Shloka 33
प्राचेतसस्तथा दक्षो दक्षपुत्राश्च॒ सप्त वै । ततः प्रजानां पतय: प्राभवन्नेकविंशति:,उस अण्डसे ही प्रथम देहधारी, प्रजापालक प्रभु, देवगुरु पितामह ब्रह्मा तथा रुद्र, मनु, प्रजापति, परमेष्ठी, प्रचेताओंके पुत्र, दक्ष तथा दक्षके सात पुत्र (क्रोध, तम, दम, विक्रीत, अंगिरा, कर्दम और अश्व) प्रकट हुए। तत्पश्चात् इक्कीस प्रजापति (मरीचि आदि सात ऋषि और चौदह मनु)- पैदा हुए
prācetasas tathā dakṣo dakṣaputrāś ca sapta vai | tataḥ prajānāṁ patayaḥ prābhavann ekaviṁśatiḥ ||
Then appeared Prācetasa (the son of the Pracetas) and Dakṣa, along with the seven sons of Dakṣa. Thereafter arose the twenty-one lords of creatures (Prajāpatis), who are described as the progenitors entrusted with the ordering, protection, and continuation of living beings. The passage situates creation as a structured lineage of responsibility—authority is presented not as mere power, but as stewardship over life and social-cosmic order.
Educational Q&A
The verse frames cosmic and social beginnings as a lineage of entrusted responsibility: the ‘lords of creatures’ arise to generate and safeguard life. Authority is implicitly ethical—meant for prajā-pālana (care and governance of beings), not self-serving domination.
In the opening genealogical-cosmogonic account of Ādi Parva, the text lists successive progenitors: Prācetasa and Dakṣa appear, then Dakṣa’s seven sons, and thereafter the twenty-one Prajāpatis who continue the work of creation and ordering of beings.