Vaishampayana said: 'Brahma has six great sages born from his mind, as is known; Sthanu (Shiva) has eleven renowned sons, born of the highest thought. These are Mrigavyadha, Sharva, and the far-famed Nirriti, Ajaikapad, Ahirbudhnya, and Pinakin who scorches his foes, Dahana, Ishvara, and the resplendent Kapalin, Sthanu, and lord Bhava — thus are the eleven Rudras remembered. Marichi, Angiras, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, and Kratu — these six are the mighty sons of Brahma, great sages. Three sons of Angiras are renowned everywhere in the world: Brihaspati, Utathya, and Samvarta, firm in their vows. Atri, O lord of men, has many sons, it is said — all knowers of the Vedas, perfected, great sages of peaceful soul. From Pulastya come the rakshasas, monkeys, and kinnaras; from Pulaha the wild beasts, lions, tigers, and also the kimpurushas. Kratu has sons like himself, companions of the Sun, renowned in the three worlds, devoted to truth. Lord Daksha, the sage, was born from the right thumb of Brahma, O lord of the earth — the best of those blessed with offspring. And from the left thumb was born the wife of that great-souled one; and by her that sage begot fifty daughters. Having no sons, Prajapati Daksha installed all those flawless, lotus-eyed maidens as heirs in place of sons. He gave ten to Dharma, twenty-seven to Indu (the Moon, Soma), O king, and thirteen to Kashyapa, by divine rite. Learn from me the names by which the wives of Dharma are recalled: Kirti (Fame), Lakshmi (Fortune), Dhriti (Steadfastness), Medha (Intellect), Pushti (Prosperity), Shraddha (Faith), and also Kriya (Action), Buddhi (Wisdom), Lajja (Modesty), and Mati (Understanding) — these ten wives of Dharma. These are the gates of dharma, established by the Self-Existent. The twenty-seven wives of Soma, joined to the constellations, are renowned in the world; sharing in the movement of time, established for the ordering of the world, all of them, united with the nakshatras (lunar mansions), abide in the ordering of the world's life.'