Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 6 Chapter 18:1-17

Book 6: Chapter 18

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 6: Chapter 18: Verses 1-17
An account of the birth of the Maruts (the forty-nine wind-gods)

Sri Suka began again : Prsni, the spouse of Savita (the fifth of the twelve sons of Aditi, the progeny of the first four-viz., Vivaswan, Aryama, Pusa and Twasta-having already been dealt with in the foregoing discourses), brought forth (three daughters,) Savitri (the deity presiding over the holy Gayatri-Mantra), Vyahrti (the deity presiding over the three mystical syllables, Bhuh?, Bhuvah and Swab prefixed to the said Gayatri-Mantra while repeating it and severally denoting the three worlds-earth, the intermediate region and heaven) and Trayi (the deity presiding over the rituals, the subject-matter of the three Vedas-Rgveda, Yajurveda and Samaveda) and (nine sons, viz.,) Agnihotra (the deity presiding over the act of offering oblations into the sacred fire), Pau (the deity presiding over animal sacrifices), Soma (the deity presiding over a Soma sacrifice), Caturmasya (the deity presiding over the three sacrifices of the same name performed at the beginning of the three seasons of four months each) and the five deities presiding over the five great daily sacrifices enjoined on every householder of the three twice-born classes (viz., Devayajna, Rsiyajna, Pitryajna, Manusyayajna and Bhutayajna)[1] (And) Siddhi, the spouse of Bhaga (the sixth son of Aditi), dear Pariksit, bore (three sons,) Mahima, Vibhu and Prabhu and a beautiful and virtuous daughter, Asisa (by name).

The (four) wives of Dhata (the seventh son of Aditi)--Kuhu (the deity presiding over the last night of a dark fortnight), Sinivali (the deity presiding over the fourteenth night of a dark fortnight), Raka (the deity presiding over the last night of a bright fortnight) and Anumati (the deity presiding over the fourteenth night of a bright fortnight) severally gave birth to (four sons) Sayam (the deity presiding over dusk), Darsa (the deity presiding over the last day of a dark fortnight), Pratah (the deity presiding over the morning) and Purnamasa (the deity presiding over the last day of a bright fortnight). Vidhata (the next or eighth son of Aditi) begot through (his wife) Kriya the (five) deities presiding over the sacred fires bearing the name of Purisya. (And) the spouse of Varuna (the god of water and the ninth son of Aditi) was Carsani, of whom was reborn the sage Bhrgu (a mind-born son of Brahma). And the great Yogi Valmiki (another son of Varuna and the celebrated author of the Ramayana) sprang up, it is said, from an ant-hill (Valmika); while the sages Agastya and Vasistha (the sons of the sage Pulastya and Brahma respectively) were reborn as the sons of the gods Mitra (the tenth son of Aditi) and Varuna, who discharged in a jar their vital fluid, that had escaped in the-presence of (the celestial nymph) Urvasi. The god Mitra (further) begot through (his spouse) Rewati (three sons, viz.) Utsarga, Arista and Pippala. Indra, the lord of paradise (and the eleventh son of Aditi), procreated through (his wife) Saci (the daughter of the demon Puloma) three sons, O dear Pariksit-Jayanta, Rsabha and Midhwan, (who constituted) the third: this is what we have heard. From (the loins of) Lord Upendra (the twelfth and youngest son of Aditi, who took colossal strides in order to measure three paces of land promised to Him by the demon king Bali and) who (originally) assumed the form of the divine Dwarf by His (own) Maya (creative will), through His spouse Kirti, sprang up (a son) Brhacchloka (by name); and from (the loins of) the latter sprang up Saubhaga and other sons. We shall recount later on (in Book VIII) the distinguished achievements, excellences and deeds of valour of that high-souled son of the sage Katyapa and (also) how He actually descended (on the meterial plane) through Aditi. I now (proceed to) tell you about the scions of the sage Kasyapa by Diti, among whom was born the illustrious devotee of the Lord, Prahrada, and even so Bali (Prahrada's grandson).

Diti (at first) had only two sons, adored by the Daityas and the Danavas (alike), who have (already) been spoken of under the name of Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyaksa (in Book 111). Hiranyakasipu's wife, Kayadhu by name, who was a daughter of Jambha by Danu and had been given away by the former (to Himayakaipu), gave birth to four sons-Samhrada, in the first instance, and (then in order) Anuhrada, Hrada and Prahrada as well. Their sister, Simhika by name, got from (her husband, the demon) Vipracitti (a son named) Rahu, whose head, even while he was drinking nectar (disguised as a god in the assembly of the gods), Sri Hari lopped off with His discus (vide VIII. ix. 24-25). Krti, the wife of Samhrada (Hiranyakasipu's eldest son) bore through him (a son named) Pancajana. Dhamani, the wife of Hrada (Hiranyakasipu's third son) brought forth (two sons) Vatapi and Ilwala. It was Ilwala who cooked (his brother) Vatapi (in the form of a ram) for the sake of his (honoured guest, (the celebrated sage) Agastya. Baskala and Mahisa were the two sons of Anuhrada (Hiranyakasipu's second son ) by (his wife) Surmya; while Virocana was the son of Prahrada, and Bali was the son of Virocana by (his wife) Devi. From (the loins of) Bali through (his wife) Asanaya (the deity presiding over hunger), were born a hundred sons, the eldest of whom was Bana. The glory of Bali, which deserves to be celebrated in beautiful verse, will be recounted only hereafter (in Book VIII)

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References

  1. A detailed account of these sacrifices has already been given in the foot-note below V. xxvi. 18.

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