From his earliest days, Satyavrata was marked by a fierce anger toward the sage Vasiṣṭha—a wrath greater than even Vasiṣṭha’s own. The force of destiny seemed to shape his temperament, and when Satyavrata’s father, overcome with grief, banished his own son from the kingdom, Vasiṣṭha, for reasons known to himself, did not intervene. During Satyavrata’s marriage, the culmination of the sacred mantras was reached at the seventh step, and he performed the rites accordingly. Yet, Vasiṣṭha, well-versed in dharma, chose not to recite the mantras, harboring anger within his heart toward Satyavrata. Even as the revered sage acted wisely, Satyavrata failed to observe the upāṃśu vow with proper understanding. When Satyavrata left, whoever ruled in his father’s stead was of great mind, but for twelve years, Indra withheld the rains, plunging the land into drought. The initiation, weakened and varied across the earth, thus became a form of atonement for both family and self. At this time, Vasiṣṭha prevented Satyavrata, who had been rejected by his father, saying, “I will consecrate him to the kingdom later.” Resolute, Satyavrata endured his period of initiation for twelve years, while Vasiṣṭha, the great-souled sage, had no meat to sustain himself. Driven by anger, delusion, fatigue, and hunger, Satyavrata encountered the cow that granted all desires. In his desperation, he acted as bandits do, and the strongest among them slew the cow. Satyavrata, along with the sons of Viśvāmitra, partook of her flesh. When Vasiṣṭha learned of this, he cast Satyavrata off and spoke to him, “Cruel one, O cruel one, let your body be pierced with three iron spikes, unless you are not the lowest of men. By failing to please your father, by slaying your teacher’s cow, and by eating forbidden food in exile, your transgression is threefold.” Thus, seeing those three spikes, the great ascetic named him Triśaṅku—“the one with three spikes”—and from then on, Satyavrata was known as Triśaṅku. Viśvāmitra returned to provide for his family and, pleased with Triśaṅku, granted him a boon. When urged to choose, Triśaṅku asked his teacher, for the land was suffering a twelve-year drought and famine loomed. Viśvāmitra consecrated him in his ancestral kingdom and enabled him to perform sacrifices. In the sight of the gods and Vasiṣṭha, the sage Kauśika lifted Triśaṅku bodily to heaven. As Vasiṣṭha watched, it was a wondrous sight. Even today, those versed in the Purāṇas recite these verses: By Viśvāmitra’s grace, Triśaṅku shines in heaven among the gods, favored by that wise and mighty sage. Slowly moves the beautiful constellation, adorned with the moon in winter, decorated with three aspects, and embellished by Triśaṅku’s presence. Triśaṅku’s wife, Satyaratā—born of the noble Kekaya lineage—gave birth to a sinless son, Hariścandra. This king, Hariścandra, famed as the son of Triśaṅku, performed the Rājasūya sacrifice and became a universal sovereign. Hariścandra’s son was the mighty Rohita; Rohita’s son was Harita, and Caṃcu Hārīta was his descendant. Caṃcu’s sons were Vijaya and Sudeva. Vijaya, who conquered all warrior clans, is remembered by that name. Ruruka, Vijaya’s son, was a king skilled in righteousness and wealth. From Ruruka came Hṛtaka, and from Hṛtaka, Bāhu was born. King Bāhu, afflicted, was overthrown by the Haihayas and Tāla-jaṅghas, as well as by the Śakas, Yavanas, Kāmbojas, Pāradas, and Pahlavas. Even in the righteous Satya Yuga, Bāhu was not exceedingly virtuous. Sagara, his son, was born together with poison, and upon reaching Bhṛgu’s hermitage, was protected by Turva. King Sagara, having received the fire weapon from Bhārgava, conquered the earth and slew the Tāla-jaṅghas and Haihayas. Steadfast, he expelled the Śakas and Pahlavas from their righteous ways, and he also drove the Kṣatriyas and Pāradas from their proper duties. The sages asked: “How did King Sagara come to be born together with poison? And why did he, in anger, expel the Śakas and other mighty Kṣatriyas from their proper family duties and dharmas?” The Sūta replied: Bāhu’s kingdom, afflicted, was seized by the Haihayas, Tāla-jaṅghas, and the assembled Śakas. The Yavanas, Pāradas, Kāmbojas, and Pahlavas also advanced for the Haihayas’ sake. These powerful leaders among the Kṣatriyas seized the kingdom, and Bāhu, deprived of his realm, renounced it. With his wife, he entered the forest and practiced austerity with a righteous heart. After some time, Bāhu set out to fetch water, but due to age and weakness, he died along the way. His wife, a Yādava woman, pregnant, followed him. Her co-wife, intending to destroy the unborn child, gave her poison. She prepared her husband’s funeral pyre and placed him in the fire. Aurva, a descendant of Bhṛgu, saw her and, moved by compassion, restrained her. In Aurva’s hermitage, she gave birth to the child together with the poison—a mighty-armed, righteous son named Sagara. Aurva performed the birth rites for the great-souled child, taught him the Vedas and scriptures, and bestowed upon him a weapon. Sagara received the fire weapon from Jāmadagnya, which even the demons could not withstand. Empowered by that weapon and his own strength, he slew the Haihayas in anger, as Rudra would slay herds of beasts.