Sūta spoke: After the illustrious Vikramaditya ascended to heaven, many kings arose across the land. On the western bank of the sacred Sindhu river, near the southern bridge, the world saw the emergence of eighteen kingdoms. Among these were regions such as Antarvedi, Vraja, Ajamera, Marudhanva, as well as Avanti, Odra, Vanga, Gauda, and Magadha. In these lands, people of many languages lived together, and a multitude of religious paths were followed. When news spread of the decline and destruction of dharma, groups of people gathered and journeyed by the path of the snowy mountain and along the Sindhu river. In those times of upheaval, they took the women of the local peoples and found great delight in their new unions. It was then that the grandson of Vikramaditya took up the reins of his father’s kingdom. He encountered the Bāhlikas, Kāmarūpas, Romans, Khurajas, and the Shathas. With wisdom and strength, he established boundaries for the mleccha leaders, assigning each their own domain. This noble soul created a place for the mlecchas beyond the Sindhu river. In the land of the Hūṇas, among the mountains, there dwelled a virtuous man. When asked, “Who are you?” he replied joyfully, declaring himself a speaker of the mleccha dharma, devoted to truth and steadfast in his vows. Hearing this, the great king spoke, for the time of the decline of truth had indeed arrived. Among the people, a terrifying ruler of robbers appeared. The king declared, “Among the mlecchas, I have established dharma—hear this, O king. Adopting the recitation of the traders, one should recite the pure and supreme. Through meditation, one should worship the Lord who resides in the solar orb; this unmoving Lord is manifest, just as the sun is ever unmoving. He draws together the moving elements of the principles equally everywhere. The form of the Lord, realized in the heart, is eternally pure and brings auspiciousness.” Having heard these words, the king bowed in reverence to that worshipper among the mlecchas. In time, the king attained sovereignty and performed the great horse sacrifice. Now listen to what occurred after this king too ascended to heaven. Sūta continued: In the lineage of Śālivāhana, ten kings came to rule. During their time, proper conduct gradually faded from the earth. Witnessing the decline of righteousness, the powerful king resolved to conquer all directions. With an army of ten thousand and accompanied by the wise Kālidāsa, he advanced. He defeated the kings of Gandhāra, the foreigners, the people of Kashmir, and the deceitful Nāras. During this campaign, a foreign teacher joined him. The king then worshipped the great god Mahādeva, who dwells in the desert, offering sandalwood and other gifts, and praised Hara within his heart. King Bhoja spoke: “To the destroyer of the demon Tripurāsura, who sets many illusions in motion; to the one concealed by foreigners, pure, and of the nature of existence, consciousness, and bliss, King Bhoja must go to the place of Mahākāleśvara.” But the land known as Vāhīka had become corrupted by foreigners. There appeared once more the great magician whom the king had previously burned. He, not born from a womb, had received a boon and became the increaser of demons. “O king,” came the warning, “do not go to that land of demons and tricksters.” Hearing this, the king returned to his own country. Then, the master of illusion, skilled in magic, spoke lovingly to the king.