From the noble Pandavas, five sons were born to Draupadi, each from her union with one of the brothers. Draupadi’s eldest was Shrutavidha, the son of Yudhishthira. Bhimasena, in turn, fathered Ghatotkacha with Hidimba, and later, Sarvavrika with Kashya. Vijaya, Madri’s son, begot Suhotra, and Sahadeva, with Vaideya, had two sons: Niramitra and Langali. Arjuna, known as Partha, and Subhadra brought forth the valiant charioteer Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu, united with Uttara, the daughter of King Virata, had a son named Parikshit. Parikshit’s successor was Janamejaya, a king who established the Brahmins of the Vajasaneya tradition. Out of resentment, Vaisampayana declared, “Your words, O foolish one, will not remain unchallenged.” He vowed that, as long as he lived, such praise would not endure, and even after his passing, Janamejaya’s reign would not be celebrated. Janamejaya worshipped Prajapati with offerings at the full moon, and, understanding the divine will, witnessed the destruction desired by the Lord during the sacrifice. Janamejaya, of the Paurava line and son of Parikshit, twice performed the great horse sacrifice, further establishing the Vajasaneyi tradition. With three such sacrifices, he diminished the chief horses, the women-dwellers, and the people of the central region, earning the curse of the Brahmins and meeting his end. His son was Shatanika, powerful and true in valor, whom the Brahmins consecrated as king. Shatanika’s son was Ashvamedhadatta, full of vigor, and from him was born Parapuramjaya. Now, the righteous and renowned Adhisamakrishna rules, under whose reign the sages accomplished their difficult, three-year sacrifice—performed for two years at Kurukshetra and on the banks of the Drishadvati. The sages, eager for knowledge, said, “O wise Suta, as you have recounted the past, tell us also of the future—of the people and the kings yet to arise. Speak their names, even those who will come after many years. Tell us the times, the measure of the ages, the virtues and faults, and the happiness and sorrow of the people regarding righteousness, desire, and wealth. Having considered all this, tell us the truth as we ask.” Thus addressed, the Suta, foremost among the wise, narrated as he had seen and heard, as everything had been recounted to him by Vyasa, the wondrous sage—including the coming Kali Yuga and the Manvantaras. “Listen to all that is yet to come,” said the Suta. “From here onward, I will declare the kings who will arise: the Ailas, the Ikshvakus, and the Saudyumnas—those royal lines in which this auspicious Ikshvaku land is established. I shall recount all those future kings and those who will arise after them, O rulers of the earth. The Kshatriyas, Parashavas, Shudras, and the twice-born; the Andhas, Shakas, Pulindas, Tulikas, and the Yavanas; the Kaivartas, Abhiras, Shabaras, and other Mleccha tribes—I will declare them in order of the years and name those kings. Adhisamakrishna now rules among the descendants of Puru. I shall recount, in due order, the kings who will arise in his lineage in the future. Adhisamakrishna’s son will be Nirvakra. When the city called Nagasahvaya is taken away by the Ganga, Nirvakra will abandon that city and his fine residence, and dwell in Kaushambi. Nirvakra’s son will be Ushna, and from Ushna will come Citraratha; from Citraratha will be Shucidratha, and from Shucidratha, Vritiman. From Vritiman will be born Sushena, a man of great strength and fame; from Sushena will arise a king named Sutirtha. From Sutirtha will come Rucha, and from him Trichakshu; the heir of Trichakshu will be Sukhibala. Sukhibala’s son will be King Paripluta; Paripluta’s son will be Sunaya. Then Medhavi will be king, son of Sunaya; Medhavi’s son will be Dandapani. From Dandapani will come Niramitra, and from Niramitra, Kshemaka. These twenty-five kings will be born in the ancient line. A verse sung by the wise declares: ‘The family, honored by the divine sages, is the source of both Brahmins and Kshatriyas.’ When the kingship reaches Kshemaka, the dynasty will come to an end in the Kali age. Thus, the Paurava line has been properly recounted. Now, I shall narrate the line of the great-souled Ikshvakus, after the wise Pandu’s son, the noble Arjuna. The heir of Brihadratha will be the valiant king Brihatkshaya; his son will be Kshaya, and from Kshaya will come Vatsavyuha. From Vatsavyuha will come Prativyuha, whose son will be Divakara, the king who now rules the city of Ayodhya. Divakara’s son will be the illustrious Sahadeva; Sahadeva’s heir will be Brihadashva. His son will be Bhanuratha, and Bhanuratha’s son will be Pratitashva; Pratitashva’s son will be Supratita. Sahadeva will be his son, and Sunakshatra will be the son of Sahadeva. Thus, the Suta faithfully recounted the royal lineages, their deeds, and the succession of kings, as was spoken by Vyasa and as had happened in ages past and as would unfold in the ages yet to come.