From Suhotra was born Jahnu, who entered this world from the womb of Keshika. During this time, the sacred river Ganga was engaged in the performance of sacrificial rites. For reasons destined by fate, Ganga flooded the land, and the waters inundated the entire sacrificial enclosure. Witnessing this, Suhotra’s son, Varada, became enraged; his eyes reddened with anger, and he addressed Ganga sternly, “O Ganga, immediately receive the fruit of your arrogance!” Declaring that her efforts were now in vain, he proclaimed, “I will drink up your waters!” And so, the royal sage drank up Ganga herself. Seeing this astonishing deed, the great and blessed sages bestowed upon Jahnu the name Jahnavi for Ganga, acknowledging her as his daughter. Jahnu then took Kaveri, granddaughter of Yuvanashva, as his wife. By the curse of Yuvanashva, Ganga was thus brought forth, and Kaveri, best among rivers, became Jahnu’s blameless consort. Through Kaveri, Jahnu begot a beloved and righteous son named Suhotra, and Suhotra’s son was Ajaka. Ajaka’s heir was Balakashva, renowned and illustrious, and his son was the virtuous Gaya, remembered as the son of Kusha. Kusha himself had four sons, all radiant with the glory of the Vedas: Kushashva, Kushanabha, Amurttarayas, and Vasus. Among them, Kushastamba, a king of great renown, undertook severe austerities desiring a son. After a thousand years of penance, he was granted a vision of Shatakratu, the thousand-eyed Indra. Seeing his fierce austerity, Indra, also known as Sahasraksha or Purandara, became capable of granting his wish. Purandara ordained that he himself would be born as Kushastamba’s son, and thus Gadhi, also called Kaushika, was born as the son of Pakaśāsana. Gadhi’s wife hailed from the Paurukutsa lineage, and to them was born a most blessed daughter, Satyavati, auspicious in all ways. Gadhi gave this virtuous daughter in marriage to the sage Rcika, son of Kavya. Within Satyavati, the great Bhargava sage, her husband, begot a son. For the sake of a son, he also prepared a sacrificial oblation for Gadhi. Rcika, the Bhargava, summoned Satyavati and said, “This oblation is to be used by you and your mother, O auspicious one. In you will be born a radiant son, a foremost Kshatriya, unconquered in battle and destroyer of Kshatriya heroes. And you too shall have a son—steadfast, rich in austerity, peaceful, and a foremost Brahmin; he will be born from this charu.” Having spoken thus, Rcika, ever devoted to austerities, entered the forest. Later, Gadhi and his wife visited Rcika’s hermitage, under the pretext of a pilgrimage, to see their daughter. Satyavati, ever obedient to her husband, joyfully took the two charus prepared by the sage and informed her mother about them. By divine arrangement, her mother gave her own charu to Satyavati, and unknowingly, Satyavati consumed her mother’s charu. As a result, Satyavati conceived a radiant and fearsome son, destined to bring an end to the Kshatriyas. Perceiving this through his yogic insight, Rcika explained to his wife, “O gentle one, because of the exchange of charus by your mother, your son will be fierce and exceedingly terrible in his deeds. But your mother will bear a son endowed with ascetic power, for I had dedicated all my austerities for that purpose.” Distressed, Satyavati sought to appease her husband, saying, “Let not my son be so fierce; let another, not of the Brahmin class, bear that nature.” Rcika replied, “O gentle one, this was not my intention, nor yours; but due to the actions of both father and mother, your son will be fierce in deed.” Satyavati persisted, “O sage, if you wish, you could create even worlds—why not a son? Grant me a son who is peaceful and upright, if you so desire, O lord.” Rcika answered, “O best of Brahmins, it is not possible for me to alter this in your case; yet, by the power of your austerity, I grant you this favor. O beautiful one, I make no distinction between son and grandson; as you have spoken, so it shall be.” Thus, Satyavati gave birth to Bhargava Jamadagni, devoted to austerity, self-controlled, and peaceful in nature. Long ago, due to the exchange of charus, Jamadagni was born from the Vaiṣṇava fire, embodying both the fierce and the Vaiṣṇava aspects of Bhṛgu’s line. Gadhi, son of Kuśika, having obtained Viśvāmitra as his heir, departed surrounded by Brahmarṣis and Brāhmaṇas. The virtuous Satyavati, devoted to truth and righteousness, became known as Kaushiki, and thus the great river Kaushiki began her flow. The illustrious river Kaushiki spread far and wide. In the Ikshvaku lineage, there was a king named Suveṇu, whose fortunate daughter was Renuka, also called Kamali. From Kamali, endowed with asceticism and steadfastness, Rcika begot Jamadagni, fierce in power. He, supreme among those who know all knowledge and master of the science of archery, was Rama—destroyer of the Kshatriyas, blazing like fire. Thus, from Aurva’s son Rcika and Satyavati was born the great-minded Jamadagni, foremost among knowers of Brahman; Shunahshepha was the middle son, and Shunashpuccha the youngest. Vishvamitra, righteous and known as Vishvaratha, was born by the grace of Bhrigu, thus enhancing the Kaushika lineage.