In days of old, the sage Shukra, known as Usanas, bestowed a special boon: “O wise one, your son who follows you shall become king.” With this blessing, the people and counselors approached Nahusha, requesting his approval to consecrate Puru as king. Though Puru was the youngest of his brothers, his virtues and steadfast devotion to his parents marked him as worthy of all good things, and deserving of rulership. The citizens praised Puru’s qualities, declaring him fit for the kingdom, for he was beloved and acted in ways that pleased his elders. They reminded Nahusha that, in light of Shukra’s boon, nothing further needed to be said. Thus addressed and pleased by the consensus of his people, Nahusha consecrated his son Puru as king over his own realm. Nahusha then settled his other sons in various regions: Turvasu in the southeast, Yadu in the southwest, Druhyu and Anu in the northwest and north, respectively. Yayāti, having conquered the earth with its seven continents and oceans, divided it into five parts among his sons, so that each might rule their portion according to dharma. By these sons, the whole earth—with its continents and cities—was protected in harmony with righteousness. Having entrusted the earth to his sons, Nahusha became content, his prosperity now passed on. Laying down his bow, arrows, and relinquishing the kingdom, Nahusha found peace, having placed his burdens upon his kin. At this time, a verse sung by the great king Yayāti was remembered: “He who, having reached the end, gathers his desires as a tortoise draws in its limbs—entirely—” for desire is never quenched by enjoyment; like a fire fed with offerings, it only grows stronger. No matter how much rice, barley, gold, cattle, or women exist on earth, all these are insufficient for one man; recognizing this truth, one does not become deluded. When one kindles the fire of purity in all beings—through actions, mind, and speech—one attains Brahman. When one neither fears others nor causes others to fear, when one neither desires nor hates, then one attains Brahman. That craving, difficult to abandon and persistent even as the body ages, leads only to ruin; happiness comes to those who relinquish such thirst. Though the treasures and teeth of an aging man decay, his hopes for life and wealth persist undiminished. Yet, whatever happiness exists in the world free from desire, and whatever great divine happiness there may be, the happiness of freedom from craving surpasses them all, not even equaled by a sixteenth part. Having spoken thus, the royal sage Yayāti, with his wife, departed for the forest. At Bhṛgu’s peak, he performed austerities, observing a hundred vows, and there attained heaven. His five lineages, virtuous and honored by divine sages, spread throughout the earth as sunlight pervades all. Blessed, prosperous, long-lived, and renowned becomes the man—especially among the twice-born—who reads or hears the story of Yayāti in its entirety. Now, let the lineage of Yadu be recounted, illustrious and supremely powerful. Yadu had five sons, comparable to the sons of the gods: Sahasrajit, the foremost; then Kroshtu, Nila, Jita, and Laghu. Sahasrajit’s son was the illustrious king Shatajit, who had three renowned and righteous sons: Haihaya, Haya, and Venuhaya. Haihaya’s heir was Dharmatatva, as tradition holds. Dharmatantra was the son of Kirtis, and Samjneya was the son of Samjneya, whose heir was the king Mahishman. Mahishman’s son was the valiant Bhadrasrenya, king of Varanasi. Bhadrasrenya’s heir was Durmada, from whom came the wise and famed Kanka. Kanka had four sons, renowned throughout the world: Kritavirya, Kartavirya, Kritavarma, and Krita. From Kritavirya was born Arjuna, the king with a thousand arms, who ruled over the seven islands. Kartavirya performed severe austerities for ten thousand years, pleasing Dattatreya, the son of Atri, and worshipped him. Dattatreya, radiant and powerful, granted Kartavirya four boons. First, Kartavirya chose to have a thousand arms. He also asked that he be restrained by the virtuous when acting unrighteously, that he conquer and rule the earth by righteousness alone, and that if he should fall in battle, it would be only in a great war. Kartavirya governed the entire earth—its seven islands and cities encircled by the oceans—according to the law of Kshatriyas. In battle, his thousand arms summoned a battle-standard and a chariot by his power. Within those seven islands, he performed ten thousand uninterrupted sacrifices, all with golden altars and posts, adorned by the gods in their aerial chariots, and graced by Gandharvas and Apsaras. The Gandharva Nārada, witnessing Kartavirya’s deeds and greatness, sang of him: “Surely, no humans will attain the path of Kārtavīrya—whether by sacrifices, gifts, austerities, valor, or learning.” Thus ends this noble account, a tale of kings and sages, of virtue, renunciation, and the greatness of lineage, echoing through the ages.