By the Lord’s grace, Vyāsa was chosen as the great arranger of the Vedas. The sage Vyāsa, in his wisdom, appointed Paila as the fourth among his disciples, and myself as the fifth. He entrusted Vaiśampāyana with the teaching of the Yajur Veda. To me, he gave the task of reciting the Itihāsas and Purāṇas. It was Vyāsa, in whom the fourfold sacrificial priesthood arose, who performed the sacrifice. He established the Udgātṛ priesthood with the Sāma hymns, and the office of Brahman with the Atharva hymns. The Yajus formulas he assigned to the Yajur Veda, and the Sāma hymns to the Sāma Veda. Vyāsa divided the Yajur Veda into a hundred branches, and further split the Atharva Veda into nine distinct parts. Thus, from ancient times, the one Veda existed in four divisions. The venerable, eternal Vāsudeva is both the knower and the known of the Veda. He is the supreme Brahman, the highest light and bliss. The sage devoted to the Veda knows this Veda, which is to be known through the Veda. Vāsudeva alone is both the Veda and the object to be known; by resorting to him, one attains liberation. The great sage, son of Parāśara, also knows what is beyond the Veda. Now, O virtuous ones, hear of the descents of Mahādeva in the Kali age. For the welfare of the Brahmins during the Vaivasvata period, he appeared by name. His disciples, adorned with topknots, shone with immeasurable radiance. These four were great-souled Brahmins, accomplished in the Vedas. Among them were Lokākṣiratha, the lord of yogis, and Jaigīṣavya in the seventh period. Bhṛgu is said to be in the tenth, and from him came Ugra, who is considered supreme. In the fourteenth period, Gautama, the head of the Vedas, appeared, and then others followed. In order came Jaṭāmālī, Aṭṭahāsa, Dāruka, and Lāṅgalī. Then Sahiṣṇu, Somaśarman, and Nakulīśa, the lord, as the last. At the holy place of Kāyāvatāra, Deveśa is known as Nakulīśvara. The disciples of each of these became eminent sages. I will declare them in order—the yogis most versed in yoga: Vikeśa, Viśoka, Viśāpa, and Śāpanāśana; Sana, Sanātana, Mukāra, and Sanandana; Sudhāmā, Virajā, and Śaṅkhapātraja; Kapila, Asuri, Voḍhu, and Pañcaśikha; Balabandhu, Nirāmitra, Ketuśṛṅga, and Tapodhana; Sarvajña, Samabuddhi, Sādhya, and Satya; Atri, Ugra, Śravaṇa, and Śraviṣṭhaka; Kashyapa, Ushanas, Cyavana, and Brihaspati; Vachashravas, Supika, Shyavashva, and Sapathishvara; Sumantu, Varcari the wise, Kabandha, and Kushikandhara; Bhallapi, Madhu-pinga, Shvetaketu, and the ascetic Taponidhi; Shalihotra, Agniveshya, Yuvanashva, and Sharadvasu; Uluka, Vidyuta, Shadvala, and Ashvalayana. Thus, the lineages of sages and yogis continued, each illumined by divine wisdom, preserving the sacred teachings for generations to come.