From the noble lineage of Pṛṣata arose Drupada, and from Drupada was born the valiant Dhṛṣṭadyumna. Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s son was Dhṛṣṭaketu, and from his consort Dhūminī came Ṛkṣa, who traced his descent from the illustrious Jamīḍha. Ṛkṣa’s line continued with Sambalaṇa, and from Samvaraṇa emerged the famed Kuru. Departing from Prayāga, Kuru established the sacred region of Kurukṣetra, which would become renowned for ages. From Kuru descended Sudhanvan, followed by Sudhanu, then Parikṣit and Arimejaya. Sudhanvan’s own son was Suhotra, and from Suhotra came Cyavana. Meanwhile, Vasiṣṭha and Paricara blessed Girikā with seven sons: Vṛhadratha, Kuśa, Vīra, Yadu, Pratyagraha, and Bala. From King Vṛhadratha were born Matsyakālī and Kuśāgra; Kuśāgra fathered Vṛṣabha, and Vṛṣabha’s son was Satyahita. Sudhanvan’s line continued with Urjja, then Sambhava, and from Sambhava came the mighty Jarāsandha, whose son was Sahadeva. Sahadeva’s heir was Udāpi, who was followed by Śrutakarmaka. Parikṣit’s legacy endured through his righteous son Janamejaya. Janamejaya fathered Trasadasyu, and from Jahro was born Suratha. Other notable descendants included Śrutasena, Ugrasena, and Bhīmasena. Janamejaya’s sons were Suratha and Mahimān; Suratha’s line continued with Vidūratha, and from Vidūratha came Ṛkṣa. The second Ṛkṣa fathered Bhīmasena, who begot Pratīpa, and Pratīpa’s son was Śāntanu. Śāntanu became the father of Devāpi, Vāhlika, and Somadatta. From Vāhlika came Somadatta, whose sons were Bhūri, Bhūrisravas, and Śala. By Gaṅgā, Śāntanu had the illustrious Bhīṣma; by Kālyā, he had Vicitravīrya; and 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 and Mādri by divine means. Arjuna’s son was Abhimanyu, whose son was Parikṣit, continuing the noble line. Draupadī, beloved of the Pāṇḍavas, bore Prativindhya to Yudhiṣṭhira, Śrutakīrti to Bhīmasena, and to Arjuna, Dhanañjaya. Sahadeva’s son was Śrutakarman; Nakula’s was Śatānīka. Bhīmasena, with Hiṃbā, fathered Ghaṭotkaca. These kings—those who have reigned and those yet to come—are countless, for all are subject to the flow of Time, who is none other than Hari himself. Let the twice-born ever honor him. It is enjoined to perform the offering to Agni, for it is the source of all blessings. Then Agni spoke, saying, “I will now declare the sacred science of Ayurveda—the essence that Dhanvantari, the divine physician, imparted to Sushruta, by which even the dead may be restored to life.” Sushruta humbly asked, “O Lord, teach me the Ayurveda, which dispels the diseases of humans, horses, and cattle, along with perfected formulas, accomplished mantras, and those remedies which can restore life.” Dhanvantari replied, “To preserve strength in fever, the physician should give light food to one who has fasted. Roasted barley and parched rice, together with water that has been boiled and cooled, will quench thirst and subdue fever. Administer musta, parpata, koshira, sandalwood, udichya, and nagara; and when the fever has passed its peak, a bitter preparation should certainly be given. “After anointing with oil and removing the doshas, purgation should be performed. Well-cooked shashtika, nivara, red rice, and pramodaka are suitable foods in such cases. These, and preparations of barley, are prescribed for fevers, as are mung beans, lentils, chickpeas, horse gram, and those containing kustha. “Atakya, naraka, karkotaka, katolvaka, patola with fruit, neem, parpata, and pomegranate are all beneficial in fever. For disorders moving downward, emesis is best; for those moving upward, purgation. In bleeding disorders, one should drink the six-ingredient decoction, omitting dry ginger. “Roasted barley, wheat, rice, lentils, preparations with kustha, chickpeas, and mung beans are wholesome, and wheat preparations are especially beneficial. Food prepared with ghee and milk, honey, bull’s urine, and honey again are salutary; for chronic diarrhea, old rice is recommended. “Food that does not cause obstruction, combined with lodhra bark, is suitable; in all cases of abdominal tumors, wind must be carefully avoided. Wheat, rice, mung beans, brahmi, khadira, haritaki, the five kinds of pepper, wild vegetables, neem, amalaki, and patola are recommended. “The juice of matulunga, jati, dried roots, and rock salt is beneficial; for those with skin diseases, water infused with khadira is suitable for drinking. Lentils and mung beans make good gruel, and well-cooked rice is proper food, especially with neem and parpata greens, and the juice of wild animals. “Vidanga, black pepper, musta, kustha, lodhra, suvarcika, manashila, and valerian, pounded with urine, destroy skin diseases. Cakes, preparations of kustha, kulmasha, barley, and similar foods are beneficial for those with urinary disorders. Barley, mung beans, horse gram, and well-cooked rice are suitable. “Bitter and dry vegetables, and bitter greens, as well as oils of sesame, mustard, vibhitaka, and inguda, are also appropriate. Mung beans with barley and wheat, and grains stored for a year, along with the juice of wild animals, are best for those suffering from consumption. “One should use horse gram, black gram, rasna, dried roots, wild meats, or these with flowers or grains prepared and seasoned with curd and pomegranate. Food prepared with the juice of citron, honey, grapes, long pepper, and similar ingredients, as well as barley, wheat, and rice, should be given to those suffering from breathlessness and cough. “Gruels, soups, and decoctions made with the ten roots, bala, rasna, and horse gram are remedies for breathlessness and hiccups. Rice, wheat, and barley that have been digested should be taken with the juice of dried roots, horse gram, and wild roots, together with usira.” Thus, the divine lineage and the sacred science of healing are preserved, to be honored and practiced for the well-being of all creatures.