Description of Creation Continued

Suta said

Son, such is said to have been creation in the Svarochisha manvantara. In the Vaivasvata manvantara a great sacrifice was performed for Varuna, and it is said that for the sake of offspring Brahma himself made the oblations. Earlier he had created seven sages by his mental powers, and the grandfather now thought of them as his sons. Rishi, there was a great battle between gods and danavas. When Diti's sons were destroyed she went and presented herself to Kashyapa. Properly worshipped by her, Kashyapa was pleased and offered her a boon. She asked for a capable, infinitely energetic son who would kill Indra. The great ascetic granted the wish, but told her, fair-complexioned one, that she must keep celibacy and other rules for a hundred years and stay pure. Diti conceived and nurtured the foetus, keeping celibacy and the other rules. Having placed the child in Diti's womb and told her the vow, Kashyapa left, glad in mind, wishing to practise austerities. The chastiser of Paka stayed there looking for a weakness, and when one year of the hundred remained he found it. Without washing her feet or purifying herself, Diti lay down to sleep with her head the wrong way. This came about through the power of what was destined. Seizing the chance, Shakra entered through her side and with the vajra in his hand shattered the embryo into seven pieces. Split by the vajra, the embryo cried out, and the vajra-wielder kept telling it not to cry. He cut each of the seven pieces into seven, but they did not die. Sage, as they were struck, all of them joined their hands and said: Shakra, why do you want to kill us? We are your brothers, the Maruts. Brahmana rishi, by Shankara's wish they gave up their daitya inclinations and Indra accepted all of them as brothers. These are the gods called Maruts, very strong, forty-nine in number, who travel the sky and are aides of the vajra-holder.

When they grew, Prajapati Hari, following the order, installed them in kingdoms, starting with Prithu. Hear of it. Valiant, victorious Krishna is a complete being and a Prajapati. Parjanya is lord of the clouds and so of the entire world. Great sage, I have rightly told you the creation of beings, and will now describe in order the division of kingdoms. The grandfather made Prithu, Vena's son, emperor, and then began to install others in turn. Brahma installed Soma over brahmanas, herbs, nakshatras, planets, sacrifices and austerities. Lord Vaishravana was given the kingdom of kings and Varuna that of waters. Vishnu became lord of the Adityas and Pavaka of the Vasus. Daksha became lord of Prajapatis and Vasava of the Maruts. Infinitely energetic Prahlada was made lord of daityas and danavas. Vaivasvata Yama was installed over the ancestors, Matrikas, vows, mantras and cattle. Girisha, with the trident in hand, became lord of yakshas, rakshasas, kings and all bhutas and pishachas. Himalaya became lord of mountains and the ocean of rivers. The tiger became lord of animals and the bull of cows. The banyan was installed as lord of trees and plants. In order, in every kingdom a lord of subjects was chosen. The lord and master of the universe, who is in all selves, established the son of Prajapati Vairaja in the east. Tiger among sages, he named Sudhanvan, son of Prajapati Kardama, lord of the south. He installed great-souled Ketuman, the undecaying son of Rajas, as king of the west, and unassailable Hiranyaroma, son of Prajapati Parjanya, as king of the north. Shounaka, I have already told you in detail of Prithu, Vena's son; the place where he was installed is described as ancient and great.