There once lived a man whose fame shone as brilliantly as the moon among men. From him descended Devabhāga, and then Devaśravā, continuing the illustrious line. Among his offspring were Anādṛṣṭikaḍa, Nandana, Bhṛñjina, Śyāma, Śamīka, and Gaṇḍūṣa, as well as four women of excellence. These women—Pṛthā, Śrutavedā, Śrutakīrti, Śrutaśravā, and Rājādhidevī—were renowned as mothers of heroes. Pṛthā was adopted by Kunti, who, being elderly and childless, gave her to Pāṇḍu as his wife. Thus, Pṛthā, daughter of Kuntibhoja, became known as Kuntī, and Pāṇḍu, the foremost among the Kurus, gained her as his wife. From Kuntī were born three sons, each radiant like fire and unmatched in valor upon the battlefield, heroes whose courage rivaled Indra. Yudhiṣṭhira was born of Dharma, Vṛkodara from Vāyu, and Dhanañjaya from Indra, all sons of Pṛthā. Mādravatī, another wife, bore the twin Aśvins—Nakula and Sahadeva—who were gifted with beauty, strength, and virtue. Śrutadevā bore a son to Vṛddhaśarman, the heroic lord of Karūṣa—mighty Dantavakra. Śrutakīrti, of the Kaikeyi lineage, had Santardana, as well as Cekitāna, Bṛhatkṣatra, and two other strong sons. Vindānuvinda, the powerful brothers of Avanti, were born, and Śrutaśravā, the Caidya, gave birth to Śiśupāla. Damaghoṣa, a royal sage, had a son famed for his prowess, once known as Daśagrīva, the crusher of enemies. His younger brother was Yaduśravā, and his younger sister was the daughter of Rujā. Vasudeva, the noble, had thirteen illustrious wives: Pauravī, Rohiṇī, Madirā, Bhadrā, Vaiśākhī, Devakī, Sugandhi, Vanarājī, and others. The eldest and most fortunate wife, beloved of Anakadundubhi, bore the eldest son Rāma, and also Sāraṇa and Niśa. Rohiṇī bore eight children: Durddama, Damana, Śubhra, Piṇḍāraka, Kuśītaka, and a daughter named Citrā. Rāma himself had grandsons: Niśita and Utsuka, as well as Pārśvī, Pārśvanandī, and Satyadhṛti. Other sons included Mandabāhya, Rāmāṇa, Girika, Gira, Śuklagulma, Gulma, and Daridrāntaka. Among the daughters, the first five were Arciṣmatī, Sunandā, Surasā, and Suvacā. Sāraṇa’s daughters were Śatabalā, Bhadrāśva, Bhadragupti, and Bhadravighna. Sons named Bhadrabāhu, Bhadraratha, Bhadrakalpa, Supārśvaka, Kīrttimān, Rohitāśva, and Bhadraja were also born. Durmada and Abhibhūta were sons in Rohiṇī’s lineage, along with Nanda, Upananda, Mitra, Kukṣimitra, and Acala. Citropa and Citra, along with Puṣṭi, were Madirā’s sons, and Sudeva was also born. Upabimba, Bimba, Sattvadanta, and Mahaujas were the mighty sons of Bhadra. From Vaiśākhī, Samada and Śauri produced Kauśika; from Devakī, Śauri begot Suṣeṇa, who was renowned. Tadaya, Bhadrasena, Yajudāya, Bhadravideka, and others were born, but Kaṃsa killed all of them. Then, at that time, the eternal Lord Viṣṇu, known as Kṛṣṇa, the progenitor of beings, was born again. Kṛṣṇā, called Subhadrā and Bhadrabhāṣiṇī, was born as his younger sister, a delight among the Vṛṣṇis. From Subhadrā, the charioteer Pārtha begot Abhimanyu. Among Vasudeva’s seven illustrious wives, many heroic sons were born. With Devā, Śūra begot Abhayāsakha; Śārṅgadeva produced Tambu, and Śauri begot Kulodvaha. Upasaṅga and Vasu, protected by the gods, were also born, but Kaṃsa killed these ten sons as well. Upadevā bore Vijaya, Rojana, and Vardhamāna. Vṛka Devī gave birth to Svagāhava, a great soul; Āgāhī, Svasā, Surūpā, and Śiśirāyiṇī were also born. The seventh son of Devakī, Sunāsā, was born on earth, along with Gaveṣaṇa, a distinguished warrior. Śrāddhadeva, for whom the twice-born performed rites in the forest, was given by Śauri to Śaibyā as an imperishable son, Kauśika. Sugandhī and Vanarājī, wives of Śauri, bore Puṇḍra and Kapila, sons of Vasudeva. Puṇḍra became king, while Kapila went to the forest. A mighty hero was born to Vasudeva, the first king named Niṣāda, bearer of the bow. The illustrious son of Devarata became renowned, born of Devaśravas, as the learned declare. In the Asmaka lineage, a son was obtained—Nivartta—famed for his strength, destroyer of Indra’s foes, and devoted to ancestral rites. Thus, from these noble lineages and their virtuous mothers, many heroes, kings, and sages arose, each carrying forward the glory and tradition of their ancestors.