In ancient times, Satyavrata, at his father’s command, undertook a silent vow and a twelve-year period of consecration, remaining steadfast while the king, his father, dwelt in the forest. During this time, the sage Vasiṣṭha, aided by priests and teachers, protected Ayodhyā, the kingdom, and its inner palace, ensuring stability and order. Yet, Satyavrata, being young and propelled by destiny, harbored a growing anger toward Vasiṣṭha. When his beloved son was expelled from the kingdom by his father, Vasiṣṭha did not restrain him, although there were many reasons to intervene. Satyavrata failed to complete the marriage mantras at the seventh step, and so he was abandoned at that crucial point. Knowing the law, Vasiṣṭha chose not to protect Satyavrata, and the prince’s anger toward the sage only deepened. Vasiṣṭha acted with discernment of virtue, but Satyavrata could not grasp the sage’s silent intention. Because of his father’s dissatisfaction, for twelve years the rain-god withheld rain, and the land suffered a terrible drought. The difficult vow Satyavrata undertook was performed as atonement for his family, so that their fortunes might be restored. Vasiṣṭha, though aware of Satyavrata’s abandonment, refrained from preventing him, thinking, “I myself will anoint his son.” Satyavrata, resolute, endured his twelve-year vow, even when there was no meat available for the great-souled Vasiṣṭha. Driven by anger, delusion, exhaustion, and hunger, the prince seized a cow that could grant every desire. Following the custom of the land, he killed her, and he, along with the sons of Viśvāmitra, partook of her flesh. Satyavrata compelled them to eat, and when Vasiṣṭha heard of this, his anger was kindled. Vasiṣṭha declared, “I would surely cast you down, cruel one, with this stake, unless these two stakes of yours are not made again.” He spoke of Satyavrata’s threefold transgression: his father’s displeasure, the killing of the sacred cow, and eating what was not properly purified. Thus, seeing these three stakes, the great ascetic named him “Triśaṅku,” and from then on, Satyavrata was known by this name. Triśaṅku earned the support of Viśvāmitra’s wives, and the pleased sage granted him a boon. When pressed to choose, Triśaṅku asked, “May I go to heaven in this very body.” When the twelve-year drought ended and the fear of famine passed, Triśaṅku was consecrated in his father’s kingdom and performed the royal sacrifice. In the presence of the gods and Vasiṣṭha, the great ascetic Kauśika (Viśvāmitra) raised Triśaṅku bodily to heaven. Triśaṅku’s wife, Satyarathā of the Kaikeyi lineage, bore him a sinless son, Hariścandra. Hariścandra, son of Triśaṅku, performed the Rājasūya sacrifice and became renowned as a universal sovereign. Hariścandra’s son was Rohita, and from Rohita came Harita; Harita’s son was Cañcu, also called Hārita. Cañcu’s son was Vijaya, who conquered the whole earth and thus earned his name. Vijaya’s son was Ruruka, a king skilled in righteousness and wealth; Ruruka’s son was Vṛka, and from Vṛka was born Bāhu. Bāhu, however, was expelled by the Haihayas and Tālaṅghas; his wife, carrying a child, sought refuge in the hermitage of Aurva. Bāhu was righteous and virtuous, living in the age of righteousness. His son, Sagara, was conceived together with poison. When they reached Aurva’s hermitage, the Bhārgava sage protected them, and King Sagara received a fiery weapon from him. Sagara, empowered by this weapon and his own strength, conquered the earth, slaying the Tālaṅghas and Haihayas. The righteous king expelled the Śakas, Pahlavas, Kṣatriyas, and Pāradas from their dharma. The sages then asked, “How was Sagara born together with poison? Why did he expel the mighty Śakas and other Kṣatriyas?” It was explained that Bāhu, addicted to vice, had his kingdom taken by the Haihayas, Tālaṅghas, and Śakas. The Yavanas, Pāradas, Kāmbojas, and Pahlavas fought on behalf of the Haihayas. King Bāhu, deprived of his kingdom, retreated to the forest with his sorrowful wife and there died. His wife, a Yādava woman, was pregnant and followed him; previously, poison had been given to her by a co-wife. She prepared her husband’s funeral pyre in the forest and was about to ascend it, but Aurva, the Bhārgava sage, restrained her out of compassion. In Aurva’s hermitage, her son Sagara was born together with the poison, a mighty-armed prince. Aurva performed the birth rites and other ceremonies for Sagara, taught him the Vedas and scriptures, and bestowed upon him the fiery weapon. This weapon, unbearable even to the immortals, empowered Sagara to go forth and battle with great might.