Shloka 5
Kardama Muni’s Penance, Viṣṇu’s Darśana, and the Arrangement of Devahūti’s Marriage
रुचिर्यो भगवान् ब्रह्मन्दक्षो वा ब्रह्मण: सुत: । यथा ससर्ज भूतानि लब्ध्वा भार्यां च मानवीम् ॥ ५ ॥
rucir yo bhagavān brahman dakṣo vā brahmaṇaḥ sutaḥ yathā sasarja bhūtāni labdhvā bhāryāṁ ca mānavīm
يا أيها البراهمن القدّيس، أخبرني كيف أن روتشي المعبود ودكشا ابن براهما، بعدما نالا ابنتَي سوايامبهوفا مانو الأخريين زوجتين، أنجبا الذرية وأوجدا الرعية.
All the great personalities who increased the population in the beginning of the creation are called Prajāpatis. Brahmā is also known as Prajāpati, as were some of his later sons. Svāyambhuva Manu is also known as Prajāpati, as is Dakṣa, another son of Brahmā. Svāyambhuva had two daughters, Ākūti and Prasūti. The Prajāpati Ruci married Ākūti, and Dakṣa married Prasūti. These couples and their children produced immense numbers of children to populate the entire universe. Vidura’s inquiry was, “How did they beget the population in the beginning?”
FAQs
This verse shows Vidura asking how Prajapatis like Dakṣa (and also Ruci) expanded creation—by entering household life and generating progeny to populate the worlds under Brahmā’s plan.
Because Maitreya is narrating the expansion of creation and dynasties; Vidura wants the specific account of how these progenitors, after receiving suitable wives, produced beings and continued the cosmic population.
It highlights that family life and procreation can be sacred when aligned with dharma—responsibility, purity, and service to the divine purpose rather than mere enjoyment.