From the noble line of Urvashi were born five sons, each righteous and virtuous: Vishvayu, Shrutayu, Dridhayu, Vanayu, and Bahvayu. In the lineage of Amavasu, King Bhima became his illustrious heir, and after him, the throne passed to Kanchanaprabha, renowned among kings. Kanchanaprabha’s son was the learned and mighty Suhotra, from whom Jahnu was born, his mother being Keshini. Jahnu became famed for performing a great sacrificial rite, the powerful serpent-offering. At that time, the goddess Ganga, out of longing for her husband, manifested herself in the form of a woman and flowed forth. Yet, during Jahnu’s sacrifice, Ganga, though unbidden, flooded his sacrificial hall, inundating the sacred enclosure from all sides. Angered by this disruption, Jahnu cursed Ganga, declaring, “I shall make your effort fruitless by drinking up your waters. For this arrogance, O Ganga, immediately receive its result!” And so, before the assembled sages, King Jahnu drank up the river Ganga. Seeing this, the great sages intervened. They offered the blessed Ganga—now called Jahnavi—to Jahnu as his daughter, and he accepted her. Jahnu also took Kaveri, the daughter of Yuvanashva, as his wife. By the curse of Yuvanashva, Ganga departed halfway and entered the river Kaveri, who was Jahnu’s blameless wife. From this union, Jahnu and Kaveri had a righteous son named Sunanda. Sunanda’s son was Ajaka, and Ajaka’s heir was Balakashva, a king fond of the hunt. Balakashva’s son was Kusha. Kusha, radiant with divine splendor, had four sons: Kushika, Kushanabha, Kushamba, and Murtiman. Among them, Kushika chose to dwell in the forest, raised among cowherds. He undertook severe austerities, longing for a son equal in might to Indra himself. For a thousand years he performed penance, and Indra, the thousand-eyed lord, grew fearful at his devotion. When the thousand years were complete, Indra appeared before Kushika, recognizing the intensity of his tapasya. Moved by Kushika’s dedication, Indra granted his wish in a unique way: for the sake of a son, Indra himself would be born as his child. Thus, Maghavan, Indra, took birth as King Gadhi, son of Kushika. Gadhi’s wife was Paurā, and from her he was born. Gadhi had a highly fortunate daughter named Satyavati, who was auspicious in every way. Gadhi gave Satyavati in marriage to Rcika, the son of Kavya from the Bhargava lineage. Pleased with his wife, the sage Rcika desired a son and prepared a sacrificial oblation for Gadhi as well. Calling Satyavati, Rcika said, “O auspicious one, you must use this oblation yourself and with your mother. From you will be born a radiant son, a foremost Kshatriya, unconquered by other 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, Rcika, ever devoted to austerity, entered the forest. Gadhi and his wife journeyed to Rcika’s hermitage, and during a pilgrimage, the king visited his daughter. Satyavati received the two oblations from her husband. Carefully, she gave her mother the one intended for her, but by divine influence, her mother exchanged the offerings, giving her own to Satyavati. Unaware of the switch, Satyavati consumed the oblation meant to destroy Kshatriyas. She bore within her a blazing, terrible energy. Observing this, Rcika, by the power of his yoga, approached her and said, “O blessed one, you have been deceived by your mother through the exchange of offerings. Your son will be fierce and terrible in his deeds, but his brother will be a sage, endowed with the nature of Brahman. By my austerity, I have entrusted all of Brahman into him.” Distressed, Satyavati pleaded with her husband, “Let my son not be such—a degenerate among Brahmins—from you.” The sage replied, “This was not my intention, O blessed one, but so it shall be. Your son will be fierce in action, due to both father and mother.” Satyavati persisted: “O sage, you could create even worlds—what then of a son? Grant me a son who is peaceful and upright; let such a grandson be mine and yours.” Moved by her austerity, Rcika relented: “There is no distinction for me between son and grandson, O beautiful one. As you have spoken, so shall it be.” Thus, Satyavati gave birth to Jamadagni, a Brahmin devoted to austerity and self-control, peaceful in nature and of the Bhargava line. Satyavati, virtuous and steadfast in truth and righteousness, became known as Kausiki, the great river. In time, there was a king named Renu, a descendant of the Ikshvaku line. His illustrious daughter was Kamali, also called Renuka. In Renuka, who was adorned with austerity and knowledge, the sacred lineage continued.