To uphold righteousness and eliminate the forces of evil, the Supreme Yogic Self, wielding the power of yoga, took on a form that would confound all beings. By his divine will, he entered a human womb and moved secretly upon the earth, mingling among men for his own divine sport, with Sandipani preceding him as his guide. During his time on earth, he vanquished the wicked Kamsa, as well as Shalva, the mighty demon Dvivida, Arishta, Vrishabha, Putana, Keshi the horse, and many others who threatened the world. He also slew the serpent Kuvalayapida, the lord of the wrestlers’ house, and many other demons who had taken human form, thus displaying his unmatched valor. He cut off the thousand arms of Bana, the wondrous adversary. He destroyed Naraka in battle, as well as the powerful Yavana. With his radiance, he took all the jewels from the kings, and those unrighteous rulers who dwelled in the netherworlds were also destroyed. Such manifestations of the great soul arise for the welfare of the worlds. In this very age, when the yuga has waned and the twilight period has merged with it, another such appearance is destined to occur. Kalki, renowned as Vishnuyaśā and descended from the lineage of Parāśara, endowed with immense prowess, will be the tenth such manifestation, and Yājñavalkya will precede him. He will gather vast armies—hundreds of thousands strong, filled with elephants, horses, and chariots, and surrounded by Brahmins bearing weapons. Against him will stand those who are not exceedingly righteous, the enemies of dharma, drawn from the northern and central regions, the Vindhya and western territories, as well as the southern lands. The Dravidians, Sinhalas, Gandharas, Paradas, Pahlavas, Yavanas, and Shakas will also be among them, along with the Tusharas, Barbaras, Pulindas, Daradas, Khasas, Lampakas, Andhakas, Rudras, and Kiratas. Armed with the power of the revolving wheel, mighty Kalki will be the destroyer of the mlecchas—those who do not uphold dharma—and, invisible to all beings, he will roam the earth. He will be born as a portion of the wise deity; in a previous birth he was Vishnu, known as Pramiti, and was renowned for his valor. His form will be radiant like the moon, and he will appear at the end of the Kali Yuga. Thus, these ten manifestations of the deity are remembered. For each era, purpose, and reason, he enters the wombs of the three worlds as a portion of himself. When the twenty-fifth cycle arises, for twenty-five years he will destroy all beings, especially humans. After leaving only the seeds of life remaining, he will annihilate the outcastes and those who are unrighteous through his fierce deeds. When Kalki, with his army, has fulfilled his mission, those who were slain by his actions will attain perfection and, of their own accord, will rise again. Suddenly, bewildered, they will become angry with one another, and after destroying all who were incited for the future, Kalki and his followers will ascend to their abode between the Ganges and Yamuna. When Kalki departs, along with his common soldiers, the kings will have perished, and the people will be left without restraint. Lacking protection, they will slay one another in battle. Deprived of mutual comfort and greatly afflicted, they will abandon cities and villages, living as equals without possessions. Their sacred knowledge and dharma will be lost, as well as the dharma of the ashramas; short-lived and feeble, these people will be remembered as forest dwellers. They will subsist among rivers and mountains, living on leaves, roots, and fruits, clad in bark, leaves, or animal skins, embracing a harsh ascetic life. Short-lived, forgotten by the world, and beset by many troubles, they will fall into hardship during the twilight of Kali Yuga. As Kali Yuga wanes, the people will decline with it. When Kali Yuga is exhausted and the Krita age begins anew, people will once again act according to what is proper, by their very nature, without deviation. Thus, all the deeds of gods and asuras have been recounted. Within the context of the Yadu lineage, your great Vaishnava glory has been described. Now, let me tell you of Turvasu, as well as Puru, Druhyu, and Anu. Turvasu’s son was Vahni, and Vahni’s son was Gobhānu. Gobhānu’s son was the mighty Trisānu, whose son was Aparājita. Trisānu’s son was Karandhama, but Marutta was not his son; rather, another king named Marutta, not of his line, is spoken of from earlier times. That Marutta was without an heir, and all considered the son of Duṣkṛta, of the Paurava line, as unfit. Thus, by the curse of Yayāti and through the succession of old age, Turvasu once entered the Paurava lineage. Duṣkṛta’s heir was a king named Śarūtha; from Śarūtha came Janāpīḍa, who had four sons—Pāṇḍya, Kerala, Cola, and Kulya. Their peoples are known as the Kulyas, Pāṇḍyas, Colas, and those of Kerala. Druhyu had two renowned and valiant sons, Babhru and Setu. Setu’s son was Aruddha, and Babhru’s son was called Ripu. The mighty Aruddha was slain in battle by Yauvanāśva after a fierce war lasting fourteen months. Aruddha’s heir was a king named Gāndhāra, after whom the great region of Gāndhāra is named. The horses bred in Gāndhāra are famed as the finest steeds. Gāndhāra’s son was Dharma, whose son was Ghṛta. Ghṛta’s son was Durdama, and Durdama’s son was Pracetā. Pracetā had a hundred sons, all of whom became kings.