Similarly he sent out a pair of sacrifices from each of his easterly and other mouths, viz., Sodasi and Uktha from the eastern, Purisi and Agnistoma from the southern, Aptoryama and Atiratra from the western, and Vajapeya and Gosava from his northern mouth. In the same order he evolved the four pillars of virtue, viz., Vidya (purity acquired through knowledge of God), Dana (charity prompted by compassion), Tapas (austerity) and Satya (truthfulness) as well as the four Mramas or stages of life and the mode of life prescribed for each. The Savitra (a vow of purity undertaken for a period of three days following the ceremony of Upanayana or investiture with the sacred thread for the Japa of the Gayatri), the Prajapatya (a vow of celibacy undertaken for a period of one year), the Brahma (a vow of celibacy underfaken for the entire period of prosecuting the study of the Vedas) and the Brhat (a vow of lifelong celibacy), are the four modes of life prescribed for a Brahmacari (religious student). Even so Varta (agriculture and other vocations sanctioned by the Sastras), Sancaya (officiating at sacrificial performances), Salina. (living on whatever may be got without asking) and Siloñcha (living on foodgrains found scattered and gleaned from the fields after the harvest has been reaped or from the grain market when the stock has either been sold or removed)-these are the four means of livelihood prescribed for a (Brahmana) householder. Similarly Vaikhanasas (those living on the produce of uncultivated land), Valakhilyas (those who give away the old stock of foodgrains on receiving a new one), Audumbaras (those who live on fruits etc., brought exclusively from the quarter which they happen to face when quitting their bed after a night's rest) and Phenapas (those who live on fruits etc., dropped from trees of their own accord) are the four types of Vanaprasthas (anchorites dwelling in the forest in the third stage of their life). And the Kuticaka (he who lives in a thatched hut at one place, fully observing the rules of conduct prescribed for a recluse), the Bahudaka (he who regards the rules of conduct as of secondary importance and accords a superior place to knowledge), the Hamsa (he who treads the path of knowledge) and the Niskriya or Paramahamsa (he who has attained spiritual wisdom and Jivanmukti or liberation in this very life)-these are the four types of Samnyasis or recluses (those who have renounced their hearth and home in the fourth or last stage of their life). Even so the four branches of knowledge, viz., Anviksiki (the knowledge of the Spirit, which is conducive to liberation), Trayi (the knowledge of the ritual, which leads to enjoyment in heaven), Varta (the technical knowledge of agriculture, commerce, etc.), and Dandaniti (political science), and the four Vyahrtis or mystical formulae uttered at the beginning of the Gayatri (Bhuh, Bhuvah, Swat), and the combination of the three, viz., Bhurbhuvahswah) issued from his mouths in the same order; while Pranava (the mystic syllable OM) flowed from the cavity of his heart. Again, the Vedic metre of Usnik appeared from the hair on the body of the all-powerful creator, and Gayatri (another Vedic metre) from his skin. The Tristubh metre emerged from his flesh, Anustubh from his sinews and Jagati from the bones of the lord of creation. From his marrow emanated Pankti, while Brhati came forth from his breath. Similarly his consciousness came to be the hard consonants, while his body itself passed by the name of vowels. His Indriyas are termed as the sibilants (the sounds represented by the letters Sa, Sa, Sa and Ha), while his physical strength goes by the name of Antahsthas or semi-vowels (the sounds represented by the letters Ya,Ra,La and Wa. And the seven notes of the gamut (Sadja, Rsabha, Gandhara, Madhyama, Pancama, Dhaivata and Nisada) proceeded from the recreation of the lord of created beings. Being Sabdabrahma (Veda or sound) personified, Brahma is manifest in the form of Vaikhari (articulate utterance) and unmanifest in the form of Pranava. Beyond him shines the Supreme, who pervades everything as Brahma (the Infinite) and is possessed of various potencies as the almighty Lord. (Having cast off his previous body, which had been defiled by sinful thought and which continued to exist in the form of fog) Brahma (now) assumed another body distinct from the former and set his heart once more on creation. Realizing in his heart that the creation had not expanded even at the hands of seers (Marici and others) who were endowed with extraordinary powers, he thought once more within himself, O Vidura : "Oh, how strange that, even though I am ever up and doing, my progeny are not multiplying. Surely an adverse fate stands in my way." Brahma always did what was desirable at the moment. While he was thus waiting for (a more propitious) Providence, Brahma's body became twofold. A human body (whether male or female) has come to be known by the name of Kaya[1] (in Sanskrit) only because it originally belonged to Brahma. Those two distinct parts turned out to be a man and a woman. Of those two forms the male was Swayambhuva[2] Manu, the first independent sovereign of the entire globe. And the female came to be the spouse of that noble soul and was called Satarupa. The creation then multiplied through copulation. Swayambhuva Manu too begot five issues through Satarupa. They were Priyavrata and Uttanapada and three daughters, Akuti, Devahuti and Prasuti by name, most pious Vidura. (55) He gave away Akuti (the eldest) to Ruci (a lord of create beings), the middle one (Devahuti) to the sage Kardama (another prajapati) and Prasuti (the youngest) to Daksa (one of the ten sons of Brahma enumerated in verses 22 and 23 above). The progeny of these three girls filled the whole universe.
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