“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus addressed, Kunti replied unto her heroic lord,king Pandu, that bull amongst the Kurus, saying, ‘O virtuous one, itbehoveth thee not to say so unto me. I am, O thou lotus-eyed one, thywedded wife, devoted to thee.
“Vidura said, ‘In this connection is cited the old story of the discoursebetween the son of Atri and the deities called Sadhyas is as heard by us.
Then Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, said to the Brahmana, Markandeya,’Do thou now narrate the history of Vaivaswata Manu?
“Brahmana said, ‘That Mahat who was first produced is called Egoism. Whenit sprang up as I, it came to be called as the second creation. ThatEgoism is said to be the source of all creatures, for these have sprungfrom its modifications.
“‘Vasishtha said, Listen now to me as I discourse to thee on Buddhas(Supreme Soul) and Abuddha (Jiva) which is the dispensation of attributesof Sattwa, Rajas, and Tamas.
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus addressed by his loving wife, king Pandu,well-acquainted with all rules of morality, replied in these words ofvirtuous import, ‘O Kunti, what thou hast said is quite true.
“Vidura said, ‘O son of Vichitravirya, Manu, the son of the Self-created,hath, O king, spoken of the following seven and ten kinds of men, asthose that strike empty space with their fists, or seek to bend thevapoury bow of Indra in the sky, or desire to catch the intangible raysof the sun.
“Markandeya continued, ‘O thou conqueror of hostile cities, in thisconnection Saraswati too, when interrogated by that intelligent MuniTarkshya, had said (this). Do thou listen to her words!
‘Brahmana said, From Egoism were verily born the five great elements.They are earth, air, ether, water, and light numbering the fifth.
“Bhishma said, ‘Once on a time a king of Janaka’s race, while ranging theuninhabited forests in pursuit of deer, saw a superior Brahmana or Rishiof Bhrigu’s race.
