O tiger among men, in those ancient times, people were steadfast in righteousness. Devoted to their duties, they cared only for what was right, and every order of society—Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras—was engaged in its proper tasks. Thus, righteousness flourished everywhere, never diminishing at any place or time. The world moved in harmony: cows gave birth at the proper time, women conceived, and trees blossomed and bore fruit in their seasons. In this way, during the Krita Yuga, when all proceeded rightly, the earth became abundantly filled with countless living beings. As humanity prospered, the Asuras were born among the royal lineages. These Daityas, having been repeatedly defeated by the Adityas in celestial battles, stripped of their sovereignty and cast down from heaven, took birth on earth. Yearning for divinity among the gods, these ascetic Asuras incarnated among living beings, seeking to reclaim their lost glory. Not only among humans, but also among cows, horses, camels, buffaloes, carnivorous creatures, elephants, and wild animals, the Asuras were born. With so many beings populating the earth—those already here and those newly born—the earth herself could not bear their weight. Then, some kings emerged, full of great pride—sons of Diti and Danu—who had fallen from their celestial worlds and now walked the earth. Mighty and arrogant, assuming various forms, these slayers of enemies roamed across the earth, bounded by the ocean. With their strength, they oppressed Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras, tormenting other creatures as well. Terrifying and striking all groups of beings, they wandered everywhere upon the earth in their hundreds of thousands. Intoxicated by their power and pride, these Asuras assaulted the great sages dwelling in hermitages, acting unrighteously. As the earth suffered under these mighty Asuras, swollen with strength and power, she approached Brahma, seeking relief. Neither the hosts of beings, nor the Nagas, nor the mountains could bear the earth, overrun by the Danavas through force. Weighed down and afflicted by fear, the earth went for refuge to Brahma, the grandsire of all beings. Surrounded by the blessed gods, sages, and great seers, she beheld Brahma, the imperishable creator of the worlds. Honored by Gandharvas, Apsaras, and those engaged in songs of praise, and joyfully worshipped, she approached and bowed to him. Seeking refuge, the earth made her request before all the guardians of the worlds. O King, the task of the earth, pertaining to the primordial Self, was already known beforehand by the supreme Lord, the self-born. What could escape the awareness of the Creator of the world, who knows all that arises in the minds of gods and asuras? Then, the Lord of beings, Shambhu, addressed the earth: "O Earth, for the purpose for which you have come to me, I will engage all the dwellers of heaven accordingly." Having spoken thus, Brahma released the earth and instructed all the wise gods, the creator of beings himself: "To lighten the burden of this earth, descend in separate portions; be born here, concealing your true forms." In the same way, he assembled the hosts of Gandharvas and Apsarases and spoke meaningful words to them. All the gods headed by Indra, having heard the words of their preceptor, accepted them as true, beneficial, and wholesome. Prepared to descend to earth with their own portions, they approached Narayana, the slayer of enemies, dwelling in Vaikuntha. He who holds the discus and mace, who wears yellow garments, shines with bright radiance, has a lotus navel, destroys the enemies of the gods, and whose eyes are wide and beautiful—the god who is the lord of creatures, the lord of the gods, of great might, marked with the Srivatsa, Hrishikesha, worshipped by all deities. To him, Indra spoke for the purification of the earth: "Descend in part." And Hari replied, "So be it." O Brahman, from you I have heard the descent in portions of the gods, asuras, and rakshasas, and likewise of the Gandharvas and Apsarases. But now I wish to hear from you, O Brahman, the lineage of the Kurus from the beginning, as you recount it in the presence of the assembly of sages. Described with righteousness, wealth, and desire, renowned among royal sages, pure and celebrated among the wise—listen to this from me. Of Prajapati Daksha, of Manu Vaivasvata, of Bharata, of Kuru, of Puru, and of Rajamidhya, O sinless one. This lineage of the Yadavas, and likewise of the Kauravas in its entirety, and also of the Bharatas, holy and greatly auspicious. Blessed, renowned, and life-giving, I will recount it to you, O sinless one; all of them, resplendent with energy, equal in brilliance to great sages. The ten sons of Prachetas, known as virtuous men, were previously burned by the powerful fire that emerged from his mouth. From them was born Daksha, the son of Prachetas, and from Daksha came the progenitors of beings; for he, O tiger among men, is indeed the grandfather of the worlds.