Listen now as I recount the illustrious lineage of the Puru dynasty, a line of kings radiant with immeasurable splendor. Attend carefully to the names of your ancestors, for their story is sacred and profound. In the beginning, there was Brahma, whose origin is unmanifest, eternal, everlasting, and imperishable. From Brahma arose Marici and Daksha, the lord of creatures. Daksha was created from Brahma’s thumb, while Marici came forth from his eyes. Marici’s son was the great sage Kashyapa, and Daksha’s daughter was Aditi. From the union of Kashyapa and Aditi was born Vivasvan, the radiant sun. Vivasvan fathered Manu, the progenitor of mankind, and Manu’s child was Ila. Ila gave birth to Pururavas, and Pururavas begot Ayu. Ayu’s son was Nahusha, and from Nahusha came Yayati. Yayati had two wives: Devayani, the daughter of Ushanas, and Sharmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparvan. From Devayani were born Yadu and Turvasu; from Sharmishtha came Druhyu, Anu, and Puru. Yadu became the ancestor of the Yadavas, while Puru’s descendants were known as the Pauravas. Puru’s wife was Kausalya, and their son was Janamejaya. This Janamejaya performed three horse sacrifices and, after completing the great Visvajit sacrifice, retired to the forest. Janamejaya married Sunanda, a princess from Magadha, and she bore him Pracinvan. Pracinvan conquered the eastern lands, extending his dominion as far as the rising sun. He married Ashmaki, a woman of the Yadava line, and their son was Sasyati. Sasyati took as his wife Varangi, the daughter of Trishanku, and by her he begot Ahanyati. Ahanyati married Bhanumati, daughter of Kritavirya, and their son was Sarvabhauma. Sarvabhauma, having won many victories, married the beautiful Kaikayi, who bore him Jayatsena. Jayatsena wed Sushrava, a princess of the Vidarbha line, and she gave birth to Aparachina. Aparachina married another Vidarbha princess, Maryada, and by her had a son named Ariha. Ariha married a princess from Anga, and their son was Mahabhauma. Mahabhauma’s wife was Suyajna, daughter of Prasenajit, and she bore him Ayutanayi. This Ayutanayi earned his name by bringing ten thousand men to a human sacrifice. He married Bhasa, daughter of Prithusravas, and by her fathered Akrodhana. Akrodhana married Kandu, a princess of Kalinga, and their son was Devatithi. Devatithi married Maryada, a princess of Vidarbha, and she bore him Richa. Richa, by his wife Vamadevi—the daughter of the king of Anga—fathered Riksha. Riksha married Jvalanti, daughter of Takshaka, and their son was Antyanara. Antyanara performed a twelve-year-long sacrifice on the banks of the Sarasvati river. At the sacrifice’s conclusion, the goddess Sarasvati herself appeared and chose Antyanara as her husband. By her, he had a son named Trasnu. Thus, Sarasvati bore Trasnu to Antyanara, and Trasnu in turn fathered Ilila by Kalini. Ilila had five sons with Rathantari, among whom was Dushyanta. Dushyanta married Lakshi, a princess of the Bhagirathi line, and their son was Janamejaya. Dushyanta also married Shakuntala, the daughter of Vishvamitra, and from her was born Bharata. At Bharata’s birth, these verses were recited: “The mother is the bellows, the father the begetter; from whom the son is born, he is truly his father. Accept your son, O son of Dushyanta; Shakuntala speaks the truth.” And again: “The seed-bearer, O king, raises up the son from the realm of Yama; and you are the nourisher of the embryo. Shakuntala speaks the truth.” For this reason, he was called Bharata. Bharata married Sunanda, the Kashya princess, daughter of Sarvasena, and she bore him a son named Bhumanyu. Bhumanyu wed Suvarna of the Dasharha line, and their son was Suhotra. Suhotra married Jayanti of the Ikshvaku lineage, and she bore him Hasti, who founded a city that took his name—Hastinapura. Hasti married Yashoda, a princess of Trigarta, who bore him Vikunja. Vikunja married Sundara of the Dasharha line, and their son was Ajamidha. Ajamidha had one hundred and twenty-four sons by his wives Kaikayi, Naga, Gandhari, Vimala, and Riksha. Many kings and founders of lineages were born among them, but from Ajamidha and Riksha was born Samvarana, who continued this glorious line. Thus unfolds the revered genealogy of the Puru dynasty, a lineage rich in virtue, sacrifice, and royal splendor.