Pulastya, the revered sage, gently calmed Arjuna and released the Rakshasa from his grasp. As he did so, a tremendous sound arose from Arjuna’s thousand arms, the twang of his bowstring echoing loudly—like the thunderclap of a thousand storm clouds at the world’s end, or the shattering crash of Indra’s own lightning bolt. Yet, such is the mysterious power of fate that Bhargava struck Arjuna down in that moment. There, Arjuna’s thousand arms—radiant as golden palm trees—were severed. Enraged by this, the lordly Arjuna uttered a curse upon Arjuna of the Haihaya line: “Because you, Haihaya, burned my famed and sacred forest, know that another will accomplish this difficult task and take your life from you. After first cutting off your thousand arms with great force, a powerful and ascetic Brahmin of the Bhargava lineage will be your slayer.” Thus, by the curse of the wise, Rama became Arjuna’s death, and, indeed, this very boon had once been chosen by the royal sage himself. Arjuna had a hundred sons, among whom five stood out as mighty chariot-warriors—skilled in arms, strong, valorous, righteous, and powerful. Among them were Shurasena, Shura, Dhrishta, Kroshtri, Jayadhvaja, Vaikarta, and Avanti. Jayadhvaja’s son was the formidable Talajangha, and his own sons, called the Talajanghas, numbered a hundred. Among the great Haihayas, five clans were renowned: the Vitihotras, Sharyatas, Bhojas, Avantis, and Vritihotras. There were also the valiant Kundikeras and the Talajanghas. Vitihotra’s son was Anarta, powerful and unconquerable, whose son was Mitrakarshana. With sincere intent, Kartavirya Arjuna, the king with a thousand arms, ruled his subjects with justice and righteousness. With his mighty bow, he conquered the earth up to the ocean’s edge. Whoever recites his name at dawn, O mortal, is assured of good fortune; he will not suffer loss of wealth, and what is lost will be regained. Whoever recounts the birth of wise Kartavirya with a pure and devoted heart is honored in heaven. Now, O lord of men, you may wonder: for what reason did Kartavirya, after displaying such might, burn the forest of the great-souled Apava? Tell me, O Suta, how could this royal sage, protector of his people, burn such a sacred forest? It happened thus: the Sun, taking the form of a twice-born sage, approached Kartavirya and spoke: “Grant me a single satisfaction; I am the Sun, O lord of men.” The king replied, “O blessed one, how may I satisfy you, O illuminator? What food shall I offer you? Whatever you ask, I will provide.” The Sun replied, “Give me all that is immovable as my food, O bestower of boons. By this I would be satisfied; that is my desire, O king.” 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, said, “Since you are devoted, I grant you arrows— inexhaustible and facing all directions. Wherever you release them, they will blaze forth, endowed with my own energy. Infused with my power, they will dry up the immovable things and burn the dry ones to ashes. By this, O king, my satisfaction will be attained.” Thus, the Sun gave those arrows to Arjuna, who then burned up all the immovable things that stood before him. Villages, hermitages, cattle-stations, cities, delightful sacred groves, forests, and gardens—all these he set aflame. He burned the eastern region first, then the entire south, until the earth was left barren, devoid of trees and grass, destroyed by that terrible energy. At that time, the great sage Apava had withdrawn to the waters for deep penance, remaining there for ten thousand years. When his vow was complete, the radiant ascetic emerged and saw his hermitage reduced to ashes by Arjuna’s fire. In anger, the great sage cursed the royal sage, as I have recounted to you. Now, hear of the illustrious lineage of the royal sage descended from Kroṣṭu. In this line was born Viṣṇu, foremost among the Vṛṣṇis. Kroṣṭu’s son was Vṛjinīvān, a mighty charioteer. Vṛjinīvān’s son was Svāha, strong and valiant. Svāha’s son was Ruṣaṅgu, best among speakers. Ruṣaṅgu, desiring offspring, had a gentle-natured son named Citra, and Citra’s son was Citraratha, accomplished in noble deeds. From him was born the heroic Caitrarathi, generous and famed, who became known as Śaśabindu, a universal monarch. Of Śaśabindu, it is sung in ancient genealogies that he had a hundred sons, and each of them fathered a hundred more. These descendants were wise, handsome, and endowed with great wealth and energy. Among those hundred leaders, Pṛthusāhva was the mightiest. There were also Pṛthuśravā, Pṛthuyaśā, Pṛthudharmā, Pṛthuṃjaya, Pṛthukīrti, Pṛthumanā, and other kings known as Śaśabindu. The knowers of tradition declare that the foremost Pṛthuśravas was born as the son of Suyajña, in the interval between Suyajña’s reigns. Uśanā, son of Suyajña, who protected the earth, performed a hundred excellent horse sacrifices, upholding righteousness. Titikṣu, Uśanā’s son, was called Śatrutāpana, and his son Marutta was the greatest among royal sages. Among Marutta’s sons was the heroic Kambalabarhiṣa, who wore golden armor and was learned in the scriptures. Rukmakavaca, his son, defeated other armored archers with his skill and arrows, and so obtained the earth. Thus is recounted the tale of Kartavirya Arjuna’s might, his curse, and the illustrious lineage from which he and other great kings arose.