Long ago, in the illustrious lineage of Hastin, there were three supremely righteous heirs: Ajamidha, Dvimidha, and Purumidha. Among them, Ajamidha’s sons, known as Shabha, upheld the noble tradition of their house. After performing great austerities, they ruled as just and virtuous kings. By the grace of the sage Bharadvaja, we learn the details of their descendants. In his wife Kesini, Ajamidha begot a son named Kantha, whose own son was Medhatithi. From Medhatithi sprang the Kanthayana Brahmins. With his wife Dhūmini, Ajamidha fathered King Brihadvasu, whose line continued with his son Brihadvishnu, a man of great strength. Brihadvishnu’s son was Brihatkarma, and from him came Brihadratha. The lineage carried on through Vishvajit, then Senajit, who became father to four sons renowned across the world: Rucirashva, Kavya, Rama (famed for his firm bow), and Vatsa, also called King Avantaka. These four were known as the Parivatsaras. Rucirashva’s heir was the celebrated Prithushena, whose son was Para, and from Para was born Nipa. It is said that Nipa had a hundred sons, all of whom became kings called the Nipas. Among them, the illustrious Kirtivardhana became the founder of their lineage. In the city of Kampilya, a king named Samara arose, later known as Cheshta Samara. Samara’s sons—Para, Satvada, and another—were three in number, each endowed with every virtue. Para’s son was Vrisha, whose son was Sukriti, a man of virtue, who begot Vibraja, endowed with every noble quality. Vibraja’s heir was King Anuha, who became the son-in-law of the sage Shuka and fathered the great Rishi. Anuha’s son was Brahmadatta, famed for his austerity; Brahmadatta’s son was Yogasunu, and Vishvaksena succeeded the throne. Through wrongful deeds, the radiant sons of Vishvaksena became kings, and among them, Udaksena was his son. Udaksena’s heir was Bhallāta, by whom a king was once slain, and Bhallāta’s son was the king Janamejaya. For Janamejaya’s sake, the mighty Ugrāyudha destroyed all rival kings. Curious, one might ask: Of whom was Ugrāyudha the son, and in what lineage was he celebrated? Why did he destroy all those kings? Turning to Dvimidha’s line, his learned heir was Yavīnara, whose son was steadfast, and whose own son was Satyadhriti. Satyadhriti’s son was the mighty Dṛḍhanemi, and Dṛḍhanemi’s son was King Suvarmā. Suvarmā’s son was Sārvabhauma, powerful and renowned, who became the sole sovereign of the earth. In this great line was born the illustrious Paurava, and his son Mahatpaurava fathered King Rukmaratha. Rukmaratha’s son was Supārśva, and Supārśva’s son was the righteous Sumati. From Sumati came the virtuous and humble Sanati, whose son was named Kṛta. Kṛta became a disciple of the noble Kauthuma Hiraṇyanābha, from whom he learned the Sāma Saṃhitās in twenty-four branches. These are remembered as the Eastern recensions, composed by the singers of Sāman. Among this line, Kārti Ugrāyudha was a heroic descendant of Paurava, famed for slaying the ancestor of Pṛṣata. The mighty-armed Nīla, lord of the Pañcālas, also fell to him. Ugrāyudha’s heir was the illustrious Kṣema, who fathered the heroic Suvīra; from Suvīra came Nṛpañjaya, and from him, Vīraratha. These are remembered as the Pauravas. Now, from Ajamidha and his wife Nīlinī was born King Nīla, whose intense austerity brought forth Suśānti. Suśānti’s son was Purujānu, and Purujānu’s son was Rikṣa. From Rikṣa, several branches arose: Mudgala, Sṛñjaya, King Bṛhadiṣu, the valiant younger Yavīyān, and Kampilya as the fifth. Their father, wishing to protect them, addressed these five sons, each with flourishing realms, saying their protection was sufficient—they became renowned as the Pañcālas. From Mudgala arose the Maudgalyas, twice-borns of kṣatriya lineage. These Angirasas, having taken refuge on this side, became the Mudghalas of the Kaṇṭha clan. Mudgala’s eldest son was supremely learned in the Vedas and greatly renowned. Indrasenā, having conceived, bore Badhyaśva, and from Badhyaśva came twins known as Menakā, as tradition recalls. Among them were Divodāsa, the royal sage, and the illustrious Ahalyā. Ahalyā bore a son to Śāradvat as his heir. Śatānanda, foremost among sages, was born to her; his son, steadfast in truth and renowned, was Satyadhṛti, master of the science of archery. Once, as Satyadhṛti beheld an apsaras before him, his seed fell upon a clump of reeds, and there union took place. Out of compassion, Śantanu, who had gone hunting, took up the child found there. He became known as Kṛpa, and from him also came Gautamī, called Kṛpī. These are the descendants of Śāradvat, called Ṛtathyas, of the Gautama lineage. Now, let us speak of the progeny of Divodāsa. Divodāsa’s heir was King Mitrayu, supremely learned in the Vedas, and from Maitreya was born Smṛta. These, too, are considered to belong to this noble line.