In the ancient land known as Kiṃpuruṣa, there lived Ilā, who was also called Sudyumna. Sudyumna became the father of three sons, each renowned for their strength and unconquerable nature: Utkala, Gaya, and the mighty Haritāśva. The regions they inhabited bore their names—Utkalā was the land of Utkala, while Gaya’s city became known as Gayāpurī. Haritāśva’s domain lay to the south, famed together with the Kurus. Having installed his own son, Purūravas, as ruler in the city, Sudyumna entrusted him with kingship. Thereafter, Sudyumna departed to enjoy the divine land of Ilāvṛta, living a life sustained by fruits. Meanwhile, Ikṣvāku’s eldest heir came to possess the region known as Madhyadeśa. From Nariṣyanta was born a son named Śuka, who was famed for his great strength. Dhṛṣṭa, another noble, had three sons: Nābhāga, Ambarīṣa, and Dhṛṣṭaketu, each steadfast in their duties. Raṇadhṛṣṭa, mighty among warriors, was also of this lineage. Śaryāti had a son named Ānarta and a daughter, Sukanyā. Ānarta’s own son was Rocamāna, radiant in splendor. The land came to be called Ānarta, and its city was known as Kuśasthalī. Rocamāna’s son was Reva, and from Reva was born Raivata. Among Raivata’s hundred sons, Kakudmī was the eldest. Kakudmī’s daughter, Revatī, became renowned as the wife of Rāma. From Karūṣa descended many famous Kārūṣas who dwelled upon the earth. In another tale, Pṛṣadhra, owing to the sin of killing a cow, was transformed into a Śūdra by his teacher’s curse. Among the sons of Ikṣvāku were Vikukṣi, Nimi, and Daṇḍaka. Of Ikṣvāku’s hundred sons, fifty were the foremost, and their descendants were born to the north of Mount Meru, excelling among kings. Forty-eight others became kings in the lands south of Meru. From the eldest of these sons was born Kakutstha, whose son was Suyodhana. Suyodhana’s son was Prithu, and from him came Ardras. Ardras’s son was Yuvanāśva, who in turn fathered Shavasta, a man of great strength. Shavasta founded the city of Śrāvastī in the land of Anga. From Shavasta came Brihadashva, and from him, Kuvalāśva. Kuvalāśva earned the name Dhundhumāra after slaying the demon Dhundhu. He had three sons: Dridāśva, Ghrini, and the celebrated, mighty Kapilāśva. Dridāśva’s son was Pramoda, whose son was Haryāśva. Haryāśva’s son was Nikumbha, and from him came Samhatāśva. Samhatāśva had two sons, Akritāśva and Ranāśva. Ranāśva’s son was Yuvanāśva, from whom was born Mandhātā, a king of great renown. Mandhātā’s sons were Purukutsa and Dharmasetu. Among his descendants was the illustrious Muchukunda, a mighty friend of Indra. Purukutsa’s son was Dussaha, lord of the Narmadā river. Dussaha’s son was Sambhūti, whose son was Tridhanvan. From Tridhanvan came Trayyaruṇa, and his son was Satyavrata. Satyavrata’s son was Satyaratha, who fathered Harishchandra. From Harishchandra came Rohita, and Rohita’s son was Vṛka. From Vṛka descended Bahu, and Bahu’s son was the supremely righteous king Sagara. Sagara had two wives, Prabhā and Bhānumatī. Both, desiring sons, worshipped the sage Aurva. Pleased by their devotion, Aurva granted each a boon as they wished: one would bear sixty thousand sons, and the other a single son. Prabhā accepted the role of progenitor of the line, while Bhānumatī bore many sons, including Asamanjasa. Prabhā, descended from the Yadava line, gave birth to sixty thousand sons. These sons, while searching the earth for the sacrificial horse, were burned by Viṣṇu. Asamanjasa’s son was the famed Amśumān; his son was Dilīpa, from whom descended Bhagiratha. Through Bhagiratha’s austerities, the sacred Ganges—Bhagīrathī—was brought down to earth. Bhagiratha’s son was the renowned Nabhāga. From Nabhāga was born Ambarīṣa, and from him came Sindhudvīpa. Sindhudvīpa’s son was Ayutāyu, whose son was Rituparṇa. Rituparṇa’s son was Kalmāṣapāda, also known as Sarvakarma. His son was Anaraṇya, and Anaraṇya’s son was Nighna. Nighna had two sons, both celebrated among the Raghu line: Anamitra and another. Anamitra entered the forest, intent on destroying his enemies. From Raghu was born Dilīpa, and from him, Aja. Aja’s son was Dīrghabāhu, whose son was Prajāpāla. Prajāpāla’s son was Daśaratha, famed for his four sons, all manifestations of Nārāyaṇa. Among them, Rāma was the eldest, destroyer of Rāvaṇa and the one who increased the glory of the Raghu lineage. The sage Vālmīki, the greatest among the Bhārgavas, composed the story of Rāma. Rāma’s son was Kuśa, who furthered the Ikṣvāku line. From Kuśa came Atithi, and his son was Niṣadha. From Niṣadha was born Nala, and from him, Nabhāga. Nabhāga’s son was Puṇḍarīka, and from him came Kṣemadhanvan. His son was the heroic Devanīka, whose son was Ahināgu. From Ahināgu was born Sahasrāśva. Sahasrāśva’s son was Chandrāvaloka, and from him came Tārapīḍa. Tārapīḍa’s son was Chandragiri, whose son was Chandra. From Chandra was born Shrutāyu, who met his end in the great Bharata war. Among his descendants, two Nalas stood out, especially celebrated in this noble lineage.