In ages past, Pururavas, renowned for his royal bearing and the yak-tail fan, was honored by Indra himself. By the grace of Brahmā, Indra bestowed upon Pururavas an exalted seat, surrounded by personal attendants, marking his distinction among kings. Pururavas governed his realm with righteousness, protecting those who upheld dharma, wealth, and desire. So great was his virtue that the very personifications of Dharma, Wealth, and Desire—curious about his deeds and impartiality—came to see him. Eager to honor them, Pururavas offered water and hospitality with devotion. He brought forth three seats, adorned with divine gold, seating the illustrious guests and performing worship that leaned slightly toward dharma. However, Wealth and Desire, feeling slighted, confronted Pururavas. Wealth, driven by greed, cursed him: “You shall come to ruin.” Desire, too, uttered a curse: “You will be maddened by longing on Mount Gandhamadana, dwelling in the grove of youths, separated from Urvashi.” Dharma, in contrast, blessed him: “You will have a long life and be righteous; your lineage will endure as long as the moon and stars, increasing by the hundreds and never perishing on earth. Yet, for sixty years, you will be maddened by desire for Urvashi.” Dharma foretold that even Urvashi, his apsara wife, would soon come under his control. With their pronouncements delivered, the three vanished, leaving Pururavas to rule his kingdom. Day after day, Pururavas visited Indra. Once, he mounted his chariot and traveled through the southern sky with Indra. There, he witnessed Urvashi being carried through the heavens by Kesin, lord of the Danavas, accompanied by Citralekha. Pururavas battled Kesin, unleashing a shower of weapons and defeating the formidable Danava—who had once even overcome Indra in combat. After the battle, Pururavas forged a friendship with Kesin and returned Urvashi to Indra, earning Indra’s lasting friendship. Indra, pleased by Pururavas’ valor, said, “Let Urvashi be taken to you.” For Pururavas’ delight, Urvashi sang a grand tale—the story of Lakshmi’s self-choice, established by Bharata. Indra instructed Menaka, Urvashi, and Rambha to dance, and Urvashi danced gracefully, embodying Lakshmi. Overcome by desire upon seeing Pururavas, Urvashi forgot the gestures and movements taught since ancient times. Bharata, angered by her lapse and separation, cursed Urvashi: “For fifty-five years on earth, you shall become a creeper.” After this, Urvashi went to her husband and dwelled with him for a long time. When the curse was fulfilled, she was united with Pururavas, the son of Budha. Urvashi bore Pururavas eight sons: Ayu, Dridhayu, Vashyayu, Balayu, Dhrtimat, Vasu, Divyajayu, and Shatayu—all endowed with divine strength and energy. Ayu’s son was Nahusha, and also Vriddhasharma. Raji, Danda, and Vishakha were five great warriors born in this lineage, and Raji fathered a hundred sons, known as the Rajeyas. Raji worshipped the sinless Nārāyaṇa with great austerity, and Viṣṇu, pleased, granted him a boon. Raji became victorious over gods, asuras, and humans, leading to a fierce battle between gods and asuras that lasted three hundred years. In the struggle between Prahlāda and Indra, neither prevailed, so both sides approached Brahmā, the four-faced god, to decide who would win with Raji’s presence. Brahmā asked Raji to ally with them for victory. Raji told the daityas, “If I become your lord, then so be it,” but the asuras refused; the gods, however, accepted. “Be our lord and destroy the strength of our enemies,” they said. Thus, those destined to be slain by Indra were destroyed, and Indra, pleased, made Raji his son. After granting Indra the kingdom, Raji retired to practice austerity. But Raji’s sons, empowered by their virtues and austerity, seized Indra’s power, his share of sacrifices, and his kingdom. Deprived and oppressed, Indra sought Bṛhaspati’s counsel: “O Bṛhaspati, deprived of my share of sacrifices and kingdom, I am afflicted. O lord of wisdom, help me regain my kingdom.” Bṛhaspati strengthened Indra through rites and nourishing rituals, then cunningly deluded Raji’s sons by teaching them the doctrine of the Jinas, which lay outside the Vedas, though he was learned in dharma. Thus, Bṛhaspati caused them to abandon the three Vedas, recognizing them as outsiders, filled with arguments. Indra then struck down all those excluded from dharma with his thunderbolt. Now hear of the seven righteous sons of Nahuṣa: Yati, Yayāti, Śaryāti, Uttāna, Para, Ayati, and Viyati. These seven furthered the lineage. Yati, even in his youth, became a yogi of the Vaikhānasa order; Yayāti ruled the kingdom, relying solely on dharma. Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, became Yayāti’s wife, as did Devayānī, the virtuous daughter of Bhārgava. From Devayānī, Yayāti had two sons: Yadu and Turvasu.