To Pandu, sons were granted by divine intervention: Yudhishthira was born from Dharma himself, Bhimasena from the mighty Wind-god, and Dhananjaya—known as Arjuna—was begotten by Indra, and his valor matched that of his heavenly father. To Madri, Pandu’s second wife, the Ashvins bestowed two sons, Nakula and Sahadeva, shining with beauty and skill. These five illustrious Pandavas, in turn, had sons by Draupadi, their common queen. She gave birth to Prativindhya, the noble son of Yudhishthira; Shrutasena, born of Bhimasena; Shrutakirti, the son of Arjuna; and Shrutakarma, the son of Sahadeva. Nakula’s son by Draupadi was Śatānīka. The sons of Draupadi were renowned for their virtues and prowess. Beyond these, six other great chariot-warriors were born to the Pandavas. Bhimasena, with the rakshasi woman Hiḍimbā, fathered Ghaṭotkaca, a formidable hero. With Kāśī, daughter of Baladhara, Bhima had a son named Sarvaga. Sahadeva’s son by Madri was Suhotra, while Nakula, through Kareṇumatī, princess of Cedi, sired Niramitra. Arjuna, with Subhadrā, fathered the valiant Abhimanyu. Yudhishthira, by Devakī, had a son named Yaudheya. Abhimanyu’s son was Parīkṣit, famed for conquering enemy cities. Parīkṣit’s own son, Janamejaya, was supremely righteous and continued the noble Paurava line. Janamejaya appointed Vājasaneyaka as his Brahmin priest, but Vājasaneyaka was cursed by the great sage Vaiśampāyana. The curse declared that Vājasaneyaka’s words would not endure on earth; as long as he remained in this world, so long would his words persist, but no longer. From that time, recognizing the victory of the Kṣatriyas, all gathered around King Janamejaya. Because of the curse, the Kṣatriya sacrificers were lost, and from then on, sacrificers in the great rites disappeared. Some Kṣatriya sacrificers, after offering the full-moon oblation to Prajāpati, were restrained from entering further by Vaiśampāyana’s decree. Janamejaya, son of Parīkṣit, was thus established in the Paurava line. Vājasaneyaka performed the horse sacrifice twice for him. Having completed all these rites, Vājasaneyaka, after a dispute and further curse among the Brahmins, retired to the forest. Janamejaya’s son was Śatānīka, a mighty prince. Janamejaya installed Śatānīka as king. By the horse sacrifice, Śatānīka was blessed with a son, Adhisomakṛṣṇa, who became greatly renowned. During Adhisomakṛṣṇa’s reign, a grand and arduous sacrifice was performed—three years at Puṣkara, two years at Kurukṣetra, and also at Dṛṣadvatī. At this point, the sages asked Lomaharṣaṇa to speak of what was yet to come, for he had already recounted the past. They wished to know, “In which lineages will the Kṣatriyas endure? Which kings will arise? Tell us their lifespans and their names, O sage. Describe to us the measures of the four ages—Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara, and Kali—their faults, their ends, and the happiness and sorrow destined for the people.” Just as Vyāsa had once revealed the nature of the Kali age and the coming cycles of Manus, so now Lomaharṣaṇa began to speak of the future. He promised to recount the kings who would arise in the lineages of Aida, Ikṣvāku, and Puru, and in those where the Aida-Ikṣvāku clan would be established. From these lineages, other kings would also arise—Kṣatriyas, Pāraśavas, Śūdras, and others from outside tribes. He named the Andhas, Śakas, Pulindas, Cūlikas, Yavanas, Kaivartas, Ābhīras, Śabaras, and other peoples of foreign origin, declaring that he would describe their kings as well. Among all these, Adhisomakṛṣṇa would be the first in the line of future kings. His son, Vivakṣu, would become king; when the city called Nāgasāhvaya was overtaken by the Gaṅgā, Vivakṣu would settle in Kauśāmbī. There, he would have eight sons, all mighty and valiant. His eldest son, Bhūri, known as Citraratha, would continue the line. From Citraratha would come Śucidrava, from Śucidrava, Vṛṣṇimān; then Suṣeṇa, and after him, King Śuci. From Suṣeṇa would arise Sunītha, and from Sunītha, the famed Nṛcakṣu. Nṛcakṣu’s heir would be Sukhīvala, whose son would be Pariṣṇava. Pariṣṇava’s son would be Sutapā, and his heir, Medhāvī. Medhāvī’s son would be Puraṃjaya, who would father Urva, fierce in spirit. From Urva would come Tigmātmā, then Bṛhadratha, and from him, Vasudāma. Vasudāma’s son would be Śatānīka, followed by Udayana. Udayana’s son would be Vahīnara, whose son would be Daṇḍapāṇi. From Daṇḍapāṇi would come Niramitra, and from him, Kṣemaka. Thus, as sung by ancient sages, the noble Brahman-Kṣatriya line, honored by divine seers, would reach its end with King Kṣemaka in the age of Kali.