He was a being of unmatched brilliance, surpassing the radiance of all others. Drawn by this extraordinary presence, Brahmā himself, along with the other gods and the divine sages, gathered together at Bṛhaspati’s house to witness the birth ceremony. There, all the assembled gods turned to Tārā and questioned her: “By whom was this boy born?” Tārā, overcome with shame and embarrassment before the gathered deities, remained silent despite their repeated inquiries. At last, she spoke quietly: “By Soma.” Hearing this, the moon-god Soma stepped forward, accepting the child as his own. He named him Budha and, in a gesture of great favor, granted him a kingdom upon the earth. After Budha’s consecration, Soma, mighty and generous, bestowed gifts upon all. Brahmā, accompanied by the noble Brahmarṣis, assigned Budha his exalted place among the planets. Then, before the eyes of all beings, Soma vanished. Budha, righteous and luminous, later begot a son in the womb of Ilā. This son, Purūravas, shone with his own brilliance. He performed a hundred horse sacrifices, fulfilling every ritual, and became celebrated throughout all the worlds. On the splendid Himalayan peak, Purūravas worshipped the Grandfather, Brahmā, and by that devotion attained lordship over the worlds, becoming the ruler of the seven continents. Even the powerful Daityas, such as Keśi, became his servants. Urvaśī, the celestial nymph, was captivated by his noble form and became his wife. Purūravas righteously protected the earth with its seven continents, mountains, forests, and groves, always seeking the welfare of all beings. Famed for bearing the yak-tail fan and surrounded by personal attendants, Purūravas was granted an exalted seat by Indra, by the grace of Brahmā. He safeguarded those devoted to dharma, wealth, and desire. So impressed were the very personifications of Dharma, Wealth, and Desire that they came themselves, filled with curiosity, to see how he would honor them equally. Purūravas welcomed them with devotion, offering water and hospitality. He brought three seats adorned with divine gold, seating them with great reverence. His worship, however, was slightly inclined toward dharma. This partiality angered Wealth and Desire. Wealth, overcome by greed, cursed the king: “You shall come to ruin.” Desire added her own curse: “You will be maddened by longing, dwelling on Mount Gandhamadana, separated from Urvaśī in the grove of the youths.” Dharma, however, blessed him: “You will have a long and righteous life, O king; your lineage will endure as long as the moon and stars, growing by the hundreds and never perishing on earth. Yet for sixty years, you will be tormented by desire for Urvaśī. Soon, even your wife, the apsaras, will come under your control.” Having spoken, they vanished, and Purūravas continued to rule his kingdom. Day after day, Purūravas would visit Indra. Once, while riding his chariot through the southern sky, he saw, together with Śakra (Indra), Urvaśī being carried across the heavens by Keśin, the lord of the Dānavas, along with Citralekhā. Purūravas fought Keśin in a fierce battle, wielding a shower of diverse weapons—this was the same Keśin who had once even conquered Indra in combat. Having defeated him, Purūravas formed a friendship with Keśin and gave Urvaśī to Indra. From that time, Indra became Purūravas’s friend. Pleased, the wielder of the thunderbolt said to Purūravas, who surpassed all the worlds: “Let Urvaśī be given to you.” For Purūravas’s delight, Urvaśī sang a great tale—the story of Lakṣmī’s self-choice, instituted by Bharata. Indra instructed Menakā, Urvaśī, and Rambhā to dance, and Urvaśī danced gracefully in the form of Lakṣmī. But as she danced, Urvaśī was overcome by desire upon seeing Purūravas. She forgot all the gestures and movements passed down from ancient times. Bharata, angered by her distraction and separation from the dance, cursed her: “For fifty-five years on earth, you shall become a creeper.” Afterward, Urvaśī went to her husband and stayed with him for a long time. When the curse ran its course, Urvaśī was reunited with Budha’s son, Purūravas. Together, they had eight sons: Ayu, Dridhayu, Vashyayu, Balayu, Dhrtimat, Vasu, Divyajayu, and Shatayu—all endowed with divine strength and energy. Ayu’s sons were Nahusha and Vriddhasharma. Among Purūravas’s descendants were Raji, Danda, and Vishakha—five great warriors in all. Raji had a hundred sons, known as the Rajeyas. Raji worshipped the sinless Nārāyaṇa, and Viṣṇu, pleased with his austerity, granted him a boon. Raji became victorious over gods, asuras, and humans alike. For three hundred years, a fierce battle raged between the gods and asuras. In the struggle between Prahlāda and Indra, neither could prevail. Eventually, both sides approached the four-faced Brahmā, seeking to know who would be victorious where Raji stood. Both the gods and asuras requested Raji’s alliance. Raji told the asuras, “If I become your lord, then so be it,” but they did not accept. The gods, however, agreed. “Be our lord and destroy the strength of our enemies,” they said. With Raji’s help, all those destined for Indra’s thunderbolt were destroyed. Indra, pleased, made Raji his son. Raji, having previously given the kingdom to Indra, departed to practice austerity. But then, Raji’s sons, endowed with the power and virtues gained from austerity, seized Indra’s power, his share of sacrifices, and his kingdom itself.