Hear now the sacred account as revealed in the venerable scripture. Vāsudeva, the eternal and revered one, stands as both the knower and the known of the Veda. He is the supreme Brahman, the highest light, and the very essence of bliss. The sage who is devoted to the Veda truly knows this, for what is to be known through the Veda is none other than Vāsudeva himself. He alone is both the Veda and the object to be realized; by seeking refuge in him, one attains liberation. The great sage, the son of Parāśara, possesses knowledge not only of the Veda but of that which lies beyond it. Now, O virtuous ones, listen as I recount the descents of Mahādeva during the Kali age. For the welfare of the Brahmins in the Vaivasvata period, Mahādeva manifested under a certain name. His disciples, distinguished by their topknots, radiated immeasurable brilliance. These four were great-souled Brahmins, accomplished in the Vedas. Among them were Lokākṣiratha, lord of yogis, and Jaigīṣavya in the seventh period. Bhṛgu is remembered in the tenth, from whom arose Ugra, held as supreme. In the fourteenth, Gautama, the chief of the Vedas, appeared, followed by others: Jaṭāmālī, Aṭṭahāsa, Dāruka, and Lāṅgalī, each in their turn. Then came Sahiṣṇu, Somaśarman, and finally Nakulīśa, the lord. At the holy site of Kāyāvatāra, the lord of the gods, Deveśa, is venerated as Nakulīśvara. The disciples of each of these masters became eminent sages themselves. Hear now their names in order, for they were foremost among yogis and deeply versed in yoga: Vikeśa, Viśoka, Viśāpa, and Śāpanāśana; Sana, Sanātana, Mukāra, and Sanandana; Sudhāmā, Virajā, and Śaṅkhapātraja; Kapila, Asuri, Voḍhu, and the sage 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, wise Varcari, Kabandha, and Kushikandhara; Bhallapi, Madhu-pinga, Shvetaketu, and the ascetic Taponidhi; Shalihotra, Agniveshya, Yuvanashva, and Sharadvasu; Uluka, Vidyuta, Shadvala, and Ashvalayana; Kushika, Garga, Mitraka, and Rishya. These pure souls, ever devoted to Brahman, were intent on knowledge and yoga. By the command of the lords of yoga, they worked for the establishment and preservation of the Veda. Those who revere and worship these sages attain the knowledge of Brahman. In the future, there will arise a Savarni and also Daksha Savarni, and the fourteenth Manu will be known as Bhautya; the Manus of the future will come in due order. Enriched by the stories of past, present, and future, one who hears and understands these accounts is freed from all sins and rejoices in union with Brahma. With devotion, bow to Nārāyaṇa, the supreme person, the ancient one, to Viṣṇu, who took the form of a tortoise and upholds the worlds.