In the ancient times, when the gods assembled to prepare for great deeds, Vāyu, the wind god, bestowed upon the divine army the peacock, the rooster, and a resplendent banner. Sarasvatī, goddess of wisdom and music, gifted a great, melodious vīṇā, while Svayambhū presented a ram, and Śambhu, the auspicious one, gave a sheep. O brāhmaṇas, it was during the wondrous play of illusion, when the mighty mountain Krauñca was struck down and the formidable Asura Tāraka was raised up and then vanquished. At that time, surrounded by Indra, Upendra, and the illustrious gods, the son of Agni—Skanda, the mighty foe of the Daityas—was anointed as commander of the celestial army. Thus, Skanda became known as the commander of the gods’ hosts, the leader of men, destroyer of the enemies of the gods, and lord of all the worlds. With him were assembled the Pramathas, Davas, and hosts of Bhūtas, along with various Mothers and groups of Vināyakas. In another tale, a maiden beheld aerial chariots falling from the heavens, and she herself was cast down from the celestial realms. Among those falling, she saw her ancestors, reduced to the size of dust motes, subtle and abandoned, their sacred fires untended, resembling extinguished flames. As she fell, she bowed her head and pleaded with them, "Protect me!" Her ancestors reassured her, saying, "Do not fear." Comforted, she sought to appease them with humble words. The ancestors then addressed her, saying, "O fair-smiling one, you have lost your prosperity through your own transgression. You must now practice austerity to regain it." They explained, "Whatever deeds are performed by the gods in embodied form, by those very acts do they reap their results. Actions bear fruit immediately, whether one is divine, departed, or human. Therefore, after death, you will receive the fruit of becoming Amāvasvapatī." Thus appeased, the ancestors, moved by compassion, bestowed their favor upon her as she meditated. Recognizing that the destined event was certain, the gods, the Soma-drinkers, the Pitṛs, and the king’s daughter of Amāvasu spoke together. They said, "When you are born on earth as a human, O great one, you will become a maiden and again attain your own worlds. In the twenty-eighth Dvāpara Yuga, you will be born from the womb of a fish, as the daughter of King Amāvasu, from Adrikā. You will give birth to the heir of the sage Parāśara, who will divide the one Veda into four. You will also give birth to two sons of Mahābhiṣa—Śantanu, the renowned, and Vicitravīrya, who knows dharma—thus increasing Śantanu’s fame. You will beget Citrāṅgada, the king endowed with energy, strength, and virtue. After producing these sons, you shall again attain your worlds." They further told her, "Because you transgressed against the Pitṛs, you will have a blameworthy birth, becoming the daughter of that same king, in Adrikā. Yet, as a maiden, you will ultimately regain these worlds." Thus, the daughter of Dāśa became Satyavatī. Born as the daughter in Adrikā, as Matsyā, the daughter of Amāvasu, she emerged from Adrikā in the form of a fish at the confluence with the Gaṅgā. She was the daughter of that king, always radiant with royal prowess. Her worlds are known as Virajā, shining brilliantly in heaven. There, the Pitṛs called Agniṣvāttas are honored, radiant and resplendent. The hosts of Dānavas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, Bhūtas, Serpents, and Piśācas revere them, seeking rewards. These are the sons of Pulaha, the lord of creatures—three groups renowned for upholding dharma and auspicious forms. Among them is a mind-born daughter, Pīvarī, famous as a yoginī, a yogic wife, and the mother of yoga. In the twenty-eighth Dvāpara Yuga, a great ascetic named Śuka was born from the lineage of Parāśara. That illustrious yogin, the foremost among the twice-born, was born from Vyāsa in the forest, like a smokeless fire. From that daughter of the Pitṛs, he produced renowned teachers of yoga: Kṛṣṇa, Gaura, Prabhu, Śambhu, and Bhūriśruta. He also fathered Kīrtimatī, a maiden yoginī, mother of yoga, who became the mother of Brahmadatta and queen of Vaṇuha. Having begotten these children, the righteous Śuka, having attained yoga and great asceticism, reached the state from which there is no return. Endowed with the rays of the sun, he attained a state beyond rebirth, becoming all-pervading and liberated. Now, hear of the Pitṛs—those who are formless and those who possess the form of righteousness—three groups in all. But there are four others as well. O best of the twice-born, I shall tell you of those endowed with form and great splendor, born from Svadhā, the daughters of Agni and Kavi. The Pitṛs in the worlds of the gods, shining with radiance, dwell in realms of all enjoyments, honored by the twice-born. Among them is a mind-born daughter named Gaur, renowned in heaven, who became the beloved queen of Dattasena Kumāra, the son of Śukra. Among the Bhṛgus, there are thirty-one famed, enhancers of glory. These worlds, born from Marīci, are established in heaven and encompass all. These are the sons of Aṅgiras, who grew alongside the Sādhyas, and are remembered as the shining Pitṛs in heaven. Seeing these groups of Kṣatriyas, those desiring results honor them. Among them is a mind-born daughter named Yaśodā, renowned as the wife of Viśvamahat and daughter-in-law of Viśvaśarman. She is the divine mother of the royal sage Khaṭvāṅga, the great soul, at whose sacrifice, in ancient times, the great sages sang hymns. Those who witnessed the birth of Agni and the great soul Śāṇḍilya, and who attentively observed the sacrifices of Dilīpa and the noble Satyavrata—these immortals are victorious in heaven.