The Progeny of Daksha
Skandha VI. Chap. 4-6
[We left the line of Uttânapâda with Daksha, the son of the Prachetas brothers. We were told of his work of creation in the Châkshasha Manvantara. But we have to take up the line just now, to introduce the story of Visva Rûpa.]
Daksha first carried on the work of creation by Mânasic reproduction. But he found this sort of reproduction was not adequate for the enlargement of creation. He went to a place near the Vindhyas and prayed hard to Vishnu. Vishnu became pleased with his prayers and advised him to marry Asikni, the daughter of Prajâpati Panchajana. “Take her for your wife and have sexual intercourse with her. By sexual reproduction, you shall have a large progeny and that form of reproduction shall prevail among your sons too”.
By Asikni, Daksha had at first 10 thousand sons called Haryasva. He asked them to take up the work of creation. They went westwards to where the river Sindhu falls into the ocean. They began to make Tapas there for their progeny. Nârada appeared before them and dissuaded them from Pravritti Mârga. He gave them instructions for obtaining Moksha and they followed the path of its attainment.
Daksha heard that his sons were killed by Nârada and he became very sorry.
He again had one thousand sons names Subalâsva. They also went out to the very same place and prayed to Vishnu for progeny. Nârada again dissuaded them and they never returned to their father.
Daksha became restless in sorrow and thus cursed Nârada on meeting him. “Thou shalt roam all over Trilokî and shalt find no resting place.”
Daksha had then 60 daughters. Ten he gave to Dharma, 13 to Kasyapa, 27 to the Moon, two each to Bhûta, Angirasa, and Krisasva and four to Târksha.