In ancient times, the supreme Lord, the bestower of boons, imparted his wisdom to the sage Vaishampayana. Through this divine instruction, the Samhitas of the great Bharata were separately revealed, preserving the sacred knowledge for generations to come. Among the illustrious souls born in those days was Bhishma, the radiant son of Shantanu and Ganga. Endowed with immeasurable might and fame, Bhishma’s birth was the result of the Vasus’ power, and his splendor shone across the earth. There lived also the venerable sage Mandavya, renowned for his learning in the subtle meanings of the Vedas. Once, due to a suspicion, this ancient seer was wrongfully impaled upon a stake, mistaken for a thief. He became famous as Ani Mandavya. In his suffering, the great sage summoned Dharma himself and questioned him: “In my childhood, I once pierced a Shakuntika bird with a reed. If there is any sin in me, it is only this, for I recall no other evil, O Dharma. Why, then, did my immeasurable ascetic merit not protect me? The killing of a Brahmin is said to be the heaviest of sins, even more than the destruction of all creatures.” Dharma replied to Mandavya, “Because of this act, you shall be born from the womb of a Shudra.” Thus, as a result of this ancient deed, the wise and righteous Vidura was born—free from sin, skilled in righteousness and wealth. Similarly, Sanjaya, who possessed the insight of a sage, was born as a charioteer from Gavalgana. Elsewhere, from Surya, the mighty sun god, Karna was born to Kunti, emerging into the world with natural armor and radiant earrings upon his face. For the welfare of all beings, the revered Vishnu himself, the lord of all, was born from Vasudeva and Devaki, his fame resounding throughout the worlds. This divine being, without beginning or end, is the creator and master of the universe—the imperceptible, imperishable Brahman, the primordial essence composed of the three gunas. He is the immutable self, the origin and lord of nature, the cosmic artificer established in sattva, eternal and unchanging. He is the infinite, unmoving god—Narayana, the swan and sustainer, unborn and unmanifest, whom all call the supreme, imperishable. He is the absolute, beyond all qualities, the universe itself—unborn, without beginning, and imperishable—the all-pervading creator and ancestor of all beings. For the establishment of righteousness, this supreme Lord was born among the Andhakas and Vrishnis as two mighty warriors, masters of weapons and the scriptures. Satyaki and Kritavarma, both devoted to Narayana and skilled in arms, were born from Satyaka and Hriddika. From the seed of Bharadvaja, which grew in a vessel, Drona was born, possessing the austerity of a sage. From Gautama, twins were born: Kripa, of great strength, who emerged from the arrow-pillar, and the mother of Ashvatthama. Later, Ashvatthama himself, mighty and powerful, was born to Drona, as was Dhrishtadyumna, whose brilliance was like fire. In a great Vedic sacrifice, from the sacred fire, a hero armed with a bow and endowed with valor was born for the destruction of Drona. Likewise, from the altar, Krishna—radiant and auspicious—was born, shining in form and bearing the finest appearance. Prahlada’s disciple, Nagnajit, became powerful, and his offspring, destructive of righteousness, was born from the anger of the gods. Shakuni, son of the king of Gandhara, was born, as was Saubala. The mother of Duryodhana bore those skilled in wealth. From Krishna Dvaipayana, in the field of Vichitravirya, were born Dhritarashtra, lord of the people, and Pandu, mighty in strength. Vidura, wise and intelligent, was also born from Dvaipayana, but through a Shudra mother. To Pandu were born five sons, each equal to the gods. Among his two wives, the one of superior qualities bore Yudhishthira. Yudhishthira was born from Dharma, Bhima from the wind-god, and Arjuna, radiant and foremost among warriors, from Indra. Nakula and Sahadeva, both beautiful and devoted to their elders, were born from the Ashvin twins. Dhritarashtra, too, begot a hundred sons, with Duryodhana at their head, as well as Yuyutsu and Karna. Among them were Duhshasana, Duhsaha, Durmarshana, Vikarna, Chitrasena, and Vivingshati. Also present were Jaya, Satyavrata, Purumitra, and Yuyutsu, the son of a Vaishya—these eleven were the great chariot-warriors. Abhimanyu, the valiant son of Arjuna and Subhadra, was born, nephew to Vasudeva and grandson of the great Pandu. From Draupadi, the Pandavas had five sons—princes of great beauty and skill in all branches of knowledge: Prativindhya from Yudhishthira, Sutasoma from Bhima, Shrutakirti from Arjuna, Shatanika from Nakula, and Shrutasena from Sahadeva. From Bhima and Hidimba in the forest was born Ghatotkacha, full of vigor. Shikhandi was born to Drupada as a daughter who, by the favor of a Yaksha, was transformed into a man and thus obtained the status of a son. In that great conflict among the Kurus, countless thousands of kings assembled, ready for battle. The names of all these innumerable warriors cannot be fully recounted, even in tens of thousands of years. But these principal ones have been named, for it is through them that this noble narrative is spread. O Brahman, among those who have been named here, and the many others not mentioned, I desire to hear of them all, as well as the thousands of other kings. For what purpose did these mighty chariot-warriors, equal to the gods, arise on earth? O greatly fortunate one, you ought to tell me this fully.