In ancient times, the sons of Ikṣvāku each established their own realms across the land. Utkala ruled over Utkala, Vinatāśva held sway in the western country, and Gaya presided over the splendid city of Gaya—a place renowned for its divine beauty. In Gaya, the gods themselves gathered, and it was known as the perpetual abode of the ancestors. The eldest heir of Ikṣvāku received the central region as his domain. Sudyumna, however, had no daughter, and so was not granted a portion of land. Yet, by the word of the sage Vasiṣṭha, that illustrious ruler was permitted to dwell in Pratiṣṭhāna. Thus, Pratiṣṭhāna became the domain of the righteous king Sudyumna. Having gained the kingdom, Sudyumna passed it on to Purūravas, who became celebrated far and wide. Among Ikṣvāku’s descendants was the illustrious Mānaveya, who was remarkable for bearing the marks of both woman and man. To Ikṣvāku was also born a heroic and supremely virtuous son named Vikukṣi, the eldest among a hundred sons. Vikukṣi had twenty-five sons, the eldest of whom was Kakutstha. From Kakutstha came Suyodhana, followed by Pṛthu, foremost among sages, and then the king Viśvaka. Viśvaka’s son was the wise Ardraka, whose son was Yuvanāśva. In this lineage, the radiant Śābasti was born, followed by Vaṃśaka. Vaṃśaka established the Śābasti clan in the land of Gauḍa. From Vaṃśa came Bṛhadaśva, whose son was Kuvalāśva. Kuvalāśva became known as Dhundhumāra after he slew the mighty demon Dhundhu. Dhundhumāra had three sons, famed throughout the three worlds: Dṛḍhāśva, Caṇḍāśva, and Kapilāśva. From Dṛḍhāśva descended Pramoda, whose son was Haryaśva. Haryaśva’s son was Nikumbha, and Nikumbha’s son was Saṃhatāśva. Saṃhatāśva had two sons, Kṛśāśva and Raṇāśva. Raṇāśva’s son was Yuvanāśva, and his son was the illustrious Māndhātṛ. Māndhātṛ fathered Purukutsa, the mighty Ambarīṣa, and the virtuous Mucukunda—three rulers famed throughout the three worlds. Ambarīṣa’s heir was another Yuvanāśva, from whom descended Harita, founder of the Harita lineage. Though of the Aṅgiras line, these Haritas were renowned as twice-born kṣatriyas. Purukutsa’s heir was Trasaddasyu, celebrated for his great deeds. On the banks of the Narmadā, Trasaddasyu’s son Sambhūti was born. Sambhūti’s son was Viṣṇuvṛddha, founder of the Viṣṇuvṛddha clan, also kṣatriyas of the Aṅgiras lineage. Sambhūti also sired Anaraṇya, who was slain by Rāvaṇa during his conquest of the three worlds. Anaraṇya’s son was Bṛhadaśva, and Bṛhadaśva’s son was Haryaśva. On the banks of the Dṛṣadvatī, Haryaśva’s son, King Vasumanas, was born. Vasumanas’s son was King Tridhanvan, a ruler inspired by the divine. By the grace of Taṇḍin, the son of Brahmā, and having become his disciple, Tridhanvan was granted the merit of a thousand horse sacrifices, as decreed by Taṇḍin. Tridhanvan attained lordship over hosts, his mind ever devoted to Bhava (Śiva), pondering how he might perform the horse sacrifice. Although he lacked wealth, his soul was righteous. He beheld Taṇḍin, the brāhmaṇa son of Brahmā, and received from him that which he sought. Long ago, Brahmā had spoken of a thousand names of Rudra, and Taṇḍin, by reciting these thousand names in praise of the great Lord, bestowed their power upon the king. Thus, Taṇḍin, the best of the twice-born and sprung from Brahmā, attained lordship over the Gaṇas, and from him, the king received the same blessing. By reciting those thousand names, the king achieved the state of Gaṇapati. These thousand names of Rudra, spoken by Taṇḍin, encompass the very essence of the Vedas. Thus, Sūta was urged to recite these auspicious thousand names to the brāhmaṇas. “Hear now,” it was said, “the thousand and eight names of Hara, the soul of all beings, of immeasurable brilliance. By reciting these, the king attained lordship over the Gaṇas.” The names began: Om! Steadfast, firm, the Lord, radiant, eminent, bestower of boons, the excellent one; the soul of all, renowned everywhere, all-pervading, the doer of all, Bhava; matted-haired, staff-bearing, crested, all-pervading, the creator of all; Hari, deer-eyed, remover of all beings; both activity and withdrawal, tranquil-souled, eternal, unchanging; dwelling in cremation grounds, the blessed one, sky-roaming, moving on earth, the oppressor; worthy of reverence, performer of great deeds, ascetic, supporter of beings; assuming the guise of a madman, hidden, the universe itself, lord of creatures; of great form, great-bodied, of all forms, of great fame; of great soul, present in all beings, of various forms, dwarf, man; protector of the worlds, with hidden self, gracious, giver of fearlessness, all-pervading; pure and great, disciplined, the refuge of the disciplined; self-born, doer of all acts, the beginning, originator, and the treasure. He is thousand-eyed, wide-eyed, Soma, accomplisher of the stars; the moon, the sun, Śani, Ketu, the planet, lord of planets; king, cause of the rise of kingdoms, doer, shooter of arrows at deer, cloud; of great austerity, long in penance, unseen, bestower of wealth; the year, possessor of sacred formulas, breath-control, supreme ascetic; yogī, yoga, great seed, great chariot, great strength; of golden seed, all-knowing, of excellent seed, bull-bannered; ten-armed, unblinking, blue-throated, husband of Umā; of universal form, supreme by himself, mighty hero, foremost in strength; creator of the Gaṇas, lord of the Gaṇas, clothed with directions, and desired by all; knower of mantras, supreme mantra, creator of all beings, Hara; holder of the water-pot, archer, bearer of arrows, skull-bearer. Thus, the thousand and eight names of the great Lord Hara were recited, and by their power, the king and all who heard them were blessed, their souls uplifted by the praise of the One who is the soul of all beings.