From the ancient lineages, Taṃsurogha, Pratiratha, Purasta, and Matināraka were born. Pratiratha’s line continued with Kaṇva, and from Kaṇva arose the illustrious Medhātithi. Taṃsurogha’s descendants were four: Duṣmanta, then Pravīraka, as well as Sumanta, Anayo, and Vīra. Among them, Duṣmanta became the father of the renowned Bharata. Bharata, the mighty among the Bhāratas, was the son of Śakuntalā. It was after him that the Bhāratas came to be known by their name. Yet, due to his mother’s anger, all the sons of Bharata were lost. Then, by the grace of the Maruts, a son of Bṛhaspati was brought and transferred; Bharadvāja, through the power of sacrifice, became known as Vitatha. Vitatha fathered five sons: Suhotra, Suhotāra, Gaya, Garbha, and Kapila. Kapila, noble of soul, and Suketu were his sons, as were Kauśika and Gṛtsapati. From Gṛtsapati came further descendants. Among the people of Kāśī, Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, and Vaiśyas flourished as long-lived sons. From this line emerged Dhanvantari, famed as the originator of Ayurveda, and his son was Ketumān. Ketumān’s lineage continued with Hemaratha and then Divodāsa. From Divodāsa came Pratardana, and from Pratardana, Bhargavatsa. Vatsa followed, then Anarka, and from Anarka, Kṣemaka. Kṣemaka’s son was Varṣaketu, and from Varṣaketu, Vibhu is remembered. Vibhu’s line split to Anarta and Sukumāraka; from Sukumāra came Satyaketu, and from Vatsaka, Vatsabhūmi. Suhotra’s son was Bṛhat, who had three sons: Ajamīḍha, Dvimīḍha, and the mighty Purumīḍha. From the union of Ajamīḍha and Keśinī was born the illustrious Jahnu. Jahnu’s line continued with Ajakāśva and Balākāśva, and from Balākāśva came Kuśika. Kuśika’s son was Gādhi, also called Indraka. Gādhi’s daughter was Satyavatī, while his excellent son was Viśvāmitra. Viśvāmitra had sons: Devarāta and Katimukha, as well as Śunaḥśepha and Aṣṭaka, and another son through Ajamīḍha. From Nīlinī came Śānti, and from Suśānti, Purujāti. Purujāti’s son was Vāhyāśva, and from Vāhyāśva descended five renowned kings: Mukula, Sṛñjaya, King Vṛhadiṣu, Yavīnara, and Kṛmila, known collectively as the Pāñcālas. From Mukula came the Maukulyas, twice-born by field-born descent. Mukula’s line continued with Cañcāśva, and from him, a pair of descendants. Among them were Divodāsa and Ahalyā; from Ahalyā came Śaradvat, and from Śatānanda, Satyadhṛti. Mithuna’s lineage carried on the line. From Divodāsa came Kṛpa and Kṛpī, and from Maitreya, Somapas. Sṛñjaya’s line led to Pañcadhanu, and from Somadatta, his son. Somadatta’s son was Sahadeva, and Sahadeva’s son was Somaka. From Somaka came Jantu, and from Jantu, Pṛṣata’s son. Pṛṣata begot Drupada, and from Drupada came Dhṛṣṭadyumna, whose son was Dhṛṣṭaketu. From Dhūminī was born Ṛkṣa, descendant of Jamīḍha. Ṛkṣa’s son was Sambalaṇa, and from Samvaraṇa came Kuru, who, leaving Prayāga, established the sacred land of Kurukṣetra. From Kuru came Sudhanvan, then Sudhanu, followed by Parikṣit and Arimejaya. Sudhanvan’s line continued to Suhotra, and from Suhotra, Cyavana. Vasiṣṭha and Paricara fathered seven sons through Girikā: Vṛhadratha, Kuśa, Vīra, Yadu, Pratyagraha, and Bala. King Vṛhadratha’s sons were Matsyakālī and Kuśāgra; from Kuśāgra came Vṛṣabha, and his son was Satyahita. Sudhanvan’s son was Urjja, and from Urjja came Sambhava; Sambhava’s son was the mighty Jarāsandha, and his son was Sahadeva. Sahadeva’s son was Udāpi, and from Udāpi, Śrutakarmaka. Parikṣit’s heir was the righteous Janamejaya. From Janamejaya came Trasadasyu; from Jahro, Suratha was born. Among their descendants were Śrutasena, Ugrasena, and Bhīmasena. Janamejaya’s sons were Suratha and Mahimān; from Suratha came Vidūratha, and from Vidūratha, Ṛkṣa was born. From this second Ṛkṣa came Bhīmasena; Bhīmasena’s son was Pratīpa, and from Pratīpa came Śāntanu. Śāntanu’s sons were Devāpi, Vāhlika, and Somadatta. From Vāhlika came Somadatta, and his sons were Bhūri, Bhūrisravas, and Śala. By Gaṅgā, Śāntanu had Bhīṣma; by Kālyā, he had Vicitravīrya. In the field of Vicitravīrya, Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana was born. Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana begot Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Pāṇḍu, and Vidura. From Pāṇḍu and Kuntī were born Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma, and Arjuna. Nakula and Sahadeva were born to Pāṇḍu from Mādri by divine means. From Arjuna came Saubhadra, and from Abhimanyu, Parikṣit. Draupadī, beloved of the Pāṇḍavas, bore Prativindhya to Yudhiṣṭhira, Śrutakīrti to Bhīmasena, and Dhanañjaya. Sahadeva’s son was Śrutakarman, and Nakula’s was Śatānīka. Bhīmasena, with Hiṃbā, fathered Ghaṭotkaca. Thus, these kings—of the past and those yet to come—are beyond counting. All have passed with time, for Time itself is Hari; let the twice-born honor him. Offerings to Agni are to be performed, for they grant all things. At this point, Agni spoke: “I shall declare the Ayurveda, the essence that Dhanvantari, the divine physician, revealed to Sushruta, by which even the dead were restored to life.” Sushruta replied, “Tell me, O Agni, of Ayurveda—the science that removes the diseases of humans, horses, and cattle, together with perfected formulas, accomplished mantras, and those that restore the dead to life.