King Sagara, blessed with two wives whose sins had been burned away by their austerities, was joined in marriage to Keśinī, the noble daughter of the king of Vidarbha, as his elder queen. His younger wife, the daughter of Ariṣṭanemi, was a woman of supreme virtue and beauty, unmatched anywhere on earth. The great sage Aurva, pleased with their devotion, granted them a boon. He declared, “Let one of you receive sixty thousand sons, while the other may choose a single son to continue the royal lineage, as she desires.” Keśinī, the elder, chose to have a single illustrious son to carry on the line, while the younger queen accepted the boon of sixty thousand sons. In due course, Keśinī gave birth to a son, the renowned king Pañcajana, who would continue the dynasty. The younger queen, meanwhile, astonishingly gave birth to a great gourd filled with seeds. Within it were sixty thousand embryos, each no larger than a sesame seed. As time passed, these embryos developed as they should, growing contentedly. Each embryo was carefully placed in a jar filled with ghee, and nurses were appointed—one for each embryo—to nourish them. After ten months, all sixty thousand sons emerged, bringing immense joy to King Sagara. These sons, born from the center of the gourd, were endowed with the radiant energy of Nārāyaṇa, who had entered into those noble souls. Thus, Sagara became the father of sixty thousand sons, as well as the royal heir Pañcajana. Pañcajana grew to be a mighty king, and his son was Aṃśumān. Aṃśumān’s son was Dilīpa, renowned as Khaṭvāṅga, who, after returning from heaven, lived but a short while on earth. Yet, by the power of his resolve, intelligence, and truthfulness, Khaṭvāṅga conquered the three worlds. His heir was the illustrious king Bhagīratha. Bhagīratha, the lordly king, accomplished the great feat of bringing down Gaṅgā, the holiest of rivers, guiding her to the ocean and making her his own daughter. For this reason, those who remember the lineage call the sacred river Bhāgīrathī. Bhagīratha’s son, Śruta, became renowned, and Śruta’s son was the supremely righteous Nābhāga. Nābhāga’s son was Ambarīṣa, father of Sindhudvīpa. Sindhudvīpa’s valiant heir was Ayutajit, whose son Ṛtuparṇa became famous for his power and friendship with Nala, as well as his mastery of the divine art of dice. Ṛtuparṇa’s son was Ārtaparṇi, illustrious among kings. Ārtaparṇi’s son was Sudāsa, a king and companion of Indra. Sudāsa’s son was Saudāsa, who became known as Kalmāṣapāda, also called Mitrasaha. Kalmāṣapāda’s son was Sarvakarman, and Sarvakarman’s son was Anaraṇya, celebrated in the line. Anaraṇya’s son was Nighna, who had two sons: Anamitra and Raghu, both eminent among kings. Anamitra’s son was the wise king Dilīpa. From this Dilīpa came another Dilīpa, the great-grandfather of Rāma. His son was Raghu, famed for his long arms. In Ayodhyā, the mighty king Aja of the Rāghava line was born, and from Aja came Daśaratha. From Daśaratha was born Rāma, righteous and greatly renowned. Rāma’s son was Kuśa, from whom came Atithi, a righteous and celebrated king. Atithi’s son was the valiant Niṣadha, whose son was Nala. Nala’s son was Nabha, and from Nabha came Puṇḍarīka. Puṇḍarīka’s son was Kṣemadhanvan, and from him was born the powerful Devānīka. Devānīka’s son was Ahīnaga, and his heir was the king Sudhanvan. Sudhanvan’s son was Śala, and Śala’s son was Ukya, a king of righteous nature. Ukya’s son was Vajranābha, and Vajranābha’s son was Nala, a great-souled king. It is said that there are two Nalas celebrated in ancient tradition: one the son of Vīrasena, and the other the illustrious descendant of the Ikṣvāku line. These kings, foremost among those born in the Ikṣvāku dynasty, are chiefly known as belonging to the radiant lineage of Vivasvat, the sun. Whoever recites this creation of Vivasvat—the sun god honored in ancestral rites and the nourisher of beings—gains union with Vivasvat and is blessed with abundant offspring. Now, O learned ones, know that the father of Soma, the moon god, was the venerable sage Atri. Atri was first born from the mind of Brahmā when Brahmā intended to create living beings. In ancient times, Atri performed the supreme austerity called Anuttara for three thousand divine years. From him, his seed rose upward and became Soma, the moon. At that moment, water flowed from his eyes in ten streams, illuminating all directions. By the order of the ritual, ten goddesses together took up that embryo and sought to bear it, but they could not sustain its power. Unable to hold it, they abandoned the embryo, which then fell to earth in all directions. Seeing Soma thus fallen, Brahmā, the Grandfather of the worlds, placed him upon a chariot for the welfare of all beings. When Soma had fallen, the gods, the sons of Brahmā, and all the eminent sages praised Atri’s son, recognizing him as the supreme self.