In ancient times, there lived a learned man whose son, Candana-udaka-dundubhi, was famed for his wisdom and friendship with Tumburu. From Candana-udaka-dundubhi descended Abhijit, who in his desire for progeny performed the grand Aśvamedha sacrifice. In the midst of this Atirātra ritual, from the heart of the sacrificial hall, Punarvasu emerged—a man of learning, righteousness, generosity, and devotion to sacrifice. Punarvasu was blessed with twins: Bāhubāṇa and Ajita, as well as Āhuka and Āhukī, both celebrated among the wise. Verses are sung in honor of Āhuka, who was accompanied by followers, banners, and mighty troops. His army boasted ten thousand chariots that thundered across the land; Āhuka was renowned for his truthfulness, his unwavering commitment to sacrifice, and his generosity. He was never impure, unrighteous, ignorant, or weak. Such qualities were also attributed to his son, Dhṛti. Āhuka advanced with a white attendant and eighty pairs of horses, each as spirited as young colts. In the east, twenty-one thousand elephants of the Bhoja clan gleamed in silver and gold armor, and an equal number of elephants resounded their bells in the north, under the lordship of Bhoja, the ruler of the earth. Āhuka gave his sister Āhukī in marriage to Āhukāndha, whose daughter bore two sons: Devaka and Ugrasena. Both were radiant with divine splendor. Devaka’s daughters were heroic and equal to the gods, while among the gods, Sudeva was the foremost, adorned by their blessings. Seven sisters were given in marriage to Vasudeva: Vṛkadevā, Upadevā, Devarakṣitā, Śrīdevā, Śāntidevā, Mahādevā, and another, with Devakī being the seventh and most renowned for her beauty. Ugrasena, the great lord descended from the Kukura lineage, had nine sons, with Kaṃsa as the eldest. His sons were Nyagrodha, Sunāma, Kadva, Śaṃku, Bhūmaya, Sūtanū, Rāṣṭrapāla, Yuddhatuṣṭa, and Supuṣṭimān. Their five sisters were Karmadharmavatī, Śatāṅkrū, Rāṣṭrāpālā, Kaṅvā, and Varāṅganā, the excellent woman. Ugrasena’s fame as a Kukura was legendary, and it was believed that one who upheld this mighty lineage would prosper in offspring and see his family flourish. From Bhajamāna came Vidūratha, a foremost charioteer, whose sons were Rājyādhideva, Śūra, and Vidura. Śūra fathered sons of great strength: Vāta, Nivāta, Śoṇita, and Śvetavāhana; and others—Śamī, Gadavarmā, Nidāta, Śakraśakrajit, Śamī’s son Pratikṣipta, and Pratikṣipta’s own son, Svayambhoja. From Svayambhoja descended Hṛdika, who had ten sons, all of tremendous valor. Kṛtavarmā was the eldest, followed by Kṛta, Śatadhanvā, Devārha, Vanārha, Bhiṣag, Dvaitaratha, Sudānta, Dhiyānta, Nakavān, and Kanakodbhava. Devārha’s learned son was Kambalabarhiṣa, whose son Asamaujā was famed for his might. To the childless Asamaujā were given Sudaṃṣṭra and Surūpa, known as the Andhakas, and also Kṛṣṇa. It is said that whoever recites this lineage of the Andhakas will surely attain a flourishing family—of this, there is no doubt. Śūra fathered a divine-human son upon Asmakī, and a divine and illustrious son upon Māṣyā. With Bhāṣyā, Śūra had ten sons among the Bhojas. Among them was Vasudeva, mighty-armed, who was once called Ānakadundubhi. At his birth, drums resounded in the sky, and a great tumult of kettledrums echoed in the heavens. A shower of flowers fell upon Śūra’s house, and in all the world, none equaled Vasudeva in beauty. His fame shone like the moon, radiant among men. From him came Devabhāga, then Devaśravā, Anādṛṣṭikaḍa, Nandana, Bhṛñjina, Śyāma, Śamīka, and Gaṇḍūṣa, as well as four excellent women. These women—Pṛthā, Śrutavedā, Śrutakīrti, Śrutaśravā, and Rājādhidevī—were mothers of heroes. Pṛthā was adopted by Kunti and given to Pāṇḍu as his wife, for Kuntibhoja, being old and childless, bestowed her upon him. Thus, Pṛthā, daughter of Kuntibhoja, became renowned as Kuntī, and from her, Pāṇḍu, the foremost of the Kurus, obtained his wife. From Pṛthā were born three sons, brilliant as fire and unmatched in battle—heroes whose valor rivaled Indra. She bore Yudhiṣṭhira from Dharma, Vṛkodara from Vāyu, and Dhanañjaya from Indra. From Mādravatī came the twins Nakula and Sahadeva, endowed with beauty, strength, and virtue. To Śrutadevā was born a son, Vṛddhaśarman, the heroic lord of Karūṣa, mighty Dantavakra. Śrutakīrti, the Kaikeyi, bore Santardana, as well as Cekitāna, Bṛhatkṣatra, and two other mighty ones. Thus, the noble lineages and heroic births unfolded, their stories echoing through the ages, blessing those who remember them with prosperity and renown.