In the radiant lineage of the Gandharvas, there was a noble soul who had six illustrious sons, each shining with the brilliance of Indra himself. Their names were Āyu, Dhīmān, Amāvasu, Viśvāyu, Śatāyu, and Gatāyu, and they were renowned throughout the celestial realms. Among these, Viśvāyu, Śatāyu, and Gatāyu were born to the famed Urvaśī. From Amāvasu descended King Bhīma, and then his son Viśvajit. King Bhīma, illustrious and mighty, was succeeded by his son Kāñcanaprabha, who in turn fathered the learned and powerful Suhotra. Suhotra’s son, Jahnu, was born of Keśikā. It was during Jahnu’s reign that, after a grand and sacred sacrifice, the river Gaṅgā herself began to flow forth upon the earth. But Gaṅgā, destined for a future purpose, flooded the land, and her waters inundated Jahnu’s sacrificial enclosure. Angered at this disruption of his sacred rites, Jahnu’s son Varada, his eyes red with fury, rebuked Gaṅgā, saying, “Immediately receive the fruit of your arrogance! All this of yours is now fruitless; I shall drink up the water.” And so, the royal sage Jahnu drank up the river Gaṅgā. Seeing this, the gods and seers interceded, and from Jahnu himself, the blessed Gaṅgā was brought forth anew as his daughter, thereafter known as Jāhnavī. Jahnu also took as his wife Kāverī, the granddaughter of Yuvanāśva, who became his blameless and beloved queen. By the curse of Yuvanāśva, Gaṅgā was thus born, while Kāverī, the best of rivers, was united with Jahnu. Through Kāverī, Jahnu begot a righteous and cherished son named Suhotra, who then fathered Ajaka. Ajaka’s son was the illustrious Balākāśva, whose own son was the renowned Gaya, a king celebrated for his virtue. Gaya’s son was Kuśa, and Kuśa had four sons, each radiant with Vedic splendor: Kuśāśva, Kuśanābha, Amūrtta, and Araśovasu. Among their descendants was Kuśastamba, the best of kings, who undertook severe austerities for a thousand years in the hope of obtaining a son. At the end of his penance, he beheld Śatakratu, the thousand-eyed Purandara—Indra himself—who, moved by Kuśastamba’s devotion, became capable of granting him a son. Indra arranged to become his son, and thus was born Gādhi, also known as Kauśika. Gādhi married a princess of the Paurukutsa lineage, and from their union was born a blessed daughter, Satyavatī, whom Gādhi gave in marriage to the sage Ṛcīka of the Bhārgava line. Ṛcīka, desiring a son for both Gādhi and himself, prepared two sacrificial oblations—one for Satyavatī, and one for her mother. He called them together and said, “This oblation is to be used by you and your mother. In your mother will be born a son, radiant and foremost among Kshatriyas, unconquered in battle and a destroyer of Kshatriya heroes. For you, a son will be born who is steadfast, rich in austerity, peaceful, and a foremost among the twice-born.” Having thus instructed them, Ṛcīka, ever devoted to penance, retired to the forest. Later, Gādhi and his wife visited Ṛcīka’s hermitage, under the pretext of pilgrimage, to see their daughter. Satyavatī, ever faithful, took both portions as instructed by the sage and informed her mother. But by the workings of fate, her mother gave her own portion to Satyavatī, and Satyavatī, unaware, prepared her own for herself. As a result, Satyavatī bore a pregnancy marked by an auspicious yet fearsome radiance, destined to bring destruction to the Kshatriyas. Ṛcīka, perceiving this by his yogic insight, addressed his wife, “O gentle one, your mother will succeed, due to the exchange of portions; your son will be fierce in deeds and exceedingly cruel. Your mother will bear such a son, rich in austerity, for I have dedicated the entire Brahman to that purpose.” Distressed, Satyavatī pleaded with her husband, “Let my son not be so; let another be an outcast among Brahmins.” Ṛcīka replied, “Neither you nor I have willed this; your son will be fierce by the nature of both his parents.” Satyavatī persisted, “O sage, you who can create worlds, why not a son who is peaceful and upright?” Ṛcīka answered, “It cannot be otherwise, but by the power of your austerity, I grant your request. I make no distinction between son and grandson; as you have spoken, so it shall be.” Thus, Satyavatī gave birth to a son of the Bhārgava lineage, devoted to austerity and self-restraint—Jamadagni, peaceful in nature. Because of the ancient exchange of the fiery Bhṛgu and Vaiṣṇava offerings, Jamadagni was born from the Vaiṣṇava fire. Gādhi, the son of Kuśika, was blessed with a son, Viśvāmitra, and, together with the Brahmarṣis and surrounded by Brahmins, went to the sun god Savitṛ. Satyavatī, ever virtuous and devoted to truth, became known as Kauśikī, and from her arose the great river Kauśikī, renowned among all rivers. In the Ikṣvāku lineage, there was a king named Suveṇu, whose daughter was the blessed Reṇukā, also called Kāmalī. From Kāmalī and the sage Reṇu, who was steadfast in austerity, Jamadagni, fierce and powerful, was born to Ṛcīka, thus continuing the illustrious line of sages and kings.