In ages past, the noble lineage of kings unfolded in a line of great might and virtue. Kuśāgra, a ruler of renown, was blessed with a powerful son named Vṛṣabha. Vṛṣabha’s own son was Puṇyavān, a king celebrated for his righteousness and virtue. From Puṇyavān came Puṇya, and Puṇya’s son was the illustrious King Satyadhṛti. Satyadhṛti’s heir was Dhanu, from whom was born Sarva. Sarva’s son was Sambhava, and from Sambhava came King Bṛhadratha. In Bṛhadratha’s case, a wondrous event occurred: he was born in two separate fragments, but the being named Jarā joined these parts together, restoring him to wholeness. Thus, he became known as Jarāsaṃdha, “the one joined by Jarā.” Jarāsaṃdha grew into a ruler of immense strength, so powerful that he conquered all the kṣatriyas. Jarāsaṃdha’s son was Sahadeva, famed for his prowess. Sahadeva’s son was the illustrious Somavit, who became known as a great ascetic. From the line of Somavit, the Māgadha kings became celebrated throughout the land. Elsewhere in this noble line, Jahnu fathered a son named Suratha, who ruled the earth with wisdom. Suratha’s heir was the valiant King Viduratha, whose son was Sarvabhauma. Sarvabhauma’s son was Jayatsena, and Jayatsena’s son was Rucira. From Rucira came Bhauma, and then Tvaritayu. In another branch, Akrodhana, son of Ayus, fathered Devatithi, who in turn begot Daksha. Daksha’s son was Bhimasena, and Bhimasena’s son was Dilipa. Dilipa’s son was Pratipa, remembered as the father of three sons: Devapi, Shantanu, and Vahlika. Vahlika’s heirs were seven kings who ruled in Vahli. Devapi, however, was rejected by the people due to a grave affliction—he suffered from leprosy and, thus, was not honored as king. Instead, Devapi renounced the world and became a sage. With Devapi set aside, Shantanu became king. Shantanu was learned and renowned as a great healer. It was said that whoever Shantanu touched—be they aged or ailing—would become young again. Because of this wondrous ability, he was called Shantanu, and this quality was praised among the people. Desiring a wife, Shantanu chose Jahnavi, and by her, he fathered the illustrious Devavrata. Meanwhile, Kali bore to Dashini a son named Vichitravirya. In the field of Vichitravirya, Shantanu fathered a beloved son, pure in mind and free from sin—Krishna Dvaipayana, who would become the great Vyasa. Krishna Dvaipayana begot three sons: Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura. Dhritarashtra, by his queen Gandhari, had a hundred sons, with Duryodhana as the foremost—lord of all the kṣatriyas. Pandu had two wives, Madri and Kunti. By the grace of the gods, five sons were born to Pandu: Yudhishthira from Dharma, Bhimasena from the Wind-god, Dhananjaya (Arjuna) from Indra, and the twins Nakula and Sahadeva from the Ashvins, through Madri. These five, the Pandavas, were the fathers of many sons. Draupadi, their shared queen, bore Prativindhya to Yudhishthira, Shrutasena to Bhimasena, Shrutakirti to Dhananjaya, and Shrutakarma to Sahadeva. Nakula’s son by Draupadi was Śatānīka. These sons of Draupadi became renowned, and besides them, there were six other great chariot-warriors born to the Pandavas. From Bhimasena and the rakshasi Hiḍimbā was born the mighty Ghaṭotkaca. Bhima also fathered Sarvaga with Kāśī, daughter of Baladhara. Sahadeva and Madri’s union produced Suhotra, while Nakula and Kareṇumatī, princess of Cedi, had a son named Niramitra. Arjuna, with Subhadrā, fathered the valiant Abhimanyu. Yudhishthira, through Devaki, had a son named Yaudheya. From Abhimanyu came Parīkṣit, the conqueror of cities. Parīkṣit’s son, Janamejaya, was supremely righteous and appointed the learned Vājasaneyaka as his priest. However, Vājasaneyaka was cursed by the sage Vaiśampāyana, who declared that his words would not endure on earth as long as he remained in the world. From that time, recognizing the Kṣatriya’s victory, all gathered to King Janamejaya. Yet, due to the curse, the kṣatriya sacrificers diminished, and the practice of sacrifice began to fade. Some kṣatriya sacrificers, after offering the full-moon oblation to Prajāpati, were forbidden by Vaiśampāyana from entering further into the rites. Parīkṣit’s son was Janamejaya of the Paurava line, and for him, the great Vājasaneyaka twice performed the horse sacrifice. Having completed these rites, Vājasaneyaka, cursed in a dispute with the Brahmins, withdrew to the forest. Janamejaya’s son was Śatānīka, a man of great strength, whom Janamejaya installed as king. By the horse sacrifice, Śatānīka was blessed with a son, Adhisomakṛṣṇa, who became greatly renowned. During Adhisomakṛṣṇa’s reign, you, O best of Brahmins, performed a long and arduous sacrifice—three years at Puṣkara, two years at Kurukṣetra, and at Dṛṣadvatī. Now, having heard the tales of the past, the people ask Lomaharṣaṇa to speak of what is yet to come.