Desire, it is said, is never satisfied by the enjoyment of objects; like a fire that grows fiercer with every offering, so too does desire swell the more it is indulged. No amount of rice or barley, gold, cattle, or even the company of women—no matter how abundant these may be on earth—can ever suffice for a single man. When one truly perceives this, delusion falls away. But when a person ignites the fire of purity within all beings—through action, thought, and speech—then that one attains Brahman. When one neither fears others nor causes others to fear him, when one is untouched by desire or hatred, then too is Brahman realized. Craving is hard to abandon for those whose minds are unsteady; it clings on, undiminished, even as the body ages and decays. This passion, whose end is only ruin, must be relinquished for true happiness to dawn. Indeed, as a man grows old, his wealth and possessions dwindle, his teeth decay, yet the hope for life and riches remains undiminished in his heart. Yet, whatever happiness exists in the world that is free from desire, and even the greatest happiness among the gods, does not equal even a sixteenth part of the joy found in freedom from craving. Having spoken thus, the royal sage Yayāti, accompanied by his wife, departed for the forest. There, at the sacred peak of Bhṛgu, he performed severe austerities, observing a hundred vows. In that holy place, Yayāti attained heaven. His five noble lineages, honored by divine sages, spread across the earth like the rays of the sun. Fortunate, prosperous, long-lived, and renowned is the person—especially among the twice-born—who listens to or recites the entire story of Yayāti. Now, let me recount the illustrious lineage of Yadu, the most renowned and supremely powerful. Hear this tale as I relate it in order. Yadu had five sons, each as splendid as the children of the gods: Sahasrajit, most prominent among them, followed by Kroshtu, Nila, Jita, and Laghu. Sahasrajit had a son, the illustrious king Shatajit, who himself had three sons, all famed for their righteousness: Haihaya, Haya, and King Venuhaya. Haihaya’s heir was known as Dharmatatva. From Kirtis was born Dharmatantra; Samjneya begot Samjneya, whose son was the king Mahishman. Mahishman’s son was the valiant Bhadrasrenya, king of Varanasi, as told before. Bhadrasrenya’s heir was King Durmada, from whom descended the wise and renowned Kanka. Kanka had four sons, celebrated throughout the world: Kritavirya, Kartavirya, Kritavarma, and Krita. Krita was the fourth. From Kritavirya was born Arjuna, a mighty king with a thousand arms, who ruled the seven islands of the earth. Kartavirya performed austerities for ten thousand years and, having pleased Dattatreya, the radiant sage born of Atri, worshipped him with devotion. Dattatreya granted him four boons. First, Kartavirya asked for a thousand arms. He also wished that, should he stray from righteousness, the virtuous would restrain him; that he might conquer and rule the earth through righteousness alone; and that, if he must fall in battle, it would be only in a great war. Thus empowered, Kartavirya Arjuna conquered many lands and vanquished thousands of foes. He governed the entire earth, with its seven islands and cities encircled by seven oceans, in accordance with the Kshatriya law. In battle, his thousand arms would wield a manifest chariot and battle-standard, born of his own power. Throughout the seven islands, Kartavirya Arjuna performed ten thousand uninterrupted sacrifices. Each was adorned with golden altars and golden sacrificial posts, and graced by the blessed gods in their aerial chariots, with Gandharvas and Apsaras ever present. The Gandharva Nārada, having witnessed his deeds and greatness, sang songs in his praise. Indeed, Nārada proclaimed that no human could match Kartavirya’s path—not by sacrifice, gifts, austerity, valor, or learning. On the seven islands, he alone, armed with sword and bow, riding his chariot, was king—no other attendant was seen. Under his just rule, there was no loss of property, no sorrow, nor confusion. The great king protected his subjects with righteousness. Kartavirya Arjuna, lord of men and universal emperor, ruled for eighty-five thousand years, reigning seven times seven cycles. He became the protector of cattle and guardian of the fields; by his yogic power, he manifested as Parjanya, the bringer of rain, and as Arjuna himself. His thousand arms, hardened by the bowstring, shone with a thousand rays like the autumn sun. With a thousand elephants, he conquered the assembly of Karkoṭaka in Māhiṣmatī and established his city there. Swift as the ocean in the rains, his eyes like lotuses, he delighted in play, bringing the monsoon season. By his playful stirring, the river Narmadā—her waves roaring and frowning, adorned with garlands of golden flowers—approached in fear. Once, pursuing her, Kartavirya plunged into the great ocean, and, having reached the shore, brought the rainy season to the forest. When his thousand arms churned the great ocean, the mighty demons dwelling in the underworld were submerged and rendered motionless by his power.