The wise and noble Yayāti, son of Nāhuṣa, looked upon his sons and reflected that worthiness, not age, determines who should inherit good fortune and lordship. Even the youngest, if deserving, should be granted the kingdom. Pūru, Yayāti’s son who faithfully obeyed his father’s commands, was deemed worthy of the throne. This could not be otherwise, for Śukra’s boon had decreed it so, and Nāhuṣa, pleased by the people’s acceptance, affirmed this decision. Thus Yayāti anointed Pūru as king, placing the crown upon his head. To Turvasu, another son, he assigned rule over the southeast. His eldest, Yadu, was entrusted with the south, while Druhyu and Anu were given dominion over the west and north respectively. Having conquered the earth with its seven continents and oceans, Yayāti divided his vast realm into three parts among his sons, transferring his royal splendor to them. His heart overflowed with joy and contentment, for he had entrusted the burdens of kingship to his kin. At this moment of fulfillment, Yayāti recalled the verses he had sung long ago—teachings by which one may draw in desires from every side, just as a tortoise draws in its limbs. He proclaimed that true attainment comes not from countless actions, but from these teachings alone: desire is never quenched by the enjoyment of desires. Like fire fed by offerings, desire only grows stronger, no matter how much rice, barley, gold, cattle, or women one acquires. Recognizing that “all this is not enough for one person,” Yayāti advised seeking peace, which arises when one no longer harbors ill will toward any being. When, through deed, mind, and speech, one attains Brahman—when one neither fears others nor is feared by them—when one neither reviles nor hates, then Brahman is realized. The craving that is so difficult for the foolish to abandon withers as the body withers. Craving, the disease that ends life, brings happiness to those who forsake it; as hair and teeth fall away with age, so too does craving. While the eyes and ears grow old, craving alone remains untouched; all bodily faculties naturally age, but the hope for life and wealth does not diminish, even as the body ages. Whatever pleasures exist in this world or even in heaven, none equal even a sixteenth part of the joy found in the extinction of craving. Having imparted these words, the royal sage Yayāti, together with his wife, withdrew to the forest. There, at the peak of Bhrigu, the illustrious Yayāti performed austerities and fulfilled the vow of fasting. With his wife, he attained heaven. His five lineages, virtuous and honored by divine sages, spread across the earth like the rays of the sun. It is said that whoever reads or listens to the sacred deeds of Yayāti becomes wealthy, prospers in offspring, enjoys a long life, and gains renown and wisdom. Freed from all sins, such a person is honored in the realm of Śiva. Now, let us recount the lineage of Yadu, Yayāti’s eldest and most radiant son. Listen as his descendants are briefly narrated in order. Yadu had five sons, each comparable to the sons of the gods: Sahasrajit, Kroṣṭu, Nīla, Ajaka, and Laghu. From Sahasrajit came a king named Śatajita, who had three famed sons: Haihaya, Haya, and King Veṇuhaya. Haihaya’s heir, known as Dharma, became celebrated, and his son was Dharmanetra. Dharmanetra’s son was Kīrti, whose son was Saṃjaya. Saṃjaya’s heir was the righteous Mahiṣmān, and Mahiṣmān’s son was the mighty Bhadraśreṇya. Bhadraśreṇya’s heir was King Durdama, whose wise and renowned son was Dhanaka. Dhanaka had four sons, esteemed by all: Kṛtavīrya, Kṛtāgni, Kṛtavarmā, and Kṛtaujā. From Kṛtaujā was born Kārtavīrya Arjuna, supreme lord of the seven continents, famed for possessing a thousand arms. For him, Rāma, having the nature of Nārāyaṇa, became death. Kārtavīrya Arjuna had a hundred sons, five of whom were great warriors: Śūra, Śūrasena, Dhṛṣṭa, Kṛṣṇa, and Jayadhvaja. These brothers were accomplished in weapons, strong, heroic, righteous, and wise. King Jayadhvaja became lord of the Avanti people, and his son Tāla-jaṅgha was renowned for his might. Tāla-jaṅgha had a hundred sons, called Tāla-jaṅghas, and their eldest, of great valor, was King Vītihotra. Beginning with Vṛṣa, Vītihotra’s virtuous sons continued the line, with Vṛṣa as the progenitor and his son Madhu. Madhu had a hundred sons, among whom Vṛṣṇi became the heir. All descendants of Vṛṣṇi are called Vṛṣṇis, and those of Madhu are known as Mādhavas. The Haihayas are also called Yādavas, for they are of the lineage of Yadu. Among these great-souled Haihayas, there are five clans: the Vītihotras, Haryatas, Bhojas, Avantis, and the renowned Śūrasenas, as well as the Tāla-jaṅghas. The foremost among the Haihayas are celebrated as Śūra, Śūrasena, Vṛṣa, Kṛṣṇa, and Jayadhvaja. Śūra and Śūravīra, along with the illustrious sons of Śūrasena, are known as the Śūrasenas, and these are the lands of those great souls. The renowned son of Vītihotra was Narta, and Durjaya, the son of Kṛṣṇa, became known as Amitrakarshana. Thus flows the radiant lineage of Yadu, shining across the earth, honored by sages and remembered for its virtue and might.