The illustrious wife of Nidhruva gave birth to the Kuṇḍapāyins, while from Asita and Ekaparṇā, a Brahmin of the highest excellence was born. In those times, the words of the Śāṇḍilyas were heard by Devala, famed among sages, as well as by the Nidhruvas, the Śāṇḍilyas, the Raibhyas, and later the Kaśyapas. Among these, Devala became the progenitor of the gods who began with Vara. When the four yugas—ages—have passed, it is said that in the eleventh Manu, their lineage endures, and in the Dvāpara Yuga, their line continues. Mānas, while he still lived, had a son named Dama, and his own heir was known as Tṛṇabindu. At the dawn of the Tretā Yuga, in that third age, a king was born whose daughter, Tviḍaviḍā, possessed unrivaled beauty. This royal sage bestowed his radiant daughter upon Pulastya. From this union, Viśravāḥ became the husband of Ṛṣi Tviḍaviḍā. Viśravāḥ had four wives who greatly expanded the Paulastya lineage. Among the most celebrated was Bṛhaspati, the renowned preceptor of the gods, who took as his wife a maiden named Devavarṇinī. Mālyavat’s two sons were Puṣpotkakaṭā and Vākā, and Mālin’s daughter was Kaikasī. Now, hear of the offspring born from these noble women. Devavarṇinī bore the eldest, Vaiśravaṇa, a being of divine qualities, born in accordance with sacred law and tradition. He possessed the form of a Rākṣasa and the might of an Asura. Vaiśravaṇa’s appearance was striking: he had three feet, a massive body, a large head, eight formidable fangs, a tawny beard, conch-shaped ears, and a reddish hue. His arms, both short and long, were tawny and fearsome; he was endowed with the knowledge of transformation, ever awake, and rich in wisdom. Upon seeing such a son, who embodied a universal form, his father declared, “He is Kubera,” naming him thus by his own words. The name Kubera comes from “kuti,” meaning reproach, and “bera,” meaning body—for his deformed body, he was marked with this name. Yet, as the son of Viśravas and resembling his father, he is also known throughout the world as Vaiśravaṇa. Through Kubera’s prosperity, he begot the famed Nalakūbara. Kaikasī, the daughter of Mālin, bore Rāvaṇa, Kumbhakarṇa, a daughter named Śūrpaṇakhā, and the fourth, Vibhīṣaṇa. Rāvaṇa was born with ten heads, conch-shaped ears, tawny and red hair, four feet, twenty mighty arms, and a body of immense size and strength. His complexion was black as collyrium, with fangs and a red neck, endowed with royal power and victory, both in form and might. Rāvaṇa, strong in body and true understanding, was a Rākṣasa by nature—fierce and cruel, and thus he was called Rāvaṇa. In a previous birth, he had been the mighty king Hiraṇyakaśipu. As a Rākṣasa, he ruled for thirteen cycles of four ages—a span of five crore years, as declared by the twice-born, and sixty-one niyutas, as reckoned by those skilled in numbers. For sixty thousand years, Rāvaṇa caused terrible wakefulness among the gods and sages, enduring through his might. But in the twenty-fourth Tretā Yuga, when his ascetic power was spent, Rāvaṇa, along with his followers, met his end at the hands of Rāma, the son of Daśaratha. From Puṣpotkaṭā came Mahodaya, Prahasta, and Mahāpāṃśukhara, as well as other sons; Kumbhīnasī was her daughter. Vākā’s children were Triśirā, Dūṣaṇa, and Vidyujjihva, all fierce rākṣasas, and her daughter was Asalikā. Thus, these ten rākṣasas, born of Paulastya, were all fierce in their deeds and of such dreadful lineage that even the gods found them difficult to withstand. All these were endowed with boons, accompanied by sons and grandsons, and the rākṣasas descended from Paulastya were also counted among the yakṣas. Among them were the cruel brahmarākṣasas of Agastya and Viśvāmitra, who, despite their fearsome nature, were devoted to Vedic study, austerities, and vows. Within this lineage, the king Iḍaviḍa, a Paulastya, was known as Savyapiṅgala, and others were called Yajñamukha—thus, there were three main groups of rākṣasas. The sages remembered four groups of night-dwelling beings: Yātudhānas, Brahmadhānas, Vārttās, and those who roam by day. Among them, seven lineages of rākṣasas were remembered: Paulastyas, Naiṛtas, descendants of Agastya, Kauśikas, and others. Their appearance was fearsome and distinctive: they had round, tawny eyes, great bodies, and large bellies. With eight fangs, conch-shaped ears, hair standing upright, mouths torn up to the ears, and tufts of hair rising like munja grass and smoke, they struck terror into those who beheld them. Their heads were large, complexions pale, statures short, arms long, mouths copper-colored, tongues and lips hanging, cheeks drooping, and noses thick. Their limbs were dark, necks red, eyes deep-set, and their overall appearance terrifying. Their voices were exceedingly dreadful, their bodies misshapen, and their thighs bound together. Thick-bodied and strong as rocks, with prominent noses and fierce lineage, they were cruel and mostly engaged in harsh deeds. They adorned themselves with earrings, armlets, diadems, and turbans; their garments and ornaments were varied, and they wore diverse garlands and ointments. Known as eaters of food, flesh, and even humans, such was the form and nature of rākṣasas as remembered by the wise. Yet, their full strength was unknown, for it was shaped by illusion. The sons of Pulaha were all wild beasts and fanged creatures—spirits, piśācas, serpents, bees, and elephants as well. Among them were vānaras, kinnaras, yama-kimpuruṣas, and others who wandered about, all subject to the powers of illusion and anger. As for Kratu, in the interval of Vaivasvata Manu, he was remembered as childless, having neither son nor grandson, and his energy remained diminished. Thus unfolds the tale of the ancient lineages, their mighty offspring, and the wondrous forms and deeds that shaped the worlds.