In ancient times, among the sacred lands and waters—Talā, Khalā, the seven renowned regions, Gopajalā, Tāmrarasā, and Ratnakūṭī—there arose a lineage watched over by the sage Ātreya. From this line, Prabhākara stood as lord, and the royal sage Anādṛṣṭa was his descendant. Anādṛṣṭa’s son was Riveyu, whose wife Jvalanā, daughter of the serpent Takṣaka, bore him a son named Ranti. Ranti, himself the son of Nara and Sarasvatī, begot three virtuous sons: Trasū, Pratiratha, and the exceedingly righteous Dhruva. Gaurī, the renowned daughter, became the auspicious mother of Māndhātṛ, a celebrated figure. Pratiratha’s son Dhurya fathered Kaṇṭha, and from Kaṇṭha came Medhātithi, a divine sage. Kaṇṭha also gave rise to the Kāṇṭhāyana brahmins. Within this lineage, a daughter bore sons, continuing the noble family line. Trasū had a beloved son named Malina, a speaker of Brahman. Malina’s son was Upadāta, and Upadāta had four sons: Suṣmanta, Duṣyanta, Pravīra, and Anagha. Among them, Duṣyanta rose to become an emperor, renowned as Dauṣyanti, the foremost among kings. Duṣyanta’s union with Śakuntalā brought forth Bharata, after whom the land would forever be called Bhārata. At the time of Bharata’s birth, a bodiless voice spoke to Duṣyanta: “The mother is the bellows, the father is the son; by whom he was born, he is indeed the same. Accept your son Duṣyanta,” said Śakuntalā, speaking the truth. The voice continued: “The one who deposits the seed leads the son from the realm of Yama, O king; and you are the nourisher of the embryo. Do not disregard Śakuntalā.” Bharata himself begot nine sons from three women, but the king did not accept them, declaring, “They are not suitable for me.” Angered, the mothers sent their sons to the realm of Yama, and thus the king’s sons were scattered. Then, brought by the Maruts, a son was given to Bṛhaspati. Bharadvāja was transferred by the Maruts, empowered through sacrifices. The noble Bharadvāja’s birth and his transfer by the Maruts to Bharata are thus recounted. When Bharadvāja’s mother was near to giving birth, the sage Bṛhaspati approached her, saying, “Adorn your body, O beautiful one, grant me union.” She replied, “O lord, I am pregnant; the embryo is mature, and utters Brahman with its voice. Your seed is unfailing, yet the act is unrighteous.” Smiling, Bṛhaspati responded, “You must never instruct Vinaya in any way.” He forcibly approached her for union. The embryo, rejoicing, spoke to Bṛhaspati: “Father, I was already present here before. Your seed is unfailing, and there is no room for two.” Angered by the interruption, Bṛhaspati declared, “Because you have hindered me at such a time, when all beings desire this, therefore you shall enter into deep darkness for long.” The mother’s entrance was blocked by Bṛhaspati’s seed, and the child was restrained between the two. Upon seeing the boy immediately born, Mamatā said, “I will go to my own house, O Bṛhaspati; this is Bharadvāja.” She departed, abandoning the son. Being told “bear him well,” Bharadvāja thus became so. Seeing the child abandoned by both mother and father, the compassionate Maruts took Bharadvāja with them. At that time, Bharata performed sacrifices with the Maruts, longing for a son, conducting desired and occasional rites. When he did not obtain a son, he performed the Marutsoma sacrifice again. Pleased by his devotion, the Maruts gave him Bharadvāja, the wise son of Bṛhaspati, as his own. Bharata, having received Bharadvāja as a son, proclaimed, “Now that my lineage is restored, I am fulfilled by you, O illustrious one.” Since his earlier attempts to beget a son had been in vain, Bharadvāja was called Vitatha. Thus, Bharadvāja, though born a Brahmin, became a Kshatriya, remembered as Dvimukhyāyana, the one with two fathers. After Vitatha’s birth, Bharata departed for heaven. Vitatha’s heir was Bhuvamanyu. Bhuvamanyu’s four sons were like the great elements: Bṛhatkṣatra, mighty in valor; Nara; Gāgra, strong in might; and Bhima. Nara’s son was Saṃkṛti, whose two powerful sons, Guruvīrya and Trideva, were known as the Saṃkṛtis. Gāgra’s heirs, born from Śinibaddha, were remembered as the Gāgryas, twice-born Kshatriyas. Bhima, a man of great valor, was a devourer. His wife Vishala bore him three sons: Trayyaruni, Pushkarini, and a third, a monkey. Trayyaruni and Pushkarini became renowned sages, while the monkey was of noble warrior lineage. The Gagras, Sankritas, and Viryas were twice-born, endowed with warrior qualities, and they took refuge in the Angirasa branch, which belongs to Brihatkshatra. Brihatkshatra’s heir was Suhotra, righteous in conduct. Suhotra’s heir was Hastin, who established and gave his name to the city of Hastinapura, the famed seat of kings. Thus, the noble lineage continued, weaving together wisdom, valor, and the sacred traditions of Bhārata.