When Gādhi, also known as Kaushika, undertook fierce and intense austerities, the thousand-eyed Purandara—Indra himself, eternal among the gods—became moved by his devotion and granted him the boon of a son. Indra ordained that Gādhi would be born as his own son, and thus Gādhi, son of Pakaśāsana, came into the world. Gādhi took as his wife a noblewoman from the Paurukutsa lineage. From their union, Gādhi was born. Before him, however, an auspicious and blessed daughter named Satyavatī was born. The virtuous Gādhi gave Satyavatī in marriage to the sage Rcika, son of Kavya, a descendant of the great Bhrigu. In Satyavatī, her husband Rcika, the Bhargava, begot a son. Out of affection for his wife and her family, Rcika also prepared a special sacrificial oblation—charu—for Gādhi, so that he too might have a son. Rcika summoned Satyavatī and said, “This oblation is to be used by you and your mother, O auspicious one.” He explained that through this ritual, Satyavatī’s mother would bear a radiant son, a Kshatriya of unsurpassed might, unconquered in battle and a destroyer of Kshatriya heroes. Satyavatī herself, Rcika said, would have a son who would be steadfast, rich in austerity, peaceful, and a foremost Brahmin—born from the charu prepared for her. Having given these instructions, Rcika, ever devoted to austerity, departed for the forest. Later, Gādhi and his wife, under the pretext of pilgrimage, visited Rcika’s hermitage to see their daughter Satyavatī. Satyavatī, ever obedient to her husband’s command, joyfully received the two charus from the sage and informed her mother about them. By divine arrangement, Satyavatī’s mother, unaware of the consequences, gave her own charu to her daughter, and Satyavatī, likewise unaware, consumed it. As a result, Satyavatī conceived a radiant and fearsome son, destined to bring the mighty Kshatriya class to an end. When Rcika, the foremost of Brahmins, perceived this through his yogic insight, he addressed his beautiful wife: “O gentle one, because of the exchange of charus, your son will be fierce in deed and exceedingly powerful. Your mother, for whom I had dedicated all my austerities, will bear a son endowed with ascetic power.” Distressed, Satyavatī sought to appease her husband: “Let not my son be so fierce; let another, not of the Brahmin class, bear such a son.” Rcika replied, “O gentle one, this was not my intention, nor was it yours. Yet, by the actions of both father and mother, your son will be fierce in deed.” Satyavatī pleaded again, “O sage, if you wished, you could create even worlds—why not a peaceful son for me? Grant me a son who is upright and tranquil, if you so desire, O lord.” Rcika, moved by her request but bound by the power of his own austerities, answered, “O best of Brahmins, it is not possible for me to alter this outcome for your son; yet, by the power of my penance, I grant you this favor: I make no distinction between son and grandson; as you have spoken, so it shall be, O gentle lady.” Thus, Satyavatī gave birth to Bhārgava Jamadagni, devoted to austerity, self-controlled, and peaceful in nature. Long ago, due to the exchange of charus, Jamadagni, fierce yet Vaiṣṇava in spirit, was born from the sacred fire. Gādhi, son of Kuśika, eventually obtained Viśvāmitra as his heir. Accompanied by Brahmarṣis and surrounded by Brāhmaṇas, he departed from this world. Satyavatī, ever devoted to truth and righteousness, became renowned as Kaushiki, and from her the great river Kaushiki began to flow. The illustrious river Kaushiki spread far and wide. In the lineage of Ikshvaku, there was a king named Suveṇu, whose daughter was Renuka, also known as Kamali. From Kamali, endowed with asceticism and steadfastness, Rcika begot Jamadagni, fierce in power. Jamadagni’s son was Rāma, supreme among knowers of all knowledge and the science of archery—a blazing destroyer of Kshatriyas. Thus, from Aurva’s son Rcika and Satyavatī, the great-minded Jamadagni was born, foremost among knowers of Brahman. Shunahshepha was the middle son, and Shunashpuccha the youngest. Viśvāmitra, righteous in soul and known as Viśvaratha, was born by the grace of Bhrigu, enhancing the Kaushika lineage. Viśvāmitra’s son was the sage Shunahshepha, who was once assigned as a sacrificial victim in the sacrifice of Harishchandra; since he was given by the gods, he became known as Devarata. Among the sons of Viśvāmitra, Shunahshepha is regarded as the eldest. Other sons included Madhuchchhanda, Naya, Kritadeva, and Dhruvashtaka, as well as Kacchapa and Purana. From them arose many lineages of the great-souled Kaushikas: the Parthivas, Devaratas, Yajnavalkyas, Samarshanas, Udumbaras, Udumlanas, Tarakas, and those released by Yama; the Lohinyas, Renavas, Karishavas, Babhravas, Paninas, and those devoted to meditation and recitation. From Shalavati came the Hiranyakshas, Syankritas, and Galavas, as well as the Devalas, Yamadutas, Shalankayanas, and Bashkalas. Dadati, Badaras, and others are also descendants of the wise Viśvāmitra. Many others, born from other sages, are known as the Shoushikas. The Kaushikas, Oshrumas, and Saidavayanas are all descendants of the virtuous sage Kaushika. Among their descendants were the son of Drishadvati and Ashtaka from Viśvāmitra, and the son of Ashtaka, who belonged to the Jahnu lineage. The sages, astonished by these illustrious lineages, then asked: “By what characteristic, by what righteousness, by what asceticism or learning, did kings such as Viśvāmitra attain Brahminhood?