Listen, O wise one, to the account of the future gods and the noble beings of ancient times. Among those remembered as the gods yet to come are Vijaya, Sujaya, Manodyāna, Sumati, Supari, Vijñāta, and Arthapati. Now, let us turn to the celestial Pṛthukas—Ajiṣṭa, Śākyana, Vānapṛṣṭha, Śāṅkara, Satyadhṛṣṇu, Viṣṇu, Vijaya, and the illustrious Ajita—who shine among the divine hosts. Next, hear of the Lekhās: Manojava, Praghāsa, Pracetā, and Mahāyaśā. With them are Vāta, Dhruvakṣiti, the mighty Adbhuta, Avana, and Bṛhaspati. These are the noble Lekhās. Among them, Manojava, endowed with great strength, rose to become Indra. Alongside him were Unnata, Bhārgava, and Haviṣmān, son of Aṅgiras. In the Cākṣuṣa Manvantara, Sudhāmā, Kāśyapa, Vāsiṣṭha, Viraja, Atimāna, Paulastya, Sahiṣṇu, Paulaha, Madhurā, and Treya—these seven great sages—were prominent. The nine sons of Manu in this era were Ūru, Pūru, Śatadyumna, Tapasvī, Satyavāk, Kṛti, Agniṣṭuda, Atirātra, and Sudyumna, with Abhimanyu as the tenth. All these were born of Nādvālī, and are known as the sons of Cākṣuṣa, the sixth Manu. Thus, the creation of Vaivasvata, the great soul, has been recounted in its proper order. Now, O twice-born, let us consider the line of Cākṣuṣa, who was born in the lineage of Kaśyapa. Tell us, then, of those who followed in his succession. Sūta continued: Hear now, in brief, of the creation during the time of Cākṣuṣa. In his lineage was born Pṛthu, son of Vena, famed for his might. Other lords of beings in that era were Dakṣa and Prācetasa. Atri, the lord of creatures, accepted Uttānapāda as his son. Dakṣa’s son became king over the progeny of Prajapati, having been given by Svayambhu Manu to Atri for a certain purpose. When the future Manvantara of Cākṣuṣa arrives, I will relate the sixth in detail. For now, know that Uttānapāda had four daughters: Sūnṛtā, Vittabhāvinī, Adhidharma—blessed mother of Dhruva—and Śucismitā, radiant with purity, who was born of Lakṣmī, wife of Dharma. Uttānapāda also begot Dhruva, Kīrttimanta, Ayasmanta, and Vasu, as well as two daughters, Śucismitā and Manasvinī. Svarā was also born, making three sons in total. Among them, Dhruva, powerful and resolute, undertook severe austerities for ten divine years, abstaining from all food, seeking imperishable fame. In the first Treta Yuga, this grandson of Svāyambhuva, sustained by yoga, sought the highest renown. Pleased with his devotion, Brahmā granted him the supreme place among the stars—a realm beyond rising and setting, delightful and eternal. Witnessing Dhruva’s extraordinary fortune, Uśanas, the teacher of the Daityas and Asuras, sang in praise: “Ah, the power of his austerity! Ah, his learning! Ah, his offerings!” The seven sages established Dhruva steadfast above, and he became lord of the heavens. From Dhruva were born Puṣṭi and Bhavya, brought forth by the earth herself. Puṣṭi declared, “Become my shadow,” and Bhava made her his wife. When Dhruva spoke this truth, a divine woman appeared, radiant and adorned with celestial ornaments. In Chāyā, Puṣṭi bore five flawless sons: Prācīnagarbha, Vṛṣaka, Vṛka, Vṛkala, and Dhṛti. Prācīnagarbha’s wife, Bhūvarcā, gave birth to a king named Udāradhiya, who had been Indra in a previous birth. At the end of a thousand years, Udāradhiya sustained himself on a single meal, and having fulfilled the Manvantara, he attained the position of Indra. Bhadrā bore Divanjaya, son of Udāradhiya. From Divanjaya and Varāṅgī were born Ripu and Ripunjaya. Bṛhatī, wife of Ripu, bore Cākṣuṣa, radiant with all brilliance. From Puṣkariṇī and Vāruṇī were born Cākṣuṣa Manu, son of Prajāpati and the great soul Araṇya. To Manu were born auspicious sons through Nadvalā and also through the blessed daughter of Vairāja Prajāpati. These sons—Ūru, Pūru, Śatadyumna, Tapasvī, Satyavāk, Kavi, Agniṣṭuda, Atirātra, Sudyumna, and Abhimanyu—were ten in number, born of Nadvalā. Āgneyī, radiant with splendor, bore six sons from her thighs: Aṅga, Sumanasa, Svāti, Kratu, Aṅgirasa, and Śiva. From Aṅga came a single son, Sunītha, and then Vena was born. Due to Vena’s unrighteousness, great anger arose among the sages. For the welfare of the people, the sages churned Vena’s right hand, and from it emerged a great king, Vainya, renowned as Pṛthu. He was born with bow and armor, blazing with energy, and as a Kṣatriya, Pṛthu Vainya protected all the worlds. For the purpose of his praise, the skilled Sūta and Māgadha were created. With the gods and groups of sages, the wise king Pṛthu milked the earth for grains, securing sustenance for all beings. The ancestors, Dānavas, Gandharvas, Apsarases, virtuous beings, plants, and mountains all took part in this act. From each vessel, the earth yielded the desired milk, and thus Pṛthu sustained the worlds. The sages then asked: “O great-minded one, tell us in detail of Pṛthu’s birth and how the earth was once milked by that noble soul. How was this done by the gods and Nāgas, by the Brahmarṣis, by the Yakṣas, Gandharvas, and Apsarases, as it was in ancient times?