Ajaka’s illustrious line continued with his son Balākāśva, whose own son was the celebrated Gaya, renowned for his noble character. Gaya’s son was Kuśa, remembered in tradition. Kuśa fathered four sons, each radiant with Vedic brilliance: Kuśāśva, Kuśanābha, Amūrtta, and Araśovasu. Among Kuśa’s descendants, there was Kuśastamba, a king of great renown. Longing for a son, Kuśastamba undertook severe austerities, persisting for a thousand years. At the end of this great penance, he beheld Śatakratu, the thousand-eyed Purandara himself. Moved by the king’s fierce devotion, Purandara became capable of granting him a son and, by his own arrangement, was born as Kuśastamba’s son—Gādhi, also known as Kauśika. Gādhi married a noblewoman from the Paurukutsa lineage. From this union, Gādhi was born. Before this, however, his wife had given birth to a blessed daughter, Satyavatī, whom Gādhi bestowed in marriage to the sage Ṛcīka. Ṛcīka, a sage descended from Bhṛgu, became Satyavatī’s husband. Yearning for a son, Ṛcīka prepared a sacred oblation for Gādhi as well. Summoning his wife and her mother, Ṛcīka explained that each of them should partake of their respective portions of the oblation: Satyavatī’s would yield a son radiant and foremost among Kshatriyas, unconquered in battle—a destroyer of Kshatriya heroes. For Satyavatī herself, a son would be born, steadfast, rich in austerity, peaceful, and a leader among the twice-born. After imparting these instructions, Ṛcīka, ever devoted to penance, retired to the forest. In time, Gādhi and his wife visited Ṛcīka’s hermitage under the pretense of pilgrimage, seeking to see their daughter. Satyavatī, devoted to her husband, took both portions prepared by the sage and, in her joy, showed them to her mother. By a turn of fate, her mother gave her own portion to Satyavatī, while Satyavatī, unaware, prepared her own portion for herself. As a result, Satyavatī conceived a child—auspicious yet destined to be a terror to Kshatriyas, possessing a radiant but fearsome form. Ṛcīka, perceiving this through his yogic insight, addressed his wife. He explained that, due to the exchange of offerings, her mother would have a son rich in austerity, while Satyavatī’s own son would be fierce and exceedingly cruel. Distressed, Satyavatī pleaded with her husband, begging that her son not be so, and that another might bear the burden of being an outcast among Brahmins. Ṛcīka replied that neither of them had intended this, but by virtue of both parents, the son would indeed be fierce in action. Again, Satyavatī entreated her husband, pointing out his power to create worlds and asking that he grant her a peaceful and righteous son. Ṛcīka explained that it could not be otherwise, yet by the force of her own austerity, he granted her wish: he would make no distinction between son and grandson, and as she had spoken, so it would be. Thus, Satyavatī gave birth to Jamadagni, a son of the Bhārgava lineage, devoted to austerity and self-restraint, peaceful in nature. Due to the ancient exchange of the fiery Bhṛgu and Vaiṣṇava offerings, Jamadagni was born from the Vaiṣṇava fire. Meanwhile, Gādhi, son of Kuśika, was blessed with a son, Viśvāmitra, and, accompanied by Brahmarṣis and surrounded by Brahmins, he approached the deity Savitṛ. Satyavatī, ever virtuous and true, became known as Kauśikī, and from her arose the great river that bears her name. This illustrious Kauśikī river became renowned. In the Ikṣvāku dynasty, there was a king named Suveṇu, whose blessed daughter was Reṇukā, also called Kāmalī. From the union of Kāmalī and Reṇu, both steadfast in austerity, Jamadagni—fierce and powerful—was born to Ṛcīka. Jamadagni fathered Rāma, the destroyer of Kṣatriyas, supreme in all knowledge, master of archery, and blazing like fire. Thus, through Aurva and Ṛcīka, Satyavatī bore the great-minded Jamadagni, foremost among knowers of Brahman. Jamadagni’s middle son was Śunaḥśepha, and the youngest was Śunaḥpuccha. Viśvāmitra, also known as Viśvaratha and righteous in soul, was born by the grace of Bhṛgu, furthering the Kauśika lineage. Śunaḥśepha, the sage, became Viśvāmitra’s son; during King Hariścandra’s sacrifice, he was bound as a sacrificial victim, but was released by the gods and became known as Devarāta. Among Viśvāmitra’s sons, Śunaḥśepha is remembered as the eldest; others include Madhucchanda, Naya, Kṛtadeva, and Dhruvāṣṭaka. Kacchapa and Pūraṇa are also sons of Viśvāmitra, and from these great-souled Kauśikas sprang many diverse lineages. Among these are the Pārthivas, Devarātas, Yājñavalkyas, Samarṣaṇas, Udumbaras, Udumlānas, Tārakas, and Yamamuñcatas. The Lohinyas, Reṇavas, and Kārīṣavas are also remembered, along with the Babhravas, Pāṇinas, and those who meditate and recite. From Śālāvatī came the Hiraṇyākṣas, Syaṅkṛtas, and Gālavās, as well as the Devalas, Yāmadūtas, Śālaṅkāyanas, and Bāṣkalas. The Dadātis, Bādaras, and others also descend from the wise Viśvāmitra, and from various sages arose many other lineages known as the Śauśikas. Thus, the noble lines of Jamadagni and Viśvāmitra flourished, each giving rise to numerous illustrious descendants, sages, and kings, whose deeds and wisdom continued to shape the world.