O best of sages, listen to the ancient tale of noble lineages and the deeds of kings and sages as recounted in the Purāṇa. Among the sons of Nābhāga and Ariṣṭa, though they were born as Vaiśyas, two rose by virtue to the status of Brāhmaṇas. The descendants of Karūṣa, called the Kāruṣas, became fierce Kṣatriyas, renowned for their valor in battle. Pṛṣadhra, however, after mistakenly slaying his teacher’s cow, was cursed and descended to the state of a Śūdra. Thus, the nine principal lineages were established. Now, O best of sages, know that Vaivasvata Manu had a daughter, and from Manu’s very sneeze was born his illustrious son, Ikṣvāku. Ikṣvāku, famed for his generosity, had a hundred sons; his eldest, Vikukṣi, came to bear his name because of an act involving food. Ikṣvāku, versed in the highest dharma, ruled the city of Ayodhyā. His sons, led by Shakuni, numbered five hundred, remembered for their might. Of these, forty-eight became protectors of the northern regions, and an equal number guarded the south. Others, headed by Vashati, also served as guardians. One day, Ikṣvāku ordered his son Vikukṣi to procure meat for the śrāddha, the ancestral rite, instructing him to hunt and bring back animals for the sacred offering, though the rite was not yet performed. Vikukṣi, after hunting, ate a hare before the ritual was complete. When the sage Vasiṣṭha heard of this, he advised Ikṣvāku to cast Vikukṣi out. Thus, Vikukṣi, also called Shashada, was exiled. After Ikṣvāku’s passing, Shashada ascended to the throne, and his heir was the mighty Kakutstha. From Anenas came Kakutstha, and from him, Prithu was born. Prithu’s son was Vishtrarashva, who begot Ardra; Ardra’s son was Yuvanashva, and his son was Shravasta. King Shravastaka, a descendant of this line, founded the city of Shravasti. Shravasti’s heir was the great king Brihadashva, whose son was Kuvalāśva, a ruler of supreme righteousness. It was Kuvalāśva who, by slaying the demon Dhundhu, earned the title ‘Dhundhumāra.’ Eager to hear of this great feat, the sages asked how Kuvalāśva became known as Dhundhumāra. Kuvalāśva, it is said, had a hundred sons, all skilled archers, masters of every science, strong and difficult to overcome. They were righteous, generous, and devoted to sacrifice. Brihadashva, seeing his son’s worth, installed him as king and retired to the forest. As Brihadashva departed, the sage Uttanka stopped him, saying, “O king, you must protect us, for I cannot practice austerities in peace. Near my hermitage, in the flat region of Marudhanva, lies a sand-filled sea known as Uddalaka. Beneath that sand dwells a mighty and invulnerable being, vast in form—the son of the Rākṣasa Madhu, named Dhundhu. He performs fierce austerities, threatening the destruction of the worlds. Each year, when he exhales, the earth trembles, clouds of dust rise, the sun’s path is shrouded, and for seven days the earth quakes. Sparks, embers, and dreadful smoke fill the air, making it impossible for me to remain in my hermitage. For the welfare of all, you must slay this great-bodied demon. Only you, O king, are capable of this deed. Long ago, Viṣṇu granted me a boon: whoever slays this fierce demon shall receive your energy, for lesser strength cannot consume Dhundhu—not even in a hundred ages.” Hearing this, the royal sage Brihadashva replied, “O venerable one, I have laid down my weapons, but my son Kuvalāśva will surely become the slayer of Dhundhu.” Thus, Brihadashva entrusted his son with the task and departed to the mountains, steadfast in his vow. Kuvalāśva, powerful and resolute, set out accompanied by his hundred sons and the sage Uttanka to destroy Dhundhu. At Uttanka’s command and for the welfare of the worlds, the blessed Lord Viṣṇu entered Kuvalāśva, infusing him with divine energy. As the unconquerable Kuvalāśva departed, a great sound echoed in the heavens: “Today, this glorious one, Dhundhumāra, will become invulnerable.” The gods showered him with divine fragrances and garlands, and celestial drums resounded. With his valiant sons, Kuvalāśva began to dig into the endless sands. As they dug, they uncovered Dhundhu, hidden beneath the earth, blocking the western direction. Enraged, Dhundhu spewed fire from his mouth, as if to overturn the worlds, and poured forth water with the force of a rising ocean. From the mass of waves and mud, the demon burned all but three of Kuvalāśva’s hundred sons. Thus began the fierce battle, and the tale of Kuvalāśva, the slayer of Dhundhu—the mighty Dhundhumāra—was forever enshrined in the memory of the wise.