Among the illustrious descendants of ancient times, there were many noble souls. Among them stood Amurtaraya, a valiant figure, and Trivana, a man of great righteousness. Gauri, the third daughter, was revered as the auspicious mother of Mandhata. From Ilina, a daughter was born who herself gave birth to sons devoted to the sacred speech of the Brahmanas and to valor; this noble woman was Shubhada, born of Ilina. Upadanavi, too, received four sons from Ilina: Rishyanta, Dushyanta, Praveera, and Anadha. From Dushyanta, who became a universal emperor, was born Samitinjaya. And from the union of Dushyanta and Shakuntala, the mighty Bharata was born, after whom the Bharata lineage is named. When there was doubt about his parentage, a bodiless, divine voice spoke to Dushyanta: “The mother is like the bellows, the father is the begetter; the son born from him is truly his.” The voice continued, “Acknowledge your son, Dushyanta; do not slight Shakuntala. The son leads the father, who has sown the seed, from the realm of Yama. You are the creator of this child; Shakuntala speaks the truth.” Long ago, when the sons of Bharata perished, a great destruction befell the line, brought about by the wrath of the mothers. In that time of loss, the Maruts, the storm gods, brought a son of Brihaspati and transferred him to Bharata, so that the lineage might continue. How was it that Bharadvaja, resplendent among sages, was transferred by the Maruts to Bharata for the sake of a son? Listen to this account. When his wife was pregnant, Ushija remained on earth; and Brihaspati, seeing his brother’s wife, spoke to her, “Adorn yourself and come to me for union, O auspicious one.” She replied, “This embryo is mature and speaks with the voice of Brahman; your seed is unfailing, but this act is unrighteous.” Brihaspati, however, replied, “You, of lovely complexion, must not instruct me in proper conduct.” Overpowering her, he forced himself upon her, but then the embryo within her spoke to Brihaspati, “I am already present here, O Brihaspati, and your seed is unfailing; there is no room for two.” Angered by the words of the embryo, Brihaspati declared, “Because you, at such a time when all beings desire birth, obstruct me, therefore you shall enter deep darkness for a long time.” Restraining his desire, Brihaspati’s seed, rejected by Mamatā due to her lack of joy, fell to the earth and became a child as the act ceased. When the boy was born, Mamatā said, “I will go to my own house; you, Brihaspati, take care of him.” Having said this, she departed, and Brihaspati too abandoned the child. Seeing the boy forsaken by both his mother and father, the compassionate Maruts took up that child, Bharadvaja. At that time, Bharata, the illustrious king, performed many sacrifices throughout the seasons in hope of obtaining a son. But when he still did not gain a son, he performed the Marutsoma sacrifice, seeking a child. Pleased by his devotion, the Maruts, through the power of the Marutsoma, brought Bharadvaja to Bharata so that he might have an heir. Thus, Bharadvaja, the true-born son of Brihaspati and heir of the Angiras line, was transferred by the Maruts to Bharata. Bharata, having received Bharadvaja as his son, declared, “At first, for my own benefit, you were given; now, through you, I am fulfilled.” Because the birth of a son had earlier proved fruitless, Bharadvaja the king was called Vitatha, meaning “in vain.” From that Bharadvaja, both brahmanas and kshatriyas arose upon the earth, known as the Dvyamusyayana lineages—descendants of two fathers. After Vitatha was born, Bharata ascended to heaven; and Bharadvaja, after anointing his own son, too departed for the heavenly realms. Bhuvamanyu, of great renown, became the heir of Vitatha, and his four sons, called the Bhuvamanyus, were themselves like great beings. From these lines came Bṛhatkṣatra, a hero of great valor; Nara; and Garga, who was mighty. Saṃkṛti was the son of Nara, and his own son became renowned. Gurudhī and Rantideva, both remembered for their honor, and Śibi, the learned son of Garga, were born as illustrious heirs. From these lines arose the Śaibyās and Gargās, known as twice-born with kshatriya qualities. Urukṣavaḥ, the wise son of Āhārya, was also born. His wife, Viśālā, bore three sons: Tryuṣaṇa, Puṣkari, and the illustrious Kavi. These Urukṣavas are remembered as having all attained the status of brahmanas, and among the Kāvyas, these three are said to be the foremost of the great sages. The Gargās, Saṃkṛtis, and Kāvyas are twice-born with kshatriya traits, as are the assembled Angirasas and Dakṣas, and those of the land of Bṛhatkṣatra. Bṛhatkṣatra’s heir was named Hastin, and it was he who first established the city called Gajasāhvaya. Hastin had three illustrious heirs: Ajamīḍha, Dvimīḍha, and Purumīḍha. Ajamīḍha had three wives, all renowned women of the Kuru lineage: Nīlinī, Dhūminī, and Keśinī. From them, he begot sons endowed with divine qualities; and at the end of his austerities, the great and righteous Vṛddha was born. By the grace of Bhāradvāja, it is said, Ajamīḍha had a son named Kaṇva with Keśinī. Medhātithi was Kaṇva’s son, and from him came the Kāṇvāyana Brāhmaṇas. Ajamīḍha’s son Bṛhadan was born to Bhūminī. Thus, the noble lineages of kings and sages continued, each generation upholding the sacred duties and virtues of their ancestors.