Those who had taken refuge in this noble lineage became Bhārgavas with Kṣatriya affiliation, and from among them was born the learned king Cyavana. From Cyavana came Pratiratha, and then the wise Sudāsa was born. Sudāsa was blessed with sons: Saudāsa, Sahadeva, and Somaka. When the family line dwindled, Ajamīḍha was reborn, and his son was Somaka, a noble soul who became the father of a hundred sons. Among the sons of Ajamīḍha, the great-souled Somaka’s youngest was Pṛṣata, who became the grandfather of Drupada. From Pṛṣata was born Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and his son was Dhṛṣṭaketu. Ajamīḍha’s chief queen, Dhūminī, was the mother of sons, and in her next birth, she undertook severe austerities for a hundred years, living in purity, with little food, ever wakeful by the sacrificial fire. She slept only on kuśa grass, day and night, and in her, as Dhūmravarṇā, the mighty Ajamīḍha was born again. Ajamīḍha begot Ṛkṣa, the elder brother of Sitā, upon Dhūmravarṇā. From Ṛkṣa came Saṃvaraṇa, and from Saṃvaraṇa was born Kuru. Kuru, upon reaching Prayāga, established the land of Kurukṣetra. With great energy, he ploughed the land for many years, and as he did so, Indra appeared before him and granted him a boon. Thus, that land became sacred, delightful, and frequented by the virtuous. Kuru’s descendants, renowned as the Kurus, became foremost among kings. Among Kuru’s beloved sons were Sudhanvan and Jahnu. Parikṣit was a great king in this line, and his son was Arimardana. Sudhanvan’s heir was Suhotra, remembered for his wisdom. Suhotra’s son was Cyavana, a king skilled in righteousness and wealth, and Cyavana’s son was Kṛta, who performed sacrifices with great austerity. Kṛta fathered a famous son, a friend of Indra, a hero named Vasu, who moved through the sky and was known as Vidyoparicara. Vidyoparicara had seven sons by Girikā: Mahāratha, Bhagadhara, the renowned Bṛhadratha, Pratyagraha, Kuśa (who is also called Maṇivāhana), Māthailya, Lalittha, and Matsyakāla. Bṛhadratha’s heir was the famous Kuśāgra, whose son was Ṛṣabha, known for his strength. Ṛṣabha’s heir was the righteous Puṣpavān, whose son was the valiant king Satyahita. Satyahita’s son was Sudhanvan, and from him came Ūrjja, renowned for his prowess. Ūrjja’s son was Nabhasa, and from him was born a mighty one. This mighty one was born in two halves, joined together by the force of age, and thus was known as Jarāsandha, who became the conqueror of all Kṣatriyas. Jarāsandha’s son was Sahadeva, renowned for his prowess, and Sahadeva’s son was the illustrious Somādhi, a man of great austerity. From Somādhi came Śrutaśru, known as a Māgadha. Meanwhile, Parikṣit’s heir was Janamejaya, and Śrutasena’s heir was Bhīmasena. Jahnu, another son in the line, begot Suratha, a ruler of the earth, whose son was the heroic king Vidūratha. Vidūratha’s son was Sārvabhauma, who in turn fathered Jayatsena, whose son was Ārādhita. Ārādhita, a man of great spirit, was also known as Ayutāyu, and his son was Akrodhana. From Akrodhana came Devātithi, whose heir was Ṛkṣa. Bhīmasena was born from Ṛkṣa, and his son was Dilīpa. Dilīpa’s son was Pratipa, who had three sons: Devāpi, Śantanu, and Bāhlīka. The king of Bahlika was lord over seven Bahlikas, and his son was the renowned Somadatta. From Somadatta were born Bhuri, Bhurishravas, and Shala. Devapi, seeking righteousness, departed to the forest and became a sage, eventually serving as the preceptor of the gods. His sons were Cyavana and Ishtaka, both of great soul. Śantanu became king, learned and a great healer. It is said of him that whomever the king touched, even if worn by age, would become young again—thus was Śantanu known. His fame spread widely among the people. The righteous king Śantanu married Jahnavi, and from her was born Devavrata, called Bhishma, who became the revered grandfather of the Pandavas. In time, Shantanu begot another son, Vichitravirya, beloved and beneficial to the people. In the field of Vichitravirya, Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa fathered sons: Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura. Dhritarashtra’s wife Gandhari bore him a hundred sons, of whom Duryodhana was the eldest and lord of all the Kshatriyas. Pandu had two wives, Madri and Pritha. By divine gift, sons were born to Pandu from these two: from Dharma came Yudhishthira; from Vayu, Vrikodara (Bhima); from Indra, Dhananjaya (Arjuna), whose prowess equaled that of Shakra; and from the Ashvins, Nakula and Sahadeva, the sons of Madri. Thus, the illustrious lineage continued, blessed by virtue, heroism, and divine favor.