Driven by envy and malice, Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son schemed to destroy the Pāṇḍavas and their mother Kuntī, intending to burn them alive in the house of lac. Yet, wise Vidura intervened, rescuing them from the deadly trap. Afterward, Bhīma slew the rakshasa Hiḍimba and, with Hiḍimbā, fathered a son named Ghaṭotkaca. The Pāṇḍavas journeyed safely to Ekacakrā, and from there traveled to the land of the Pāñcālas. At Draupadī’s svayaṃvara, they won her hand, gaining half the kingdom, and settled at Indraprastha. There, with Draupadī, they begot sons—Śrutasena and Sahadeva. Yudhiṣṭhira married Devakī, daughter of Śaivya, and their son was Yaudheya. Bhīmasena wed Jalandharā, princess of Kāśi, at her svayaṃvara in Vārāṇasī, and she bore him Śarvatrāta. Arjuna journeyed to Dvāravatī and married Subhadrā, sister of the blessed Vāsudeva; their son was Abhimanyu. Nakula married Reṇumatī of the Cedis, and their son was Niramitra. Sahadeva, at his own svayaṃvara, wed Vijayā, Mādrī’s daughter, and their son was Suhotra. Bhīmasena had already fathered Ghaṭotkaca with the rakshasi Hiḍimbā. Arjuna begot Irāvat with Ulūpī, the serpent maiden, and later fathered Babhruvāhana with Citrāṅgadā, daughter of the lord of Maṇalūra. Thus, the Pāṇḍavas had thirteen sons. Abhimanyu married Uttarā, daughter of Virāṭa, and she conceived his son after Abhimanyu had fallen. By the command of the noblest of men, Pṛthā took the unborn child onto her lap. Vāsudeva declared, “I will sustain this six-month-old fetus by the touch of my foot. I will give life to this boy of boundless energy; he is born even now. By the truth of Abhimanyu, let this earth be upheld.” By Vāsudeva’s touch, the child was born alive, and Subhadrā named him. When the lineage seemed on the verge of extinction, the illustrious Parikshit was born to Uttara and the noble son of Subhadrā. Parikshit married Bhadravati, and from her you, Janamejaya, were born. From you, Janamejaya, came two sons of great splendor: Shatanika and Shankukarṇa. Shatanika married a princess of Videha, and their son was Ashvamedhadatta. Thus the lineage of Puru and the Pandavas has been recounted. Whoever hears this sacred line is freed from all sins. Now, hear of King Uparichara, devoted to righteousness, who delighted in hunting, was steadfast in study, and pure in heart. Known as Vasu, the joy of the Paurava line, he, by Indra’s command, took possession of the beautiful land of Cedi. While living in an ashram, having set aside his weapons, the gods led by Shakra approached him. They considered, “This king, through his austerity, is worthy of Indrahood,” and gently turned him away from asceticism. They said, “Let not this righteousness be mixed upon the earth, O king; for you uphold righteousness, and it sustains the world. We gods are the protectors; you, protect humanity. Uphold righteousness always, and you will attain the eternal blessed worlds.” Indra declared, “Dwelling on earth, you are my dear friend as I am in heaven. Reside in the region called Udha. That land is blessed, abundant in cattle, wealth, and grain, secure, gentle, and endowed with every enjoyment and virtue. Prosperous and filled with treasures, dwell among the Cedis, O lord of the Cedis. The people are righteous and content; even among the free, there is no false speech. Fathers do not divide their sons, who are devoted to their elders; they yoke the oxen to the plough and urge on the lean ones. All classes abide in their own duties, and nothing is unknown to them in all the three worlds.” Indra promised, “A great, celestial, crystal-like aerial chariot, fit for the enjoyment of the gods, will come to you, given by me. You alone among mortals, seated in the foremost celestial chariot, shall move above like a god in embodied form. I give you the Vaijayanti garland, made of unfading lotuses; wear it in battle, and weapons will not wound you. You shall be renowned as ‘Indra among men,’ blessed, incomparable, and great.” The slayer of Vritra gave him a bamboo staff, bestower of desired objects and protector of the worthy. Thus consoling the king, Indra turned him away from austerities and departed with the gods. King Uparichara, adorned with Indra’s ornaments, mounted the celestial chariot and returned to his city. To honor Indra, he arranged a grand festival, the greatest of all. In the month of Mārgashīrsha, during the waxing fortnight, a great sacrifice was performed; and from that time on, the best of kings have continued the staff ceremony. Thus, the lineage and deeds of the noble Pāṇḍavas and the righteous king Uparichara are recounted, sacred and freeing to all who hear.