When the sages heard these words, their hearts filled with great joy. Eager for more wisdom, they at once pressed further questions. “Tell us,” they said, “in proper sequence, of the noble dynasties and the mighty kings of immeasurable energy—their origins and their greatness. We wish to hear of them in detail.” Thus addressed, Lomaharṣaṇa, the charioteer and master of sacred lore, composed himself, preparing to continue the sacred narration. Skilled in the ancient stories, he spoke: “Hear now, exactly as it was told to me by the venerable sage. I shall recount, in order, the lineages, the status, and the power of those kings of boundless energy. Varuṇa’s wife, known as Sāmudrī and also called Śunodevī, bore him two sons—Kali and Vaidya—and a daughter named Surasundarī. Kali’s sons, Jay and Vijaya, were mighty indeed, as were Vaidya’s sons, Ghṛṇi and Muni. But desiring to consume all creatures, these two—Ghṛṇi and Muni—turned upon each other, devouring one another and thus meeting their own destruction. Kali himself was born among the gods, and his son is known as Mada. Kali’s wife was Tvāṣṭrī, whose elder sister is remembered as Nikṛti, also called Himsā. Tvāṣṭrī bore four other sons to Kali, all man-eaters: Nāka, Vighna, Sadrama, and Vidhama. Of these, Vighna was born without a head, Nāka without a body, Sadrama with only one hand, and Vidhama was remembered as one-footed. Sadrama’s wife was Tāmasī, also known as Pūtanā, while Vidhama’s wife was Revatī. They had thousands of sons. Nāka’s wife was Śakuni, and Vighna’s wife was Ayomukhī. These Rakṣasas, with enormous heads, roamed at twilight. The sons of Revatī and Pūtanā were called Naiṛtas, and all these Rakṣasas are known as planets, especially in relation to children. Skanda, empowered by Brahmā, is their lord. Now, Bṛhaspati’s sister was a noble and celibate woman, accomplished in yoga. She wandered unattached throughout the world. She became the wife of Prabhāsa, the eighth of the Vasus, and their son was Viśvakarmā, the divine artisan and progenitor. Tvaṣṭā, son of Dharma, wise and radiant, was the creator of thousands of crafts and the architect of the gods. He fashioned all the aerial vehicles for the deities, and humans too live by the skill of this great soul. Prahlādī, renowned and famous, was Tvaṣṭā’s wife; she was also called Virocanā, the sister of Virocana and mother of Triśiras. The great and wise Viśvakarmā, teacher of the gods, had a son named Viśvakarmamaya. His younger sister, Sureṇu—the daughter of Tvaṣṭṛ—became the wife of Savitṛ, and is later known as Saṃjñā. Through her austerity, she gave birth to Manu, the eldest son of Vivasvat. She also bore the twins, Yama and Yamunā. That goddess, Saṃjñā, once assumed the form of a mare and went to the land of the Kurus. There, Savitṛ, taking the form of a horse, approached her, and from his nostrils, those two children were remembered as being born. In the sky, the illustrious Saṃjñā gave birth to the Aśvins—Nāsatya and Dasra—both sons of Mārttaṇḍa. At this, the sages asked, “Why is Vivasvān called Mārttaṇḍa by the wise? And for what reason did Saṃjñā, in the form of a mare, give birth through the nostrils? We wish to know this truth; please explain it to us.” Sūta replied: “When the egg, long conceived, was split apart by Tvaṣṭṛ, Kaśyapa, seeing the embryo destroyed, became distressed with fear. When the egg was divided in two, he said to Tvaṣṭṛ, ‘Surely, this is not the egg; you are Mārttaṇḍa, O sinless one.’ Out of affection, the father said, ‘He is not dead in the egg.’ And so, that name was given. Because the father said ‘You are Mārttaṇḍa’ when the egg was split, Vivasvān is thus called Mārttaṇḍa by those who know the ancient lore. Now I will tell you of the offspring of Mārttaṇḍa, Vivasvān. In former times, three sons were born from Saṃjñā, the wife of Savitṛ. Manu, the younger Sāvarṇi, and the Aśvins from Saṃjñā, and also Śanaiścara—these seven are remembered as the sons of Mārttaṇḍa. Vivasvān, of great fame, was born from Kaśyapa and Dākṣāyaṇī. His wife was the daughter of Tvaṣṭṛ, the great goddess of Vivasvān, known as Sureṇu and later as Saṃjñā. She became the wife of the blessed Mārttaṇḍa, radiant and glorious, but though she was endowed with beauty and youth, she was not pleased with her husband’s form. For the form of Āditya, Mārttaṇḍa, by his intense radiance, was restrained among the lineages and did not appear pleasing. Out of affection, the father had said, ‘He is not dead in the egg,’ and thus, out of both ignorance and love, Kaśyapa called him Mārttaṇḍa. The radiance of Vivasvān was always excessive, so much so that the son of Kaśyapa caused the three worlds to burn with his brilliance. Ravi begot three children on Saṃjñā: two sons of great might, and a daughter, Kālindī. Manu, the eldest, became the lord of progeny and the god of the Śrāddha rite; then were born the twins, Yama and Yamī. Seeing that tranquil form, Vivasvat lost consciousness, unable to endure his own wife’s presence. From Saṃjñā’s shadow, Savarṇā was created anew. This woman, composed of earth, arose from Saṃjñā’s own shadow; with joined palms and devotion, she addressed Saṃjñā once more.