The illustrious Kartavirya Arjuna, famed among men, once vanquished the formidable son of the serpent Karkoṭaka at Māhiṣmatī and established him within that city. During the rainy season, this mighty king would sportively cross the surging ocean’s current, delighting in opposing the rushing waters. As he played along the shore, adorned with garlands of rival flowers, the river Narmadā, frightened by the turbulence of his waves, would approach him timidly. With his thousand arms, Kartavirya Arjuna would plunge into the great ocean, causing the rain-swollen Narmadā to surge with tremendous force. When he churned the ocean with his thousand arms, the mighty demons dwelling in the netherworld were rendered utterly motionless. His powerful strokes scattered great waves, submerging fish and whales, and sending masses of foam flying upon the wind, making the ocean impassable. The gods themselves, startled as if by the churning of Mount Mandara, wondered if nectar was about to be born once more. At such times, the great serpents grew still, their heads drooping like banana trunks at sunset, stilled by the wind. Thus, Kartavirya Arjuna, having strung his bow and set five arrows, bewildered Ravana and his army by force on the island of Lanka. He conquered and bound Ravana, bringing him to Māhiṣmatī and imprisoning him there. In response, Pulastya, the great sage, came to Arjuna, seeking to appease him. Soothed by Pulastya, Arjuna released the Rakshasa, and from his thousand arms arose the thundering sound of his bowstring—like the crash of a thousand clouds at the end of an age, or the thunderbolt of Indra himself. Yet, alas, such is the power of fate: Bhargava Rama struck him down. There, his thousand arms, shining like golden palm trees, were severed. Enraged, Kartavirya Arjuna cursed his destroyer, saying, "Because you, Haihaya, burned my renowned forest, another will accomplish this difficult deed and take it from you. A powerful and ascetic Brahmin of the Bhargava line will first cut off your thousand arms and then slay you." Thus, by the curse of the wise, Rama became his death—this very boon had once been chosen by Kartavirya himself, the royal sage. Kartavirya Arjuna had a hundred sons, five of whom were great chariot-warriors: skilled in weapons, strong, valiant, righteous, and mighty. Among them were Shurasena, Shura, Dhrishta, Kroshtri, Jayadhvaja, Vaikarta, and Avanti. Jayadhvaja’s son was the powerful Talajangha, whose own sons, known as the Talajanghas, numbered a hundred. Among the great Haihayas, five clans became renowned: the Vitihotras, Sharyatas, Bhojas, Avantis, and Vritihotras. There were also the valiant Kundikeras and Talajanghas. Vitihotra’s son was the mighty and unconquerable Anarta, whose son was Mitrakarshana. Kartavirya Arjuna, the thousand-armed king, protected his subjects with righteousness and true intent. With his bow, he conquered the earth up to the ocean’s edge. Whoever recites his name upon rising, O mortal, attains good fortune, will not suffer loss of wealth, and what is lost will be regained. Whoever tells the birth of wise Kartavirya with a pure and devoted heart is honored in heaven. But why, one may ask, did Kartavirya, having displayed such might, burn the forest of the great-souled sage Apava? The sages inquired: "We have heard that this royal sage was the protector of the people. How, being their protector, did he burn that sacred forest?" The Sun, taking the form of a twice-born, approached Kartavirya and said, "Grant me a single satisfaction; I am the Sun, O lord of men." The king replied, "O blessed one, by what means do you find satisfaction? What kind of food shall I give? Having offered it, I will provide." The Sun replied, "Give me all that is immovable as food, O bestower of boons. By that I would be satisfied." Kartavirya answered, "All the immovable things cannot be burned up by your energy and power, O best among those who burn. Therefore, I bow to you." The Sun, pleased, granted him arrows— inexhaustible and facing all directions. "Wherever they are released, they will blaze, endowed with my energy. Infused with my power, they will dry up the immovable things and burn the dry ones to ashes. By this, O king of men, satisfaction will be attained." Thus, the Sun gave those arrows to Arjuna, and he burned up all the immovable things that stood before him—villages, hermitages, cattle-stations, cities, sacred groves, forests, and gardens—all were consumed. He burned the eastern region, then the entire south, leaving the earth barren, without trees or grass, destroyed by that terrible energy. At that very time, the great sage Apava, having taken to the waters, remained immersed for ten thousand years. When his vow was complete, the radiant ascetic emerged and saw his hermitage burned by Arjuna. In anger, the great sage cursed the royal sage, as has been recounted. Now, hear of the illustrious lineage of the royal sage descended from Kroṣṭu. In his line was born Viṣṇu, foremost of the Vṛṣṇis. Kroṣṭu's son was the mighty chariot-warrior Vṛjinīvān. From Vṛjinīvān was born a son named Svāha, of great strength, and Svāha's son was Ruṣaṅgu, best among speakers.