The Tale of Daksha Prajapati

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.7.1.1)

सूत उवाच । श्रुत्वैतां तापसाद्दिव्यां कथां राजा मुदान्वितः । व्यासं पप्रच्छ धर्मात्मा परीक्षितसुतः पुनः

sūta uvāca śrutvaitāṁ tāpasāddivyāṁ kathāṁ rājā mudānvitaḥ vyāsaṁ papraccha dharmātmā parīkṣitasutaḥ punaḥ

Suta said: Having heard this divine tale from the ascetic, the joyful king, the righteous son of Parikshit, again questioned Vyasa.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.7.1.2)

जनमेजय उवाच । स्वामिन् सूर्यान्वयानां च राज्ञां वंशस्य विस्तरम् । तथा सोमान्वयानां च श्रोतुकामोऽस्मि सर्वथा

janamejaya uvāca svāmin sūryānvayānāṁ ca rājñāṁ vaṁśasya vistaram tathā somānvayānāṁ ca śrotukāmo'smi sarvathā

Janamejaya said: O lord, I wish in every way to hear in detail the lineage of the kings of the Solar dynasty, and likewise of the Lunar dynasty.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.7.1.3)

कथयानघ सर्वज्ञ कथां पापप्रणाशिनीम् । चरितं भूपतीनां च विस्तराद्वंशयोर्द्वयोः

kathayānagha sarvajña kathāṁ pāpapraṇāśinīm caritaṁ bhūpatīnāṁ ca vistarādvaṁśayordvayoḥ

O sinless, all-knowing one, tell me that tale which destroys sin — the deeds of the kings of both dynasties, in full detail.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.7.1.4)

ते हि सर्वे पराशक्तिभक्ता इति मया श्रुतम् । देवीभक्तस्य चरितं शृण्वन्कोऽस्ति विरक्तिभाक्

te hi sarve parāśaktibhaktā iti mayā śrutam devībhaktasya caritaṁ śṛṇvanko'sti viraktibhāk

For I have heard that all of them were devotees of the Supreme Shakti — who, hearing the deeds of a devotee of the Devi, could ever feel aversion?

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.7.1.5)

इति राजर्षिणा पृष्टो व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः । तमुवाच मुनिश्रेष्ठः प्रसन्नवदनो मुनिः

iti rājarṣiṇā pṛṣṭo vyāsaḥ satyavatīsutaḥ tamuvāca muniśreṣṭhaḥ prasannavadano muniḥ

Thus questioned by the royal sage, Vyasa, son of Satyavati, that best of sages, spoke to him with a joyful countenance.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.7.1.6)

व्यास उवाच । निशामय महाराज विस्तराद्गदतो मम । सोमसूर्यान्वयानां च तथान्येषां समुद्भवम्

vyāsa uvāca niśāmaya mahārāja vistarādgadato mama somasūryānvayānāṁ ca tathānyeṣāṁ samudbhavam

Vyasa said: Listen, O great king, as I tell at length the origin of the Lunar and Solar lineages, and of others as well.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.7.1.7)

विष्णोर्नाभिसरोजाद्वै ब्रह्माभूच्चतुराननः । तपस्तप्त्वा समाराध्य महादेवीं सुदुर्गमाम्

viṣṇornābhisarojādvai brahmābhūccaturānanaḥ tapastaptvā samārādhya mahādevīṁ sudurgamām

From the lotus of Vishnu's navel arose four-faced Brahma; having performed austerity, he worshipped the great, hard-to-attain Devi.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.7.1.8)

तया दत्तवरो धाता जगत्कर्तुं समुद्यतः । नाशकन्मानुषीं सृष्टिं कर्तुं लोकपितामहः

tayā dattavaro dhātā jagatkartuṁ samudyataḥ nāśakanmānuṣīṁ sṛṣṭiṁ kartuṁ lokapitāmahaḥ

Granted a boon by her, the Creator set about making the world; but that grandsire of the worlds was unable to bring human creation into being.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.7.1.9)

विचिन्त्य बहुधा चित्ते सृष्ट्यर्थं चतुराननः । न विस्तारं जगामाशु रचितापि महात्मना

vicintya bahudhā citte sṛṣṭyarthaṁ caturānanaḥ na vistāraṁ jagāmāśu racitāpi mahātmanā

Four-faced Brahma pondered in many ways in his mind for the sake of creation; though fashioned by that great soul, it did not quickly spread forth.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.7.1.10)

(ससर्ज मानसान्पुत्रान्सप्तसङ्ख्यान्प्रजापतिः) मरीचिरङ्गिरात्रिश्च वसिष्ठः पुलहः क्रतुः । पुलस्त्यश्चेति विख्याताः सप्तैते मानसाः सुताः

(sasarja mānasānputrānsaptasaṅkhyānprajāpatiḥ) marīciraṅgirātriśca vasiṣṭhaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ pulastyaśceti vikhyātāḥ saptaite mānasāḥ sutāḥ

(The Prajapati created seven mind-born sons —) Marichi, Angiras, Atri, Vasishtha, Pulaha, Kratu, and Pulastya — these seven, renowned as his mind-born sons.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.7.1.11)

रुद्रो रोषात्समुत्पन्नोऽप्युत्सङ्गान्नारदोऽभवत् । दक्षोऽङ्गुष्ठात्तथान्येऽपि मानसाः सनकादयः

rudro roṣātsamutpanno'pyutsaṅgānnārado'bhavat dakṣo'ṅguṣṭhāttathānye'pi mānasāḥ sanakādayaḥ

Rudra arose from his wrath, and Narada was born from his lap; Daksha arose from his thumb, and likewise other mind-born sons such as Sanaka and the rest.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.7.1.12)

वामाङ्गुष्ठाद्दक्षपत्नी जाता सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरी । वीरिणी नाम विख्याता पुराणेषु महीपते

vāmāṅguṣṭhāddakṣapatnī jātā sarvāṅgasundarī vīriṇī nāma vikhyātā purāṇeṣu mahīpate

From his left thumb was born Daksha's wife, beautiful in every limb — O lord of the earth, renowned in the Puranas by the name Virini.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.7.1.13)

असिक्नीति च नाम्ना सा यस्यां जातोऽथ नारदः । देवर्षिप्रवरः कामं ब्रह्मणो मानसः सुतः

asiknīti ca nāmnā sā yasyāṁ jāto'tha nāradaḥ devarṣipravaraḥ kāmaṁ brahmaṇo mānasaḥ sutaḥ

She was also known by the name Asikni; and it was truly in her that Narada — foremost of divine sages, the mind-born son of Brahma — was born.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.7.1.14)

जनमेजय उवाच । अत्र मे संशयो ब्रह्मन् यदुक्तं भवता वचः । वीरिण्यां नारदो जातो दक्षादिति महातपाः

janamejaya uvāca atra me saṁśayo brahman yaduktaṁ bhavatā vacaḥ vīriṇyāṁ nārado jāto dakṣāditi mahātapāḥ

Janamejaya said: Here I have a doubt, O Brahmin, regarding what you have said — that Narada, of great austerity, was born to Daksha through Virini.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.7.1.15)

कथं दक्षस्य पत्न्यां तु वीरिण्यां नारदो मुनिः । जातो हि ब्रह्मणः पुत्रो धर्मज्ञस्तापसोत्तमः

kathaṁ dakṣasya patnyāṁ tu vīriṇyāṁ nārado muniḥ jāto hi brahmaṇaḥ putro dharmajñastāpasottamaḥ

How could Narada the sage — who is Brahma's own son, a knower of dharma, and foremost among ascetics — be born from Daksha's wife Virini?

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.7.1.16)

विचित्रमिदमाख्यातं भवता नारदस्य च । दक्षाज्जन्मास्य भार्यायां तद्वदस्व सविस्तरम्

vicitramidamākhyātaṁ bhavatā nāradasya ca dakṣājjanmāsya bhāryāyāṁ tadvadasva savistaram

Strange indeed is this account you have told of Narada — his birth from Daksha through his wife. Please explain this to me in full.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.7.1.17)

पूर्वदेहः कथं मुक्तः शापात्कस्य महामना । नारदेन बहुज्ञेन कस्माज्जन्म कृतं मुने

pūrvadehaḥ kathaṁ muktaḥ śāpātkasya mahāmanā nāradena bahujñena kasmājjanma kṛtaṁ mune

How was his former body relinquished, and by whose curse? O sage, why did the greatly wise, all-knowing Narada take this birth?

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.7.1.18)

व्यास उवाच । ब्रह्मणासौ समादिष्टो दक्षः सृष्ट्यर्थमादितः । प्रजाः सृजेति सुभृशं वृद्धिहेतोः स्वयम्भुवा

vyāsa uvāca brahmaṇāsau samādiṣṭo dakṣaḥ sṛṣṭyarthamāditaḥ prajāḥ sṛjeti subhṛśaṁ vṛddhihetoḥ svayambhuvā

Vyasa said: In the beginning, Daksha was commanded by the Self-born Brahma, urgently, for the sake of increase: 'Create progeny!'

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.7.1.19)

ततः पञ्चसहस्रांश्च जनयामास वीर्यवान् । दक्षः प्रजापतिः पुत्रान् वीरिण्यां बलवत्तरान्

tataḥ pañcasahasrāṁśca janayāmāsa vīryavān dakṣaḥ prajāpatiḥ putrān vīriṇyāṁ balavattarān

Then the mighty Daksha Prajapati begot, through Virini, five thousand exceedingly strong sons.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.7.1.20)

दृष्ट्वा तान्नारदः पुत्रान्सर्वान्वर्धयिषून्प्रजाः । उवाच प्रहसन्वाचं देवर्षिः कालनोदितः

dṛṣṭvā tānnāradaḥ putrānsarvānvardhayiṣūnprajāḥ uvāca prahasanvācaṁ devarṣiḥ kālanoditaḥ

Seeing those sons, all intent on multiplying progeny, Narada the divine sage, moved by the working of time, spoke to them with a laugh.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.7.1.21)

भुवः प्रमाणमज्ञात्वा स्रष्टुकामाः प्रजाः कथम् । लोकानां हास्यतां यूयं गमिष्यथ न संशयः

bhuvaḥ pramāṇamajñātvā sraṣṭukāmāḥ prajāḥ katham lokānāṁ hāsyatāṁ yūyaṁ gamiṣyatha na saṁśayaḥ

Without knowing the extent of the earth, how can you wish to create progeny? Without doubt, you will become an object of ridicule to the worlds.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.7.1.22)

पृथिव्या वै प्रमाणं तु ज्ञात्वा कार्यः समुद्यमः । कृत्तोऽसौ सिद्धिमायाति नान्यथेति विनिश्चयः

pṛthivyā vai pramāṇaṁ tu jñātvā kāryaḥ samudyamaḥ kṛtto'sau siddhimāyāti nānyatheti viniścayaḥ

Only after knowing the measure of the earth should this endeavor be undertaken; work done thus alone attains success — not otherwise, this is certain.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.7.1.23)

बालिशा बत यूयं वै यदज्ञात्वा भुवस्तलम् । समुद्यताः प्रजाः कर्तुं कथं सिद्धिर्भविष्यति

bāliśā bata yūyaṁ vai yadajñātvā bhuvastalam samudyatāḥ prajāḥ kartuṁ kathaṁ siddhirbhaviṣyati

Alas, how childish you are, that without knowing the surface of the earth you have set out to create progeny — how will success ever come of it?

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.7.1.24)

व्यास उवाच । नारदेनैवमुक्तास्ते हर्यश्वा दैवयोगतः । अन्योन्यमूचुः सहसा सम्यगाह मुनिः किल

vyāsa uvāca nāradenaivamuktāste haryaśvā daivayogataḥ anyonyamūcuḥ sahasā samyagāha muniḥ kila

Vyasa said: Thus addressed by Narada, those sons, the Haryashvas, by the working of fate, at once said to one another: 'Indeed, the sage has spoken rightly.'

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.7.1.25)

ज्ञात्व प्रमाणमुर्व्यास्तु सुखं स्रक्ष्यामहे प्रजाः । इति सञ्चिन्त्य ते सर्वे प्रयाताः प्रेक्षितुं भुवः

jñātva pramāṇamurvyāstu sukhaṁ srakṣyāmahe prajāḥ iti sañcintya te sarve prayātāḥ prekṣituṁ bhuvaḥ

'Having learned the measure of the earth, we shall then create progeny with ease' — thinking thus, all of them set out to survey the earth.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.7.1.26)

तलं सर्वं परिज्ञातुं वचनान्नारदस्य च । प्राच्यां केचिद्गताः कामं दक्षिणस्यां तथापरे

talaṁ sarvaṁ parijñātuṁ vacanānnāradasya ca prācyāṁ kecidgatāḥ kāmaṁ dakṣiṇasyāṁ tathāpare

To fully learn the whole surface of the earth, following Narada's words, some went eastward, and others likewise southward.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.7.1.27)

प्रतीच्यामुत्तरस्यां तु कृतोत्साहाः समन्ततः । दक्षः पुत्रान्गतान्दृष्ट्वा पीडितस्तु शुचा भृशम्

pratīcyāmuttarasyāṁ tu kṛtotsāhāḥ samantataḥ dakṣaḥ putrāngatāndṛṣṭvā pīḍitastu śucā bhṛśam

West and north too, they went in every direction with zeal; seeing his sons thus departed, Daksha was greatly afflicted with sorrow.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.7.1.28)

अन्यानुत्पादयामास प्रजार्थं कृतनिश्चयः । तेऽपि तत्रोद्यताः कर्तुं प्रजार्थमुद्यमं सुताः

anyānutpādayāmāsa prajārthaṁ kṛtaniścayaḥ te'pi tatrodyatāḥ kartuṁ prajārthamudyamaṁ sutāḥ

Making up his mind again, Daksha begot other sons for the sake of progeny; and they too set about that same endeavor of creating progeny.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.7.1.29)

नारदः प्राह तान्दृष्ट्वा पूर्वं यद्वचनं मुनिः । बालिशा बत यूयं वै यदज्ञात्वा भुवः किल

nāradaḥ prāha tāndṛṣṭvā pūrvaṁ yadvacanaṁ muniḥ bāliśā bata yūyaṁ vai yadajñātvā bhuvaḥ kila

Seeing them, Narada the sage spoke the very same words as before: 'Alas, how childish you are, that without knowing the earth —'

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.7.1.30)

प्रमाणं तु प्रजाः कर्तुं प्रवृत्ताः केन हेतुना । श्रुत्वा वाक्यं मुनेस्तेऽपि मत्वा सत्यं विमोहिताः

pramāṇaṁ tu prajāḥ kartuṁ pravṛttāḥ kena hetunā śrutvā vākyaṁ muneste'pi matvā satyaṁ vimohitāḥ

'— for what reason have you set out to create progeny without knowing its measure?' Hearing the sage's words, they too, taking it for truth, were deluded.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.7.1.31)

जग्मुः सर्वे यथापूर्वं भ्रातरश्चलितास्तथा । तान्सुतान्प्रस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा दक्षः कोपसमवितः

jagmuḥ sarve yathāpūrvaṁ bhrātaraścalitāstathā tānsutānprasthitāndṛṣṭvā dakṣaḥ kopasamavitaḥ

Just as their brothers had gone before, so too did all of them depart; and seeing these sons also leave in this manner, Daksha was overcome with anger.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.7.1.32)

शशाप नारदं कोपात् पुत्रशोकसमुद्भवात् । दक्ष उवाच । नाशिता मे सुता यस्मात् तस्मान्नाशमवाप्नुहि

śaśāpa nāradaṁ kopāt putraśokasamudbhavāt dakṣa uvāca nāśitā me sutā yasmāt tasmānnāśamavāpnuhi

In anger born of grief for his sons, he cursed Narada. Daksha said: 'Since you have brought about the destruction of my sons, may you too come to ruin —'

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.7.1.33)

पापेनानेन दुर्बुद्धे गर्भवासं व्रजेति च । पुत्रो मे भव कामं त्वं यतो मे भ्रंशिताः सुताः

pāpenānena durbuddhe garbhavāsaṁ vrajeti ca putro me bhava kāmaṁ tvaṁ yato me bhraṁśitāḥ sutāḥ

'— by this sin, O evil-minded one, go dwell in the womb; and since it is you who caused my sons to be lost, become my own son.'

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.7.1.34)

इति शप्तस्ततो जातो वीरिण्यां नारदो मुनिः । षष्टिर्भूयोऽसृजत्कन्या वीरिण्यामिति नः श्रुतम्

iti śaptastato jāto vīriṇyāṁ nārado muniḥ ṣaṣṭirbhūyo'sṛjatkanyā vīriṇyāmiti naḥ śrutam

Thus cursed, Narada the sage was then born again to Virini; and afterward, we have heard, Daksha further begot sixty daughters through Virini.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.7.1.35)

शोकं विहाय पुत्राणां दक्षः परमधर्मवित् । तासां त्रयोदश प्रादात्कश्यपाय महात्मने

śokaṁ vihāya putrāṇāṁ dakṣaḥ paramadharmavit tāsāṁ trayodaśa prādātkaśyapāya mahātmane

Setting aside his grief for his sons, Daksha, the supreme knower of dharma, gave thirteen of those daughters to the great-souled Kashyapa.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.7.1.36)

दश धर्माय सोमाय सप्तविंशति भूपते । द्वे चैव भृगवे प्रादाच्चतस्रोऽरिष्टनेमिने

daśa dharmāya somāya saptaviṁśati bhūpate dve caiva bhṛgave prādāccatasro'riṣṭanemine

Ten daughters he gave to Dharma, and, O lord of the earth, twenty-seven to Soma; two to Bhrigu, and four to Arishtanemi.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.7.1.37)

द्वे चैवाङ्गिरसे कन्ये तथैवाङ्गिरसे पुनः । तासां पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च देवाश्च दानवास्तथा

dve caivāṅgirase kanye tathaivāṅgirase punaḥ tāsāṁ putrāśca pautrāśca devāśca dānavāstathā

Two daughters likewise he gave to Angiras, and again others to Angiras; from them were born sons and grandsons — both gods and demons.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.7.1.38)

जाता बलसमायुक्ताः परस्परविरोधकाः । रागद्वेषान्विताः सर्वे परस्परविरोधिनः । सर्वे मोहावृताः शूरा ह्यभवन्नतिमायिनः

jātā balasamāyuktāḥ parasparavirodhakāḥ rāgadveṣānvitāḥ sarve parasparavirodhinaḥ sarve mohāvṛtāḥ śūrā hyabhavannatimāyinaḥ

They were born endowed with strength, yet mutually opposed; all filled with attachment and hatred, contending with one another; all enveloped in delusion, they became heroic yet exceedingly deceptive.