Hari Vamsa Purana - 2nd chapter.
Courtesy: translation in Hindi from Gita Press Publications
Janmejaya asks Vaisampayana: You had earlier said that Daksa and wife were born from Brahma's thumbs. Then how come Daksa again was born from Prachetas. How can Daksa, who is grandson of Moon, be also his father in law.
Vaisampayana replies:
Birth and Death are natural for every being. So those who are knowledgeable (Rishis) are not obsessed (moha) by this. Daksa and others are born and die in every yuga (basically this is a cycle). (55)
Earlier they didnt have such notions of seniority and inferiority based on age. Only tapas i.e. battery power was considered of importance and prabhava i.e. ability or impact was the reason for relationships between them. (56)
Note: Normally tapas is translated as austerity, which is not the right word. Tapas is like power bank which you have accumulated by a life of sadAchAr i.e. living by right principles.
The one who understands the root essence (tattva) of this srsti i.e. creation full of creatures that are progeny of Daksa can be santAnavAn i.e. have progeny (can further creation) and after conquering all obstacles establish himself in swarga with reputation.
So the focus of Rsis is on creation (srsti). Vaisampayana replies in 3 steps. First he establishes that age is related to birth and death, which happens in every yuga. Secondly that ability, impact, battery power were what established superiority or inferiority i.e. it was a heirarchy of merit, not age. Thirdly those who understand creation can further creation. This shows the importance of creation.
