O learned Śaunaka, listen as I recount the origins of various castes and lineages, as described in the ancient tradition. From the seed of a Tīvara, placed in the wife of an oil-maker, new progeny arose. Leṭa, in turn, begot six sons in the daughter of Tīvara. There was a child who fell from a Brahmin woman, conceived by a Śūdra due to the fault of adultery. Likewise, Tīvara fathered a leather-worker with a Caṇḍāla woman. In a woman who cuts meat, Tīvara produced one called Koñca. Immediately, Leṭa placed his seed in the daughter of a Caṇḍāla, and, following in due order, a Caṇḍāla father begot a child in the daughter of a bone-worker. Again, Leṭa begot sons in the daughter of Tīvara on the banks of the sacred Ganges. From the daughter of the son of Gaṅgā, a child was born by the seed of one in disguise. A Vaiśya, by depositing seed in the daughter of Tīvara, immediately brought forth Śuṇḍī. From a Kṣatriya, in the daughter of Karaṇa, a prince was indeed born. When a Kṣatriya’s seed was placed in a Vaiśya woman, the Kaivarta caste was proclaimed. In Tīvarī, from a Dhīvara father, a son was born who became known as a washerman. From a barber, in a Gopa woman, a Sarvasvī was born. Tīvara, in the daughter of Śuṇḍika, produced seven sons. When a Ṛṣi’s seed was deposited in a Brahmin woman on the first night of Ṛtu, impurity equal to that of a Brahmin arose, and another fell due to the fourth fault. Again, when a Kṣatriya’s seed was placed in a Vaiśya woman on the first night of Ṛtu, he performed what is beyond speech, forbidden even for a Kṣatriya. When a Kṣatriya’s seed was deposited in a Śūdra woman, through the fault of Ṛtu and out of sin, a child was born who was unpierced-eared, cruel, fearless, and unconquerable in battle. From a Mleccha, in the daughter of Kuvinda, the Jola caste was born; and from Jola, in the daughter of Kuvinda, Śarāṅka arose. Due to the fault of varṇa-mixture, many castes not heard of before came into being. A physician was born from the Aśvinī-kumāra in a Brahmin woman. These physicians became knowledgeable in village qualities, devoted to mantras and medicines. Śaunaka, pondering these origins, asked, “Alas, by what lack of discernment was the depositing of seed done?” Sauti replied: The passionate one beheld her, serene in a secluded flower garden. Though she resisted with all her strength, the powerful god overpowered her. She quickly abandoned the child in that charming flower garden. Ashamed, she always returned to her master’s house with her son. Out of anger, the brahmin abandoned both his son and his beloved. Yet, the brahmin diligently taught his son the science of medicine. He remained engaged in calculating fees and astrology, and, greedy, accepted gifts even in the presence of shudras. A certain man arose from the sacrificial fire-pit during a Brahma-yajña. That one, a repository of compassion, Brahma himself, taught the Purāṇa to him. By the power of a sūta, a single man was born from a vaiśya woman. Thus, I have told you a little about the determination of birth on earth—whoever is related to whom, in all castes and everywhere. The father, also called ‘tāta’, is known as the begetter, the giver of birth.