In the beginning, the intellect of the evolving being manifested itself in a fourfold form. In humans, this intellect is recognized as either innate or acquired, for all knowledge of the field—meaning all understanding—rests upon it, or even arises from it. Since intellect is established upon this foundation, it is indeed of the nature of knowledge itself. Thus, the knower of the field, when joined with the knowledge of the field, is revealed and unfolds. Because it perceives the highest, its supreme perceiving is thereby established. Existing by itself, it is also known as the 'seer.' The Mahat, the cosmic intelligence, is encompassed by those who are being produced, and for this reason, it is considered supreme. Those who perceive the highest truth of intellect are called great seers. Having attained the state of seers, they have mastered their ego and embraced austerity. The sons of these seers, known as Ṛṣikas, are born from union and conception. The seven seers and their descendants are all seers of the supreme truth. They are called seers because they perceive both the cosmic order and its particular realities—the unmanifest self, the Mahat self, and the ego-self. Now, listen to the five lineages of seers, named as such: Manu, Daksha, Vasiṣṭha, and Pulastya—these are counted among the ten. Because these sages are remembered as supreme, they are called great sages. Among them are Kāvya, Bṛhaspati, Kaśyapa, and Vyavana; Kardama, Viśravas, Śakti, and the Vālakhilyas as well. Now hear of the sons of the sages, those born from the womb: Ṛṣidīrghatamas, Bṛhaduktha, and Śaradvata; Dadhīca, Śaṃśapā, and King Vaiśravaṇa. These are remembered as lords, sages, and also as ṛṣikās. Bhṛgu, Kāvya, Pracetas, and Ṛcīka, who is indeed self-possessed; Ārṣṭiṣeṇa, Yudhājit, Vītahavya, and Suvarcas—these, numbering nineteen, are the Bhṛgus, renowned for their mantras. There are also Ṛtavāka, Garga, Śini, and Saṃkṛti; Yuvanāśva, Paurukutsa, Trasaddasyu, and Dasyumān; Vṛṣādarbha, Virūpāśva, Kaṇva, and Mudgala; Ayāsya, Cakravartin, and Vāmadeva; Kakṣīvān and thirty-three others, who are remembered as the eminent Āṅgirasas. Kāśyapa, Vatsāra, Naidhruva, and Raibhya; Atri, Arvasana, Śyāvāśva, and Gaviṣṭhira—thus these three groups of great sages, makers of mantras, are described. The fourth group is Indrapramati, and the fifth is Bharadvasu. Thus, know that these seven are the Vasiṣṭhas, speakers of Brahman. Likewise, the learned Madhucchandā and the sage Aghamarṣaṇa; Devaśravā, Reṇu, Pūraṇa, and Dhanañjaya; Agastya, Ayu, Dṛḍhāyu, and Vidhmavāha; Manu, son of Vivasvat, as well as Ila and King Purūkhā—all these illustrious sages and their descendants are counted among the seers. They are honored for their vision, their mastery of knowledge, and their profound connection to the cosmic order.