Among the virtuous wives of Ajamīḍha were Nīlī, Keśinī, and Dhūminī, each renowned for her excellence. From Keśinī, Ajamīḍha begot Jahnu, a man of great strength and prowess. Jahnu became famous for performing the grand Sarvamedha sacrifice, presiding as its lord. During this time, Gaṅgā, moved by desire for her husband, approached him. Yet, when she was subdued and departed, she flooded Jahnu’s entire sacrificial hall, despite his wishes. Seeing his sacred altar inundated by Gaṅgā’s waters, Jahnu grew angry and addressed the river goddess: “Gaṅgā, receive at once the fruit of your arrogance—I shall drink up your waters from all three worlds!” With these words, he drank up Gaṅgā’s waters. The great sages, witnessing this, intervened and brought Gaṅgā forth from Jahnu as his daughter, and so she became known as Jāhnavī. Jahnu later married Kāverī, the daughter of Yuvanāśva. By the curse of Gaṅgā, half of Kāverī’s body was transformed into a river. Jahnu’s beloved son was Ajaka, a mighty prince, whose heir was Balākāśva, lord of the earth. Balākāśva’s son was Kuśika, who delighted in hunting and grew up among the forest-dwellers and the Pahnava people. Desiring a son equal to Indra, Kuśika undertook severe austerities. Fearing the power of such a son, Indra (Śakra) himself approached Kuśika and was born as his son, who came to be known as King Gādhi. Thus, Maghavān (Indra) was born into the Kauśika line. Gādhi’s son was the illustrious Viśvāmitra, and from Viśvāmitra came Aṣṭaka. Aṣṭaka’s son, Lauhi, continued the Jahnu lineage. Now hear of another line from Ajamīḍha. Through Nīlī, Ajamīḍha begot Suśānti, from whom was born Purujāti, and from Purujāti came Bāhyāśva. Bāhyāśva had five renowned and prosperous sons—Mudgala, Sṛñjaya, King Bṛhadiṣu, Yavīnara the valiant, and Kṛmilāśva. These five, famed as protectors and rulers of their regions, became known as the Pañcālas, for they filled and safeguarded five lands. From Mudgala descended the illustrious Maudgalya, who, through Indrasenā, begot Vadhnya. Sṛñjaya’s son was Pañcajana, whose son was the noble King Somadatta. From Somadatta came Sahadeva, and from Sahadeva, the famous Somaka. When the lineage waned, Somaka was born as the son of Ajamīḍha; his son was Jantu, who himself had a hundred sons. The youngest among them was Pṛṣata, who became the father of Drupada. These great-souled Somakas are all remembered as descendants of Ajamīḍha. Ajamīḍha’s chief queen was Dhūminī, a noble and devoted wife, deeply desirous of sons. She performed severe austerities for ten thousand years, observing vows, offering to the sacred fire, living on moderate food, and sleeping on kusa grass near the altar, maintaining her purity throughout. Through Dhūminī, Ajamīḍha begot Ṛkṣa, a handsome son of dusky hue. Ṛkṣa’s son was Saṃvaraṇa, and from Saṃvaraṇa came Kuru, who crossed Prayāga and established the sacred land of Kurukṣetra. That land, beloved by the righteous, became the seat of a great lineage, the Kauravas, named after Kuru. Kuru had four sons: Sudhanvan, Sudhanus, mighty Parīkṣit, and the eminent Arimejaya. Parīkṣit’s heir was the righteous Janamejaya, whose sons were Śrutasena, Agrasena, and Bhīmasena. All these princes were fortunate, valiant, and mighty. Janamejaya’s son was the wise Suratha, who begot the powerful Viduratha. Viduratha’s heir was Ṛkṣa, a great chariot-warrior, and the second son was the renowned Bharadvāja. Thus, in the lunar dynasty, there were two Ṛkṣas and two Parīkṣits; three Bhīmasenas and two Janamejayas. The second Ṛkṣa’s son was Bhīmasena, from whom came Pratīpa, and from Pratīpa, Śāṃtanu. Alongside Śāṃtanu, Pratīpa also had Devāpi and Bāhlika, all three being great chariot-warriors. Śāṃtanu’s son was Bhīṣma, the revered grandsire of the Pāṇḍavas. Bāhlika’s lineage continued through his illustrious son Somadatta, from whom were born Bhūri, Bhūriśravā, and Śala. Devāpi became a sage and preceptor of the gods, known as Kṛtaka, son of Cyavana, beloved among the great-souled. Śāṃtanu ascended as king and upheld the Kaurava line. He begot Devavrata, born of Gaṅgā, who became known as Bhīṣma, the grandsire of the Pāṇḍavas. Kālī bore Vicitravīrya, the beloved and righteous son of Śāṃtanu. From Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana, in the lineage of Vicitravīrya, were born Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Pāṇḍu, and Vidura—thus continuing the illustrious line, famed throughout the three worlds.