He was a speaker of Brahman, unconquerable in valor and undefeated in battle by his enemies. He performed the sacred Agnihotra, presided over sacrifices, and was lord among sacrificers, O king. Truthful in speech, his mind was virtuous and perfectly restrained in matters of desire, and his fame shone unrivaled throughout the three worlds. This tranquil sage, knower of dharma and unwavering in truth, was chosen by the illustrious Urvashi herself, who set aside her pride to be with him. With Urvashi, the king dwelled for many years: ten, then five, six, five, seven, eight, ten, and again eight, O twice-born sages. Their union flourished in wondrous places—the delightful forest of Caitraratha, the banks of the Mandakini, the vast city of Alaka, and the excellent Nandana forest. They journeyed to the northern Kurus, famed for their pleasing fruit trees, to the foot of Gandhamadana, and even to the northern summit of Meru. In these foremost forests, sanctified by the presence of the gods, the king enjoyed supreme delight with Urvashi. In the most sacred land, praised by great sages, this lord of the earth established his kingdom at Prayaga. Thus, the illustrious king, descendant of Ila, endowed with such greatness, dwelled at Pratishthana on the northern bank of the Ganga. He had seven sons, equal to the sons of the gods, who became renowned in the world of the Gandharvas: Ayu, the wise Amavasu, Vishvayu, righteous of soul, Shrutayu, Dridhayu, Vanayu, and Bahvayu—all born of Urvashi. From Amavasu came King Bhima, lord of kings, and Bhima’s illustrious heir was King Kanchanaprabha. The learned and mighty Suhotra was born to Kanchanaprabha, and from Suhotra, conceived in Keshini, came Jahnu. Jahnu performed a great sacrificial session, the mighty serpent-offering. At that time, out of desire for her husband, Ganga herself flowed forth in the form of a woman. Though Jahnu did not wish it, Ganga flooded his sacrificial hall. Seeing his sacred enclosure inundated, Suhotra, angered, cursed Ganga: “I will make your effort fruitless by drinking up your waters! For this arrogance, O Ganga, immediately receive its result!” And when the great sages saw that Ganga had been drunk up by King Jahnu, they offered the blessed river, now called Jahnavi, to him as a daughter. Jahnu also accepted Kaveri, the daughter of Yuvanashva. But by the curse of Yuvanashva, Ganga departed halfway and entered the most excellent river Kaveri, the blameless wife of Jahnu. Upon Kaveri, his beloved and virtuous wife, Jahnu begot a righteous son named Sunanda; and from Sunanda came Ajaka. Ajaka’s heir was Balakashva, a king fond of hunting, and his son was Kusha. Kusha had four sons endowed with divine splendor: Kushika, Kushanabha, Kushamba, and Murtiman. Kushika, always dwelling in the forest and raised among cowherds, practiced fierce austerities, desiring a son equal to Indra in power. Thinking, “May I obtain such a son,” Indra, out of fear, approached him. When a thousand years of penance were completed, Indra, the thousand-eyed lord, beheld him. Seeing Kushika engaged in such severe austerities, Indra, himself capable of granting a son, became his eternal benefactor. For the sake of a son, the best of gods, Indra, arranged that he himself would be born as Kushika’s son; thus, Maghavan himself became King Gadhi, son of Kushika. Gadhi’s wife was Paura, and from her Gadhi was born. Gadhi’s highly fortunate daughter, named Satyavati, was auspicious. Gadhi gave that Satyavati to Rcika, the son of Kavya, as his wife. Pleased, her husband, the Bhargava and descendant of Bhrigu, accepted her. Desiring a son, Rcika prepared a sacrificial oblation for Gadhi as well. Then, calling his wife, the Bhargava Rcika spoke to her: “O auspicious one, you must use this oblation yourself and with your mother; from you will be born a radiant son, a foremost Kshatriya. He will be unconquered by Kshatriyas in the world, a destroyer of the foremost Kshatriyas. And to you, O blessed one, will be born a steadfast son, rich in austerity. This oblation will produce a tranquil, excellent Brahmin.” Having spoken thus to his wife, Rcika, ever devoted to austerity, entered the forest. Gadhi, along with his wife, then went to the hermitage of Rcika. On the occasion of a pilgrimage, the king went to see his daughter. At that time, Satyavati took the two oblations from the sage. Taking the oblation with care, she gave it to her mother; but her mother, by divine influence, gave her own oblation to her daughter. Unaware, Satyavati then made her mother’s oblation reside within herself, thus taking in all that was meant to destroy Kshatriyas. She bore within her a blazing, terrible form. Seeing her thus, Rcika approached by the power of yoga and spoke to his beautiful wife: “O blessed one, you have been deceived by your mother, through the exchange of the offerings. For your son will be of cruel deeds, exceedingly fierce; but his brother will be born as a sage, endowed with the nature of Brahman. Indeed, by my austerity, I have entrusted the entire Brahman into him.” Thus addressed by her husband, Satyavati, the noble lady, listened with reverence.