Listen, O wise Śaunaka, to the tale of births and destinies in Bhārata. Those who, deluded and attached to the pleasures of the senses, are born in this sacred land carry forward the consequences of their actions. Yet, I remember all things, O gods—I am one who recalls past births, and my memory stretches across ages and lives. For the sake of liberation, I perform austerities on the supremely holy banks of the Gaṅgā, where the waters purify all who approach. Any sin committed elsewhere is destroyed in the Gaṅgā, but even those sins are further eradicated by austerities performed in the holy place of Nārāyaṇa. Now, hear of Viśvakarmā, the divine artisan. Upon hearing the words of the celestial nymph Ghṛtācī, Viśvakarmā, who is of wind-like form, went to the delightful valley of Malaya. There, in a secluded forest, upon a charming flower-strewn bed made fragrant by breezes carrying sandalwood and blossoms, he enjoyed union with Ghṛtācī. From this union, a heavy and passionate pregnancy arose in her. O Śaunaka, learned in all arts and crafts, Viśvakarmā granted boons to the makers of garlands, artisans, conch-shell workers, and basket weavers, establishing them upon the earth. Yet, the goldsmith, having stolen gold from Brahmins, was cast down by their curse. The thread-maker, too, fell to the earth because of a Brahmin’s curse. In due course, the painter became a painter of pictures immediately. A merchant, through association with the goldsmith, took on a particular kind. From the seed of the painter in a courtesan who was a Śūdra woman, a child was born. Similarly, from the builder of mansions in the wife of a potter, offspring arose. From the potter’s seed in the wife of a basket-maker, a child was born. From a Kṣatriya in the wife of a prince, a prince was born. From a Tīvara in the wife of an oil-maker, a child came forth. Leṭa begot six sons in the daughter of Tīvara. In a Brahmin woman, by the seed of a Śūdra, due to adultery, one fell from grace. By Tīvara with a Caṇḍāla woman, a leather-worker was born. In a woman who cuts meat, Tīvara produced one called Koñca. From Leṭa in the daughter of a Caṇḍāla, a child was born. In due order, in the daughter of a bone-worker, by the seed of a Caṇḍāla, another offspring appeared. From Leṭa in the daughter of Tīvara, on the banks of the Gaṅgā, a child was born. From the daughter of the son of Gaṅgā, by the seed of one in disguise, a child was produced. From a Vaiśya in the daughter of Tīvara, Śuṇḍī was born. From a Kṣatriya in the daughter of Karaṇa, a prince was born. By Kṣatriya seed in a Vaiśya woman, the Kaivarta was proclaimed. In Tīvarī, from a Dhīvara father, a son known as a washerman was born. From a barber in a Gopa woman, a Sarvasvī was born. From Tīvara in the daughter of Śuṇḍika, seven sons came forth. In a Brāhmaṇa woman, by the seed of a Ṛṣi, on the first night of Ṛtu, impurity equal to that of a Brāhmaṇa and one fallen due to the fourth fault arose. By Kṣatriya seed in a Vaiśya woman, on the first night of Ṛtu, acts beyond speech occurred, forbidden even for a Kṣatriya. By Kṣatriya seed in a Śūdra woman, through the fault of Ṛtu, out of sin, another offspring was born. Thus, O Śaunaka, through the mingling of seeds and destinies, the various classes and professions came into being, shaped by actions, boons, and the circumstances of birth. All are bound by the laws of karma, and purification is sought through austerity and the sacred waters, as the tapestry of Bhārata unfolds across generations.