In the ancient times, the structure of family and kinship was carefully understood and revered. The paternal grandfather was recognized as the father’s father, and his own father was called the great-grandfather. On the maternal side, the mother’s father was the maternal grandfather, and his father, too, was known as the great-grandfather of the maternal line. The father’s mother was the paternal grandmother, and her mother-in-law—the wife of the great-grandfather—was acknowledged as the great-grandmother. Similarly, the maternal grandmother, the mother’s own mother, was honored with the same respect as the mother herself. Both the aged maternal grandmother and the wife of the father’s father were to be regarded as great-grandmothers. Family ties extended further: the father’s sister, the mother’s sister, and the mother’s own sister were all remembered as close kin. Within the lineage, those who held wealth, those born of strong virility, and men of notable qualities were recognized and respected. The son’s wife was known as the daughter-in-law, while the husband of the daughter was called the son-in-law. The younger brother-in-law was the husband’s brother, and the nananda, the husband’s sister. Many terms—wife, spouse, beloved, dear one, and woman—were used for a wife, reflecting her cherished role. The wife’s mother was called the mother-in-law, and her father was known as the father-in-law. The son of a sister, the son of a brother, and the son’s son of a brother were all designated as kin. The husband of a sister-in-law and the brother were considered so due to their shared bond through the father-in-law. Those who offered food, who protected from fear, and the wife’s father were all regarded with honor. The wife of the giver of food, a sister, the wife of the teacher, the mother, her co-wife, a maiden, and one beloved by the son were also to be respected. The mother’s mother, the father’s mother, and the sister of the parents-in-law were revered as well. A grandson was the son’s son, and a great-grandson was the son of that grandson. The children of a daughter—her son and daughter—and their descendants were considered relatives. The sons and descendants of the brother’s son were also counted as kinsmen. The teacher’s daughter, a sister, and a fostered girl were all to be regarded as equal to a mother, O sage. The father-in-law of the son, or his brother, was considered a relative by marriage. The teacher and the brother of a maiden were affectionate kinsmen. Those with whom one shared kinship were called friends. Yet, fate could bring sorrow through relatives, and unhappiness through the absence of relation. Friendship was said to arise from learning, from birth, and from affection. The mother of a friend and the wife of a friend were certainly to be regarded as mothers, without doubt. The fourth type of relationship, as declared by the lotus-born Brahmā, was called ‘name-relation.’ Among secondary wives, the one who captivated the mind was newly recognized as beloved. Such relationships, however, were condemned in different regions. Yet, among the great, they were hard to abandon and sometimes established in various places. For the powerful, even if such a fault existed in every age, it was not considered blameworthy. At this point, Śaunaka inquired, “O most fortunate one, what are the names of the Aśvins, and of whose lineage are they?” Sūti replied, “He performed austerities for Kṛṣṇa for a hundred thousand years in the Himalayas. That great ascetic, radiant and blazing with the brilliance of Brahman, chose as his boon to be untouched, his self beyond nature. He became known as Ākāśavāṇī, and was advised to accept the taking of a wife. Brahmā himself gave him the mind-born daughter of the ancestors, and by merely remembering her, there would be no fear, not even from the thunderbolt. Yet, abandoning Kalyāṇamitrā, the mother, the great sage—whether he is a brother or not—should always be honored, O best of gods.” Thus, the intricate web of family, kinship, and virtue was woven, and the wisdom of the ancients preserved for all generations.