He was the protector of cattle and the guardian of fields, and when he joined with the rains, he became as mighty as Arjuna, akin to Parjanya, the rain-god himself. His thousand arms, toughened by the constant strike of the bowstring, radiated like a thousand beams of the brilliant autumn sun. This illustrious man among humans, dwelling in Māhiṣmatī, possessed the force and majesty of the ocean in the rainy season. The king delighted in his own pleasure, playing amidst the opposing currents of the waves; the foaming waters seemed to be bound by the sport of his will. The Narmadā river, adorned with a garland of frowning, cresting waves, approached him cautiously. Yet he alone, among the descendants of Manu, would plunge fearlessly into the great ocean. With his mighty hand, he lifted the force of the waters, delighting his beloved, as the great ocean itself was stirred by the agitation of his thousand arms. The great demons who dwelt in the netherworld were submerged and rendered motionless, frightened by the churning of his powerful thighs, fearing that the nectar of immortality might emerge. Even the great serpents bowed their heads, unmoving, in awe of him. This archer, mighty and resolute, once hurled his arrows at Rāvaṇa. Taking up his bow, he bewildered the lord of Laṅkā with five arrows, overpowering Rāvaṇa and his army. Having conquered and bound him, he brought Rāvaṇa to Māhiṣmatī and imprisoned him. Then I went before this king, seeking to appease Arjuna. The king, in his magnanimity, released my grandson and formed a friendship with me, and the resonant sound of his thousand-armed bowstring rang out. That sound was as mighty and ominous as the crack of the bowstring at the end of the world-age’s fire, a sign of the overwhelming force of fate when Bhārgava cut it. In battle, his thousand arms fell like golden palm groves, for it was Vasiṣṭha, enraged, who had cursed Arjuna: "Because you burned my forest, O Haihaya, your infamous deed will be punished by another who will slay you. Having cut off your thousand arms and subdued you with force, a powerful ascetic brāhmaṇa, Bhārgava, will kill you." Thus, by the curse of that wise sage, Rāma became his slayer. This king had a hundred sons, of whom five were great chariot-warriors—skilled in weapons, mighty, heroic, righteous, and of great strength: Śūrasena, Śūra, Dhṛṣṭa, and also Kṛṣṇa. Among them, Jayaddhvaja was the chief, and Avanti was the lord of Rasā. Jayaddhvaja’s son was Tālajaṅgha, a figure of great might. Tālajaṅgha’s sons, counted in the hundreds, became known as the Tālajaṅghas. Among them arose five great lineages of the noble Haihayas: the Vītihotras, the Bhojas, the Avantis, and the valiant Tuṇḍikeras—all renowned as the Tālajaṅghas. Vītihotra’s son was Ananta, famed for his strength, and Ananta’s son was Durjaya, the subduer of foes. With integrity, this great king ruled his people by the law of righteousness. His name was Kārtavīryārjuna, the king who bore a thousand arms. With his bow, he conquered the earth up to the ocean’s edge. Whoever recites his name at dawn, O mortal, will not suffer loss of wealth, and what is lost will be regained. Whoever recounts the birth of wise Kārtavīrya is honored in heaven as one who has performed sacrifice and given gifts. Pulastya then spoke: "Hear, O king, of the noble lineage of Kroṣṭu, from whose line was born Viṣṇu, the foremost of the Vṛṣṇis. Kroṣṭu had a son named Vṛjinīvān, of great fame; Vṛjinīvān’s son was Svāti, and Svāti’s son was Kuśaṃku. Kuśaṃku’s son was named Citraratha, and he became known as Śaśabindu, a universal emperor. An ancient verse from the genealogies tells: Śaśabindu had a hundred sons, and each of them had a hundred sons. These sons were wise, beautiful, and possessed of great wealth and splendor. Among these hundred chiefs, the Pṛthus were mighty. Pṛthuśravā, Pṛthuyaśas, Pṛthutejas, Pṛthūdbhava, and Pṛthukīrti—these were the kings descended from Pṛthumat, the Śaśabindus. The knowers of ancient lore praise Pṛthuśravā as the foremost. From him were born sons, among whom was Uśanā, the tormentor of foes. Uśanā’s son was Śineyu, the best of men, and Śineyu’s son was known as Rukmakavaca. In battle, Rukmakavaca was slain by a skilled archer, who, with many arrows from his bow, gained the earth. At the aśvamedha sacrifice, this king gave gifts to the brāhmaṇas. From Rukmakavaca was born Parāvṛt, the destroyer of enemy heroes. To Parāvṛt were born five sons, all of great strength and valor: Rukmeshu, Prithurukma, Jyamagha, Parigha, and Hari. Their father settled Parigha and Hari in Videha; Rukmeshu became king, and Prithurukma was his supporter. By these two, Jyamagha was exiled from the kingdom and dwelt in an ashram. Living there in peace, he was enlightened by a Brahmin. Then, taking up his bow, alone and worn by hardship, he went to another land, bearing a banner and riding a chariot, until he reached the bank of the Narmada. He settled at Mount Rikshavat, a place abandoned by others, and his faithful wife Shaibya stayed with him. Though he was a king, he had no son and began to consider taking another wife. In battle, he gained victory and, there, obtained a maiden.