son of Prana.  These twenty-five beings are reputed (to have been created by him).  Tapa also created fifteen other gods who obstruct sacrifices[68].  They are Subhima, Bhima, Atibhima, Bhimavala, Avala, Sumitra, Mitravana, Mitasina, Mitravardhana and Mitradharaman,[69] and Surapravira, Vira, Suveka, Suravarchas and Surahantri.  These gods are divided into three classes of five each.  Located here in this world, they destroy the sacrifices of the gods in heaven; they frustrate their objects and spoil their oblations of clarified butter.  They do this only to spite the sacred fires carrying oblations to the gods.  If the officiating priests are careful, they place the oblations in their honour outside of the sacrificial altar.  To that particular place where the sacred fire may be placed, they cannot go.  They carry the oblation of their votaries by means of wings.  When appeased by hymns, they do not frustrate the sacrificial rites.  Vrihaduktha, another son of Tapa, belongs to the Earth.  He is worshipped here in this world by pious men performing Agnihotra sacrifices.  Of the son of Tapa who is known as Rathantara, it is said by officiating priests that the sacrificial oblation offered in his honour is offered to Mitravinda.  The celebrated Tapa was thus very happy with his sons.”

SECTION CCXX

“Markandeya continued, ’The fire called Bharata was bound by severe rules of asceticism.  Pushtimati is another name of his fire; for when he is satisfied he vouchsafes pushti (development) to all creatures, and for this reason he is called Bharata (or the Cherisher).  And that other fire, by name Siva, is devoted to the worship of Sakti (the forces of the presiding deity of the forces of Nature), and because he always relieves the sufferings of all creatures afflicted with misery, he is called Siva (the giver of good).  And on the acquisition of great ascetic wealth by Tapa, an intelligent son named Puranda was born to inherit the same.  Another son named Ushma was also born.  This fire is observed in the vapour of all matter.  A third son Manu was born.  He officiated as Prajapati.  The Brahmanas who are learned in the Vedas, then speak of the exploits of the fire Sambhu.  And after that the bright Avasathya fire of great refulgence is spoken of by the Brahmanas.  Tapa thus created the five Urjaskara fires, all bright as gold.  These all share the Soma drink in sacrifices.  The great sun-god when fatigued (after his day’s labours) is known as the Prasanta fire.  He created the terrible Asuras and various other creatures of the earth.  Angiras, too created the Prajapati Bhanu, the son of Tapa.  He is also called Vrihadbhanu (the great Bhanu) by Brahmanas learned in the Vedas.  Bhanu married Supraja, and Brihadbhanu the daughter of Surya (the sun-god).  They gave birth to six sons; do thou hear of their progeny.  The fire who gives strength to the weak is called Valada (or the giver of strength).  He is the first son of Bhanu, and