As the tale unfolds, all the noble kings mounted their chariots, O ruler, and set forth upon their celestial journey. Ascending toward the heavens, they shone brilliantly, their presence covering earth and sky with righteousness. Among them, one voice mused, “I believe I shall be the first to go ahead, and my friend Indra, of great soul, will surely accompany me. Yet why did Śibi, king of the Ushinaras, alone urge his steeds forward with such speed?” Śibi, the son of Ushinara, had given all his wealth to Devayāna blamelessly. Thus, he was recognized as the best among the assembled kings. Charity, purity, truth, nonviolence, modesty, fortune, patience, equanimity, and compassion—all these virtues, O king, found their home in Śibi. Unmatched in wisdom, he embodied modesty and upright conduct, bearing these noble qualities, and so Śibi ascended his chariot. Then, out of curiosity, Ashtaka questioned his maternal grandfather, who was like Indra himself: “I ask you, O king, tell me truly—who are you, where do you come from, and how did you arrive here? What you have accomplished, no other Brahmin or Kshatriya in the world could achieve.” The venerable one replied, “I am Yayāti, son of Nahusha and father of Puru, sovereign of the earth. I reveal to you, my grandsons, this secret teaching, O grandfather, which is well known among you. I conquered all this earth, rich and abundant, and gave it to the Brahmins, along with pure and beautiful horses. Thus, the gods became recipients of merit. I gave the earth to the Brahmins, filled with excellent food, praised cattle, gold, and treasures, horses and elephants by the hundreds and tens of thousands. By truth, both heaven and earth, and likewise fire, burn among men; not a single word of mine is spoken in vain, for the virtuous honor only truth. Whoever reports to the twice-born and to the sacred fires all our deeds, as they truly happened and without envy, shall share our world.” And so, the great-souled Yayāti was carried across by his grandsons, the best of friends. Abandoning the earth and having performed the noblest deeds, he ascended to heaven, his actions spread across the world. Thus, everything has been narrated in detail—the deeds of Nahusha’s line, whose fame is established in the Paurava dynasty, in which you were born, O king among men. Hearing this from Shaunaka, King Shatanika was amazed and filled with great joy, shining like the full moon. The king honored Shaunaka duly, offering jewels, cows, gold, and various garments. Shaunaka accepted the wealth, and after giving it to the Brahmins, he disappeared. The assembly then wished to hear in detail about the lineage of Yayāti, asking how it became established in the world through his sons, beginning with Yadu. Shaunaka replied, “I will recount the lineage of Yadu, the eldest and most powerful; listen as I narrate it in order and detail. Yadu had five sons, equal to the sons of the gods, great chariot-warriors and mighty archers. Hear their names: Sahasrajit, the eldest, then Kroshtu, Nila, Antika, and Laghu. Sahasrajit’s heir was a king named Shatajit. Shatajit had three illustrious heirs: Haihaya, Haya, and Venuhaya. Haihaya’s heir was the renowned Dharmanetra; Dharmanetra’s son was Kunti, and his son was Samhata. Samhata’s heir was Mahishman; Mahishman’s son was the valiant Rudrashrenya, who became king in Varanasi, as previously mentioned. Rudrashrenya’s son was Durdama; Durdama’s son was the wise and powerful Kanaka, who had four sons renowned in the world: Kritavirya, Kritagni, Kritavarma, and Kritaujas. From Kritavirya was born Arjuna. This king Arjuna, born with a thousand arms, became lord of the seven islands, performing severe austerities for ten thousand years. Kārtavīrya worshipped Dattatreya, the son of Atri, and Dattatreya granted him four supreme boons. First, the best of kings asked for a thousand arms; then, for the power to restrain the wicked and to prevent unrighteousness by the virtuous. He asked to conquer the earth by battle, to rule it righteously, and, in war, to have the right to slay those who exceed their bounds. By him, the entire earth with its seven islands, mountains, and encircled by seven oceans, was conquered according to the Kshatriya law. At his wish, a thousand arms were indeed born; his chariot and banner also came into being. Ten thousand sacrifices, unobstructed, are said to have been performed by this wise king on the islands. All his sacrifices were abundant in gifts, with golden sacrificial posts and golden altars. Gods arrived in their aerial chariots, and Gandharvas and Apsarases beautified the ceremonies. At his sacrifice, the Gandharva Nārada sang a song, beholding the greatness of the royal sage Kārtavīrya: ‘Surely, the Kṣatriyas will not attain the path of Kārtavīrya—by sacrifices, gifts, austerities, valor, or learning. For he, bearing sword, discus, bow, and arrows, and riding a chariot, traversed the seven islands as a yogi, watching over thieves.’ That lord of men reigned for eighty-five thousand years, becoming a universal emperor filled with all precious gems. He himself became a herdsman, a protector of fields, and by his yogic power, he became Arjuna, the bringer of rain. With a thousand arms hardened by the string of the bow, he shone with a thousand rays like the autumn sun. Thus, the noble lineage and deeds of Yayāti and his descendants were revealed, their fame shining eternally in the world.