all creatures. He is also
called the Ruler of all and everything. I shall now, O son of Kunti,
speak to thee about the sinful creatures of the earth. Listen to me.[707]
Those men, O king, are born in the southern region and are called
Andrakas, Guhas, Pulindas, Savaras, Chuchukas, Madrakas.[708] Those that
are born in the northern region, I shall also mention. They are Yamas,
Kamvojas, Gandharas, Kiratas and Barbaras. All of them, O sire, are
sinful, and move on this Earth, characterised by practices similar to
those of Chandalas and ravens and vultures. In the Krita age, O sire,
they were nowhere on earth. It is from the Treta that they have had their
origin and began to multiply, O chief of Bharata's race. When the
terrible period came, joining Treta and the Dwapara, the Kshatriyas,
approaching one another, engaged themselves in battle.[709]

"'"Thus, O chief of Kuru's race, this universe was started into birth by
the high-souled Krishna. That observer of all the worlds, viz., the
celestial Rishi Narada, has said that Krishna is the Supreme God.[710]
Even Narada, O king, admits the supremacy of Krishna and his eternity, O
mighty-armed chief of Bharata's race.[711] Thus, O mighty-armed one, is
Kesava of unvanquishable prowess. That lotus-eyed one, is not a mere man.
He is inconceivable."'"

SECTION CCVIII

"'Yudhishthira asked, "Who were the first Prajapatis, O bull of Bharata's
race? What highly-blessed Rishis are there in existence and on which
points of the compass do each of them dwell?"

"'Bhishma said, "Hear me, O chief of the Bharatas, about what thou askest
me. I shall tell thee who the Prajapatis were and what Rishis are
mentioned as dwelling on which point of the horizon. There was at first
one Eternal, Divine, and Self-born Brahman. The Self-born Brahman begat
seven illustrious sons. They were Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya,
Pulaha, Kratu, and the highly-blessed Vasishtha who was equal to the
Self-born himself. These seven sons have been mentioned in the Puranas as
seven Brahmanas. I shall now mention all the Prajapatis who came after
these. In Atri's race was born the eternal and divine Varhi the ancient,
who had penances for his origin. From Varhi the ancient sprang the ten
Prachetasas. The ten Prachetasas had one son between them, viz., the
Prajapati called by the name of Daksha. This last has two names in the
world, viz., Daksha and Kasyapa. Marichi had one son called Kasyapa. This
last also ha