In the sacred lineage of kings and sages, among the Brahmins, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras, there arose a succession of noble souls. Śala’s son was Ārṣṭiseṇa, whose own son was Kāśyapa. From Kāśa was born the king Kāśipa, and his son was Dīrghatapas. Dīrghatapas, wise and learned, fathered Dhanvantari, the renowned master of healing. Dhanvantari, after performing great austerities, was born again as the wise Vṛddha, and he became a god incarnated among humans. In his household, the divine Dhanvantari took birth once more, becoming the great king of Kāśi, a destroyer of all diseases. Having received the sacred science of Ayurveda from Bharadvāja, Dhanvantari became a physician among men. He divided this science into eight parts and taught it to his disciples, spreading healing knowledge far and wide. Dhanvantari’s son was Ketumān, famed among men, and Ketumān’s son was the heroic Bhīmaratha. Bhīmaratha’s son was Divodāsa, lord of the people, righteous in soul, who became ruler of Vārāṇasī. At that time, a rakṣasa named Kṣemaka had settled in Vārāṇasī, which stood empty of twice-born men due to a curse laid by the wise Nikumbha. For a thousand years, the city would remain empty, as decreed by the curse. Yet, at the very moment of that curse, Divodāsa, lord of the people, established a beautiful city on the edge of his domain, beside the Gomati River. Vārāṇasī had once been the city of Bhadraśreṇya, belonging to his hundred sons, all excellent archers. After slaying them, King Divodāsa settled there, seizing the kingdom by his strength. Bhadraśreṇya’s son, Durdama, was driven away by Divodāsa—out of compassion, while still a child. Later, the king claimed the inheritance of the Haihayas, forcibly taking the ancestral domain that Divodāsa had seized. Durdama, son of Bhadraśreṇya and great-souled, ended the enmity through his own power. From Divodāsa, in Dṛṣadvatī, a hero was born named Pratardana, who again challenged the strength of his forebears. Pratardana had two sons, Vatsabharga and Vatsa, both widely renowned. Vatsa’s son was Alarka, and Alarka’s son was Saṃnati. Alarka, steadfast in truth and devoted to Brahman, was celebrated in ancient verse. For sixty thousand years and sixty hundred years, Alarka remained youthful in appearance, the foremost of his lineage. By the grace of Lopāmudrā, he attained supreme longevity, ruling a vast kingdom with beauty and youth. At the end of the curse, Alarka slew Kṣemakara the demon with his mighty arms, and once again established the delightful city of Vārāṇasī. Saṃnati had an heir named Sunītha, who was righteous, and Sunītha’s heir was Kṣema, famed for his glory. Kṣema’s son was Ketumān, whose son was Suketu, and Suketu’s son was Dharmaketu. Dharmaketu’s heir was Satyaketu, a great chariot-warrior, and Satyaketu’s son was Vibhu, lord of the people. Ānarta was Vibhu’s son, and Sukumāra was his own son. Sukumāra’s son was Dhṛṣṭaketu, who lived righteously, and Dhṛṣṭaketu’s heir was Veṇuhotra, lord of the people. Veṇuhotra’s son was Bhārga, also lord of the people. Vatsa’s land became known as Vatsabhumi, and Bhargava’s land as Bhargabhumi. These were the sons of Angiras, born in the lineage, with Bhargava among them. Among these, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas—three kinds of sons in thousands—were said to be descendants of Kāśyapa. Now, let us hear of Nahusha. From Viraja, the daughter of the ancestors, were born the mighty heirs of Nahusha—six sons whose brilliance rivaled Indra’s. They were Yati, Yayati, Samyati, Ayati, and Parshvaka, with Yati the eldest and Yayati following him. The supremely righteous Yati took as wife Gā, a daughter of Kakutstha, but, embracing liberation, Yati became a sage united with Brahman. Of the five brothers, Yayati, having conquered the earth, took as wife Devayani, daughter of Ushanas. Sharmishtha, the Asura maiden and daughter of Vrishaparvan, bore Yadu and Turvasu to Yayati through Devayani. Sharmishtha also bore Druhyu, Anu, and Puru to Yayati. To him, Indra, pleased, gave a radiant chariot. This divine chariot was adorned with golden ornaments, yoked with celestial, swift, white horses, by which Yayati accomplished his tasks. With this foremost chariot, in just six nights, Yayati, invincible in battle, conquered the earth, as well as the gods and the Danavas. That chariot then belonged to all the Kauravas, from Janamejaya, son of Samvartavasu, among the Kauravas. The chariot of King Parikshit, son of Kuru, perished by the curse of the wise Garga. For King Janamejaya, in time, killed Garga’s child, thus incurring the sin of Brahmin-slaying. Marked by the smell of iron, the royal sage wandered here and there, abandoned by citizens and countrymen, never finding peace, burdened by the sin he had incurred. Thus, the lineage of kings and sages unfolded, filled with both glory and sorrow, as decreed by destiny and the will of the divine.