Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 6: “Prescribed Duties for Mankind”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Six
The Progeny of the Daughters of Daksa
SB6.6Summary
As described in this chapter, Prajapati Daksa begot sixty daughters in the womb of his wife Asikni. These daughters were given in charity to various persons to increase the population. Since these offspring of Daksa were women, Narada Muni did not try to lead them toward the renounced order of life. Thus the daughters were saved from Narada Muni. Ten of the daughters were given in marriage to Dharmaraja, thirteen to Kasyapa Muni, and twenty-seven to the moon-god, Candra. In this way fifty daughters were distributed, and of the other ten daughters, four were given to Kasyapa and two each to Bhuta, Angira and Krsasva. One should know that it is because of the union of these sixty daughters with various exalted personalities that the entire universe was filled with various kinds of living entities, such as human beings, demigods, demons, beasts, birds and serpents. SB6.6.1 TEXT 1 sri-suka uvaca tatah pracetaso ’siknyam anunitah svayambhuva sastim sanjanayam asa duhitrh pitr-vatsalah SYNONYMS sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; tatah—after that incident; pracetasah—Daksa; asiknyam—in his wife named Asikni; anunitah—pacified; svayambhuva—by Lord Brahma; sastim—sixty; sanjanayam asa—begot; duhitrh—daughters; pitr-vatsalah—all very affectionate to their father. TRANSLATION Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear King, thereafter, at the request of Lord Brahma, Prajapati Daksa, who is known as Pracetasa, begot sixty daughters in the womb of his wife Asikni. All the daughters were very affectionate toward their father. PURPORT After the incidents concerning the loss of his many sons, Daksa repented his misunderstanding with Narada Muni. Lord Brahma then saw Daksa and instructed him to beget children again. This time Daksa was very cautious to beget female children instead of male children so that Narada Muni would not disturb them by urging them to accept the renounced order. Females are not meant for the renounced order of life; they should be faithful to their good husbands, for if a husband is competent for liberation, his wife will also achieve liberation with him. As stated in the sastra, the results of a husband’s pious activities are shared by his wife. Therefore a woman’s duty is to be very chaste and faithful to her husband. Then without separate endeavor she will share in all the profit the husband earns. SB6.6.2 TEXT 2 dasa dharmaya kayadad dvi-sat tri-nava cendave bhutangirah-krsasvebhyo dve dve tarksyaya caparah SYNONYMS dasa—ten; dharmaya—unto King Dharma, Yamaraja; kaya—unto Kasyapa; adat—gave; dvi-sat—twice six and one (thirteen); tri-nava—thrice nine (twenty-seven); ca—also; indave—unto the moon-god; bhuta-angirah-krsasvebhyah—unto Bhuta, Angira and Krsasva; dve dve—two each; tarksyaya—again unto Kasyapa; ca—and; aparah—the balance. TRANSLATION He gave ten daughters in charity to Dharmaraja [Yamaraja], thirteen to Kasyapa [first twelve and then one more], twenty-seven to the moon-god, and two each to Angira, Krsasva and Bhuta. The other four daughters were given to Kasyapa. [Thus Kasyapa received seventeen daughters in all.] SB6.6.3 TEXT 3 namadheyany amusam tvam sapatyanam ca me srnu yasam prasuti-prasavair loka apuritas trayah SYNONYMS namadheyani—the different names; amusam—of them; tvam—you; sa-apatyanam—with their offspring; ca—and; me—from me; srnu—please hear; yasam—of all of whom; prasuti-prasavaih—by so many children and descendants; lokah—the worlds; apuritah—populated; trayah—three (the upper, middle and lower worlds). TRANSLATION Now please hear from me the names of all these daughters and their descendants, who filled all the three worlds. SB6.6.4 TEXT 4 bhanur lamba kakud yamir visva sadhya marutvati vasur muhurta sankalpa dharma-patnyah sutan srnu SYNONYMS bhanuh—Bhanu; lamba—Lamba; kakut—Kakud; yamih—Yami; visva—Visva; sadhya—Sadhya; marutvati—Marutvati; vasuh—Vasu; muhurta—Muhurta; sankalpa—Sankalpa; dharma-patnyah—the wives of Yamaraja; sutan—their sons; srnu—now hear of. TRANSLATION The ten daughters given to Yamaraja were named Bhanu, Lamba, Kakud, Yami, Visva, Sadhya, Marutvati, Vasu, Muhurta and Sankalpa. Now hear the names of their sons. SB6.6.5 TEXT 5 bhanos tu deva-rsabha indrasenas tato nrpa vidyota asil lambayas tatas ca stanayitnavah SYNONYMS bhanoh—from the womb of Bhanu; tu—of course; deva-rsabhah—Deva-rsabha; indrasenah—Indrasena; tatah—from him (Deva-rsabha); nrpa—O King; vidyotah—Vidyota; asit—appeared; lambayah—from the womb of Lamba; tatah—from him; ca—and; stanayitnavah—all the clouds. TRANSLATION O King, a son named Deva-rsabha was born from the womb of Bhanu, and from him came a son named Indrasena. From the womb of Lamba came a son named Vidyota, who generated all the clouds. SB6.6.6 TEXT 6 kakudah sankatas tasya kikatas tanayo yatah bhuvo durgani yameyah svargo nandis tato ’bhavat SYNONYMS kakudah—from the womb of Kakud; sankatah—Sankata; tasya—from him; kikatah—Kikata; tanayah—son; yatah—from whom; bhuvah—of the earth; durgani—many demigods, protectors of this universe (which is called Durga); yameyah—of Yami; svargah—Svarga; nandih—Nandi; tatah—from him (Svarga); abhavat—was born. TRANSLATION From the womb of Kakud came the son named Sankata, whose son was named Kikata. From Kikata came the demigods named Durga. From Yami came the son named Svarga, whose son was named Nandi. SB6.6.7 TEXT 7 visve-devas tu visvaya aprajams tan pracaksate sadhyo-ganas ca sadhyaya arthasiddhis tu tat-sutah SYNONYMS visve-devah—the demigods named the Visvadevas; tu—but; visvayah—from Visva; aprajan—without sons; tan—them; pracaksate—it is said; sadhyah-ganah—the demigods named the Sadhyas; ca—and; sadhyayah—from the womb of Sadhya-; arthasiddhih—Arthasiddhi; tu—but; tat-sutah—the son of the Sadhyas. TRANSLATION The sons of Visva were the Visvadevas, who had no progeny. From the womb of Sadhya came the Sadhyas, who had a son named Arthasiddhi. SB6.6.8 TEXT 8 marutvams ca jayantas ca marutvatya babhuvatuh jayanto vasudevamsa upendra iti yam viduh SYNONYMS marutvan—Marutvan; ca—also; jayantah—Jayanta; ca—and; marutvatyah—from Marutvati; babhuvatuh—took birth; jayantah—Jayanta; vasudeva-amsah—an expansion of Vasudeva; upendrah—Upendra; iti—thus; yam—whom; viduh—they know. TRANSLATION The two sons who took birth from the womb of Marutvati were Marutvan and Jayanta. Jayanta, who is an expansion of Lord Vasudeva, is known as Upendra. SB6.6.9 TEXT 9 mauhurtika deva-gana muhurtayas ca jajnire ye vai phalam prayacchanti bhutanam sva-sva-kalajam SYNONYMS mauhurtikah—Mauhurtikas; deva-ganah—the demigods; muhurtayah—from the womb of Muhurta; ca—and; jajnire—took birth; ye—all of whom; vai—indeed; phalam—result; prayacchanti—deliver; bhutanam—of the living entities; sva-sva—their own; kala-jam—born of time. TRANSLATION The demigods named the Mauhurtikas took birth from the womb of Muhurta. These demigods deliver the results of actions to the living entities of their respective times. SB6.6.10-11 TEXTS 10–11 sankalpayas tu sankalpah kamah sankalpajah smrtah vasavo ’stau vasoh putras tesam namani me srnu dronah prano dhruvo ’rko ’gnir doso vastur vibhavasuh dronasyabhimateh patnya harsa-soka-bhayadayah SYNONYMS sankalpayah—from the womb of Sankalpa; tu—but; sankalpah—Sankalpa; kamah—Kama; sankalpa-jah—the son of Sankalpa; smrtah—known; vasavah astau—the eight Vasus; vasoh—of Vasu; putrah—the sons; tesam—of them; namani—the names; me—from me; srnu—just hear; dronah—Drona; pranah—Prana; dhruvah—Dhruva; arkah—Arka; agnih—Agni; dosah—Dosa; vastuh—Vastu; vibhavasuh—Vibhavasu; dronasya—of Drona; abhimateh—from Abhimati; patnyah—the wife; harsa-soka-bhaya-adayah—the sons named Harsa, Soka, Bhaya and so on. TRANSLATION The son of Sankalpa was known as Sankalpa, and from him lust was born. The sons of Vasu were known as the eight Vasus. Just hear their names from me: Drona, Prana, Dhruva, Arka, Agni, Dosa, Vastu and Vibhavasu. From Abhimati, the wife of the Vasu named Drona, were generated the sons named Harsa, Soka, Bhaya and so on. SB6.6.12 TEXT 12 pranasyorjasvati bharya saha ayuh purojavah dhruvasya bharya dharanir asuta vividhah purah SYNONYMS pranasya—of Prana; urjasvati—Urjasvati; bharya—the wife; sahah—Saha; ayuh—Ayus; purojavah—Purojava; dhruvasya—of Dhruva; bharya—the wife; dharanih—Dharani; asuta—gave birth to; vividhah—the various; purah—cities and towns. TRANSLATION Urjasvati, the wife of Prana, gave birth to three sons, named Saha, Ayus and Purojava. The wife of Dhruva was known as Dharani, and from her womb various cities took birth. SB6.6.13 TEXT 13 arkasya vasana bharya putras tarsadayah smrtah agner bharya vasor dhara putra dravinakadayah SYNONYMS arkasya—of Arka; vasana—Vasana; bharya—the wife; putrah—the sons; tarsa-adayah—named Tarsa and so on; smrtah—celebrated; agneh—of Agni; bharya—wife; vasoh—the Vasu; dhara—Dhara; putrah—the sons; dravinaka-adayah—known as Dravinaka and so on. TRANSLATION From the womb of Vasana, the wife of Arka, came many sons, headed by Tarsa. Dhara, the wife of the Vasu named Agni, gave birth to many sons, headed by Dravinaka. SB6.6.14 TEXT 14 skandas ca krttika-putro ye visakhadayas tatah dosasya sarvari-putrah sisumaro hareh kala SYNONYMS skandah—Skanda; ca—also; krttika-putrah—the son of Krttika; ye—all of whom; visakha-adayah—headed by Visakha; tatah—from him (Skanda); dosasya—of Dosa; sarvari-putrah—the son of his wife Sarvari; sisumarah—Sisumara; hareh kala—an expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. TRANSLATION From Krttika, another wife of Agni, came the son named Skanda, Karttikeya, whose sons were headed by Visakha. From the womb of Sarvari, the wife of the Vasu named Dosa, came the son named Sisumara, who was an expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. SB6.6.15 TEXT 15 vastor angirasi-putro visvakarmakrti-patih tato manus caksuso ’bhud visve sadhya manoh sutah SYNONYMS vastoh—of Vastu; angirasi—of his wife named Angirasi; putrah—the son; visvakarma—Visvakarma; akrti-patih—the husband of Akrti; tatah—from them; manuh caksusah—the Manu named Caksusa; abhut—was born; visve—the Visvadevas; sadhyah—the Sadhyas; manoh—of Manu; sutah—the sons. TRANSLATION From Angirasi, the wife of the Vasu named Vastu, was born the great architect Visvakarma. Visvakarma became the husband of Akrti, from whom the Manu named Caksusa was born. The sons of Manu were known as the Visvadevas and Sadhyas. SB6.6.16 TEXT 16 vibhavasor asutosa vyustam rocisam atapam pancayamo ’tha bhutani yena jagrati karmasu SYNONYMS vibhavasoh—of Vibhavasu; asuta—gave birth to; usa—named Usa; vyustam—Vyusta; rocisam—Rocisa; atapam—Atapa; pancayamah—Pancayama; atha—thereafter; bhutani—the living entities; yena—by whom; jagrati—are awakened; karmasu—in material activities. TRANSLATION Usa, the wife of Vibhavasu, gave birth to three sons—Vyusta, Rocisa and Atapa. From Atapa came Pancayama, the span of day, who awakens all living entities to material activities. SB6.6.17-18 TEXTS 17–18 sarupasuta bhutasya bharya rudrams ca kotisah raivato ’jo bhavo bhimo vama ugro vrsakapih ajaikapad ahirbradhno bahurupo mahan iti rudrasya parsadas canye ghorah preta-vinayakah SYNONYMS sarupa—Sarupa; asuta—gave birth; bhutasya—of Bhuta; bharya—the wife; rudran—Rudras; ca—and; kotisah—ten million; raivatah—Raivata; ajah—Aja; bhavah—Bhava; bhimah—Bhima; vamah—Vama; ugrah—Ugra; vrsakapih—Vrsakapi; ajaikapat—Ajaikapat; ahirbradhnah—Ahirbradhna; bahurupah—Bahurupa; mahan—Mahan; iti—thus; rudrasya—of these Rudras; parsadah—their associates; ca—and; anye—other; ghorah—very fearful; preta—ghosts; vinayakah—and hobgoblins. TRANSLATION Sarupa, the wife of Bhuta, gave birth to the ten million Rudras, of whom the eleven principle Rudras were Raivata, Aja, Bhava, Bhima, Vama, Ugra, Vrsakapi, Ajaikapat, Ahirbradhna, Bahurupa and Mahan. Their associates, the ghosts and goblins, who are very fearful, were born of the other wife of Bhuta. PURPORT Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura comments that Bhuta had two wives. One of them, Sarupa, gave birth to the eleven Rudras, and the other wife gave birth to the associates of the Rudras known as the ghosts and hobgoblins. SB6.6.19 TEXT 19 prajapater angirasah svadha patni pitrn atha atharvangirasam vedam putratve cakarot sati SYNONYMS prajapateh angirasah—of another prajapati, known as Angira; svadha—Svadha; patni—his wife; pitrn—the Pitas; atha—thereafter; atharva-angirasam—Atharvangirasa; vedam—the personified Veda; putratve—as the son; ca—and; akarot—accepted; sati—Sati. TRANSLATION The prajapati Angira had two wives, named Svadha and Sati. The wife named Svadha accepted all the Pitas as her sons, and Sati accepted the Atharvangirasa Veda as her son. SB6.6.20 TEXT 20 krsasvo ’rcisi bharyayam dhumaketum ajijanat dhisanayam vedasiro devalam vayunam manum SYNONYMS krsasvah—Krsasva; arcisi—Arcis; bharyayam—in his wife; dhumaketum—to Dhumaketu; ajijanat—gave birth; dhisanayam—in the wife known as Dhisana; vedasirah—Vedasira; devalam—Devala; vayunam—Vayuna; manum—Manu. TRANSLATION Krsasva had two wives, named Arcis and Dhisana. In the wife named Arcis he begot Dhumaketu and in Dhisana he begot four sons, named Vedasira, Devala, Vayuna and Manu. SB6.6.21-22 TEXTS 21–22 tarksyasya vinata kadruh patangi yaminiti ca patangy asuta patagan yamini salabhan atha suparnasuta garudam saksad yajnesa-vahanam surya-sutam anurum ca kadrur nagan anekasah SYNONYMS tarksyasya—of Kasyapa, whose other name is Tarksya; vinata—Vinata; kadruh—Kadru; patangi—Patangi; yamini—Yamini; iti—thus; ca—and; patangi—Patangi; asuta—gave birth; patagan—to birds of different varieties; yamini—Yamini; salabhan—(gave birth to) locusts; atha—thereafter; suparna—the wife named Vinata; asuta—gave birth; garudam—to the celebrated bird known as Garuda; saksat—directly; yajnesa-vahanam—the carrier of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu; surya-sutam—the chariot driver of the sun-god; anurum—Anuru; ca—and; kadruh—Kadru; nagan—serpents; anekasah—in varieties. TRANSLATION Kasyapa, who is also named Tarksya, had four wives—Vinata [Suparna], Kadru, Patangi and Yamini. Patangi gave birth to many kinds of birds, and Yamini gave birth to locusts. Vinata [Suparna] gave birth to Garuda, the carrier of Lord Visnu, and to Anuru, or Aruna, the chariot driver of the sun-god. Kadru gave birth to different varieties of serpents. SB6.6.23 TEXT 23 krttikadini naksatran- indoh patnyas tu bharata daksa-sapat so ’napatyas tasu yaksma-graharditah SYNONYMS krttika-adini—headed by Krttika; naksatrani—the constellations; indoh—of the moon-god; patnyah—the wives; tu—but; bharata—O Maharaja Pariksit, descendant of the dynasty of Bharata; daksa-sapat—because of being cursed by Daksa; sah—the moon-god; anapatyah—without children; tasu—in so many wives; yaksma-graha-arditah—being oppressed by a disease that brings about gradual destruction. TRANSLATION O Maharaja Pariksit, best of the Bharatas, the constellations named Krttika were all wives of the moon-god. However, because Prajapati Daksa had cursed him to suffer from a disease causing gradual destruction, the moon-god could not beget children in any of his wives. SB6.6.24-26 TEXTS 24–26 punah prasadya tam somah kala lebhe ksaye ditah srnu namani lokanam matrnam sankarani ca atha kasyapa-patninam yat-prasutam idam jagat aditir ditir danuh kastha arista surasa ila munih krodhavasa tamra surabhih sarama timih timer yado-gana asan svapadah sarama-sutah SYNONYMS punah—again; prasadya—pacifying; tam—him (Prajapati Daksa); somah—the moon-god; kalah—portions of light; lebhe—achieved; ksaye—in gradual destruction (the dark fortnight); ditah—removed; srnu—please hear; namani—all the names; lokanam—of the planets; matrnam—of the mothers; sankarani—pleasing; ca—also; atha—now; kasyapa-patninam—of the wives of Kasyapa; yat-prasutam—from whom was born; idam—this; jagat—whole universe; aditih—Aditi; ditih—Diti; danuh—Danu; kastha—Kastha; arista—Arista; surasa—Surasa; ila—Ila; munih—Muni; krodhavasa—Krodhavasa; tamra—Tamra; surabhih—Surabhi; sarama—Sarama; timih—Timi; timeh—from Timi; yadah-ganah—the aquatics; asan—appeared; svapadah—the ferocious animals like the lions and tigers; sarama-sutah—the children of Sarama. TRANSLATION Thereafter the King of the moon pacified Prajapati Daksa with courteous words and thus regained the portions of light he had lost during his disease. Nevertheless he could not beget children. The moon loses his shining power during the dark fortnight, and in the bright fortnight it is manifest again. O King Pariksit, now please hear from me the names of Kasyapa’s wives, from whose wombs the population of the entire universe has come. They are the mothers of almost all the population of the entire universe, and their names are very auspicious to hear. They are Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kastha, Arista, Surasa, Ila, Muni, Krodhavasa, Tamra, Surabhi, Sarama and Timi. From the womb of Timi all the aquatics took birth, and from the womb of Sarama the ferocious animals like the tigers and lions took birth.