As the discourse continued, a stern voice rang out, rebuking a foolish speaker: “Your words will not endure here on earth; only as long as you remain in this world will they persist.” The assembly was reminded of the victory of the Kṣatriya, for from that decisive moment, all gathered around King Janamejaya, acknowledging his triumph. Yet, a shadow fell upon the Kṣatriya sacrificers; through a powerful curse, they were lost, and those who once performed sacrifices vanished entirely from such rites. Some Kṣatriya sacrificers, after offering the full-moon oblation to Prajāpati, were restrained from entering by the sage Vaiśampāyana, owing to the curse of that great soul. Among the noble lineages, Parīkṣit’s son, Janamejaya of the Paurava line, stood out. For him, the illustrious sage Vājasaneyaka performed the horse sacrifice not once, but twice. Having fulfilled all his duties, Vājasaneyaka, following a dispute with the Brahmins and a curse, withdrew to the forest. Janamejaya’s legacy continued with his son Śatānīka, a mighty man whom he installed as king. Through the horse sacrifice, Śatānīka was blessed with a son, Adhisomakṛṣṇa, who would become renowned in later times. During Adhisomakṛṣṇa’s rule, the assembly performed a great and arduous sacrifice: three years at Puṣkara, two years at Kurukṣetra, and again at Dṛṣadvatī—a feat remembered with reverence. The sages, eager for knowledge, addressed Lomaharṣaṇa: “You have told us much about the past, but now we wish to hear of the future—of the peoples, the remaining Kṣatriya lineages, and the kings who will arise. Tell us their lifespans and names, O wise one. Also, describe for us the measures of the four Yugas—Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara, and Kali—along with the faults and end of the Kali Yuga. We ask you to consider the measure of happiness and sorrow, the faults of the people, and the nature of the age.” Lomaharṣaṇa replied, “Just as Vyāsa, whose actions are untroubled, has previously described to me, so too will the Kali age and the cycles of Manus unfold. Listen now to what I speak of that is yet to come. I will declare the kings destined to be, in the lineages of Aida, Ikṣvāku, and Puru, and in those where the auspicious Aida-Ikṣvāku clan will be established. I will recount all those future kings who have been mentioned. From them, other kings will also arise—Kṣatriyas, Pāraśavas, Śūdras, and others who dwell outside. The Andhas, Śakas, Pulindas, Cūlikas, Yavanas, Kaivartas, Ābhīras, Śabaras, and others born from foreigners—I will describe them in turn and name their kings as well.” Among all these, Adhisomakṛṣṇa will be the first king; I will speak of his descendants, those future kings. Adhisomakṛṣṇa’s son, Vivakṣu, will become king. When the city called Nāgasāhvaya is taken by the Gaṅgā, Vivakṣu will rule there. He will eventually leave that city and reside at Kauśāmbī, where he will have eight sons, all mighty and valiant. His eldest son will be Bhūri, remembered as Citraratha. From Citraratha comes Śucidrava, and from Śucidrava, Vṛṣṇimān. Vṛṣṇimān’s successor will be Suṣeṇa, and then Śuci will be king. From Suṣeṇa will arise a ruler named Sunītha. From King Sunītha will come Nṛcakṣu, renowned for his great fame; Nṛcakṣu’s heir will be Sukhīvala. Sukhīvala’s son will be the future king Pariṣṇava; Pariṣṇava’s son will be Sutapā, the ruler. His heir will be Medhāvī, and Medhāvī’s son will be Puraṃjaya. Urva will be his son, fierce in spirit; from him will come Tigmātmā, and from Tigmātmā, Bṛhadratha; from Bṛhadratha, Vasudāma. From Vasudāma will come Śatānīka, and then Udayana; from Udayana will be born the king Vahīnara. Vahīnara’s son will be Daṇḍapāṇi; from Daṇḍapāṇi comes Niramitra, and from Niramitra, Kṣemaka. Here, a verse of lineage sung by ancient sages is recalled: “The origin of the Brahman-Kṣatriya line, honored by divine sages, will reach its end with King Kṣemaka in the Kali age.” Thus, the lineage of the Pauravas has been recounted as it truly is, along with that of the wise son of Pandu, the great-souled Arjuna. The inquiry then turned to another sacred subject. “O Suta,” a sage asked, “now tell me in order about those fires which are always worthy of reverence among the twice-born, and their lineage as well.” The Suta replied, “That fire, known as Abhimani, is remembered in the interval of Svayambhu. He was the mind-born son of Brahma, from whom Svaha gave birth. Pavaka, Pavamana, and Shuci are the fires remembered. Pavamana is the fire produced by friction, and the electric fire is the son of Pavaka. Shuci is remembered as the solar fire, and the immovable ones are also so called. The fire born of Pavamana is known as Havyavaha. Pavaka, together with Saharaksha, and Shuci, whose face is Havyavaha—among the gods, Havyavaha is the first fire, the son of Brahma. Saharaksha is among the gods; these three are the three fires, and from them, there are forty sons and grandsons. I will now declare their names, distinguishing them separately. Pavana, the worldly fire, is the first and also that of Brahma. Brahmaudanagni is his son, renowned as Bharata. Vaishvanara, the carrier of offerings, bore the oblation and died. After his death, Atharvana was born, churned from the lotus ocean; Atharva is the worldly fire, known as the southern fire.” Thus, the sages listened with reverence, as the stories of kings and the sacred fires were revealed, weaving together the cycles of ages, the rise and fall of dynasties, and the divine origins of the elements that sustain the world.