All the directions of the earth once belonged to the illustrious King Gaya, and by the command of the sage Vasiṣṭha, Sudyumna was granted the city of Pratiṣṭhāna. Having received this kingdom, Sudyumna, in turn, gave it to Purūravas. The sons of Nariṣyanta became known as the Śakas, while Vaiṣṇava was the son of Nābhāga. Ambarīṣa became the protector of the people. From Dhṛṣṭa arose the Dhārṣṭaka lineage, while Śaryāti was the father of Sukalga and Narttu. Anarta’s line produced King Vairohya. In the land of Anarta stood the famed city Kuśasthalī, and Reva’s son, Raivata, also called Kakudmī, ruled there with righteousness. Kakudmī was the eldest among a hundred sons, and after inheriting Kuśasthalī, he journeyed with his daughter to hear the enchanting music of the Gandharvas before Brahmā himself. For the gods, only a moment passed as they listened, but for mortals, many ages slipped by. When Kakudmī returned to his city, he found it transformed, now filled with the Yādavas. The city was now called Dvāravatī, adorned with many gates and protected by the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis, and Andhakas, with Vāsudeva at their head. Seeing that his daughter was blameless, Kakudmī gave Revatī in marriage to Baladeva. Having fulfilled his duties, Kakudmī performed austerities on Mount Sumeru and finally ascended to the abode of Viṣṇu. Nābhāga had two sons, both born Vaiśyas, but through merit they attained Brāhmaṇa status. From Karūṣa came the Kārūṣas, fierce Kṣatriyas. Pṛṣadhra, after killing his teacher’s cow, became a Śūdra. From Manu’s son Ikṣvāku was born Devarāṭ, who in turn had a son Vikukṣi. From Vikukṣi came Kakutstha, whose son was Suyodhana. Suyodhana’s son was Pṛthu, and his son was Viśvagaśva. Āyuṣ was born to Viśvagaśva, and his son was Suthodhana. From Suthodhana came another Pṛthu, followed by Viśvagaśva. Śrāvanta’s line produced Vṛhadaśva, then Kubalāśva, and then King Dhundhumāra, who was once called Dhundhu. Dhundhumāra had three sons: Dṛḍhāśva, Daṇḍa, and Kapila. From Dṛḍhāśva came Haryaśva and Pramodaka. Haryaśva’s son was Nikumbha, whose son was Saṃhatāśva, from whom descended Akṛśāśva and other sons. Yuvanāśva was born of Raṇāśva, and from Yuvanāśva came Māndhātṛ. Māndhātṛ’s sons were Purukutsa and Mucukunda. Purukutsa’s son Trasadasyu was born to him by Narmadā. Trasadasyu’s son was Sudhanvā, whose son was Tridhanvā. Tridhanvā’s son was Taruṇa, and his son was Satyavrata. Satyavrata’s son was Satyaratha, and his son was Hariścandra. From Hariścandra came Rohitāśva, then Vṛka, then Vāhu, and then Sagara, whose beloved wife was Prabhā. Prabhā became the mother of sixty thousand sons. From Tuṣṭā and Aurvā, Bhānumatī bore Asamañjasa, the only king among Sagara’s sons. When Sagara’s many sons dug into the earth, they were burned by Viṣṇu’s power. Asamañjasa’s son was Aṃśumān, whose son was Dilīpa. From Dilīpa was born Bhagīratha, the one who brought the sacred Gaṅgā down to earth. Bhagīratha’s son was Nābhāga, and his son was Ambarīṣa. From Ambarīṣa came Sindhudvīpa, whose son was Śrutāyu. Śrutāyu’s son was Ṛtaparṇa, and his son was Kalmāṣapāda. Kalmāṣapāda, also called Kalmāṣāṅghri, was succeeded by Anaraṇya, master of all deeds. From Anaraṇya came Nighna, then Anamitra, then Raghu. Raghu’s son was Dilīpa, followed by King Aja, then Dīrghavāhu, then Kāla, and then Ajāpāla. Thus was born Daśaratha, who had four sons, all manifestations of Nārāyaṇa, with Rāma as his eldest. Rāma, the destroyer of Rāvaṇa and the greatest of the Raghu dynasty in Ayodhyā, had his story composed by Vālmīki after hearing it from Nārada. Rāma’s sons, Kuśa and Lava, born of Sītā, continued the family line. From Kuśa came Atithi, then Niṣadha, then Nala, then Nabha, then Puṇḍarīka, and then Sudhanvan. Sudhanvan’s son was Devānīka, whose son was Ahīnāśva. From Ahīnāśva came Sahasrāśva, then Candrāvaloka. Candrāvaloka’s son was Tārāpīra, whose son was Candraparvata. From Candragiri was born Bhānuratha, whose son was Śrutāyu. Then Agni spoke: “Now I shall declare the Soma dynasty, whose narration destroys sin. Brahmā, born from Viṣṇu’s navel, had a son Atri, and from Atri came Soma. Soma performed the Rājasūya sacrifice and, in generosity, gave the three worlds to the priests. When the concluding bath was performed, all who wished to see Soma in that form approached him. The queens of men, their hearts inflamed with longing, served him. Even Lakṣmī left Nārāyaṇa, and Sinīvālī left Kardama to be with Soma. Puṣṭi abandoned the steadfast Dhātā, giving up her own radiance; Prabhā left Prabhākara, and Kuhū left Haviṣmant. Kīrti left her husband Jayanta, Vasu left Mārīca Kaśyapa, and Dhṛti left her husband Nandī, all drawn to Soma. Soma, in turn, desired these women as his own. Yet, though their husbands were aggrieved, they could not punish Soma, neither with curses nor with weapons, for by his austerity Soma had attained lordship over the seven worlds. But Soma’s mind, unrestrained, led him further astray, and he abducted Tārā, the illustrious wife of Bṛhaspati, the son of Aṅgiras. Soma forcefully took Tārā, disregarding Bṛhaspati, and thus began a great and renowned war, the Tārā conflict.