O king, remember your true self—your soul—which now dwells in the body of a vulture. This fate, brought about by your heretical words, has led you to be born as a vulture in this life. In your very next birth, you took the form of a crow. Your devoted wife, slender and perceptive, recognized you by her own spiritual power and addressed you, saying, “All the rulers of the earth who once offered you tribute have now become your food, O lord, since you have taken the form of a crow.” Reminded by her words while still in the crow’s body, the king relinquished his life and was reborn as a peacock. His auspicious wife followed him faithfully, becoming a peahen, content with the food and ways of that species. Later, King Janaka performed the great horse-sacrifice, and at its concluding bath, he purified the king at that time. There, the slender-limbed wife herself reminded him, as did King Janaka, of the many births he had taken—as a dog, a jackal, and so on. Recalling the sequence of his births, the king abandoned his body and was born as the son of the great-souled Janaka himself. The devoted lady then urged her father regarding her marriage, and the king arranged a svayamvara ceremony. At the svayamvara, she chose him—her beloved, who had arrived there—as her husband, and once more served him with unwavering devotion. He, the delight of kings, enjoyed pleasures with her, and, when his father passed away, ruled the kingdom of the Videhas. He performed many sacrifices, gave gifts to those who asked, begot sons, and fought his enemies. Having enjoyed his kingdom justly and protected the earth, the king gave up his dear life in battle, upholding righteousness. Then, his virtuous-eyed wife again ascended the funeral pyre after him, as before, with joy and proper rites. Thereafter, the king attained, together with the princess, worlds beyond those of Indra—everlasting realms that fulfill all desires. They reached the incomparable and exceedingly rare state of marital union in heaven, receiving the fruit of their merit and purification. Thus, O best of the twice-born, he attained that blessed state. O twice-born, I have described the fault arising from association with heretics, and the greatness of the Ashvamedha sacrifice and the Avabhritha bath. Therefore, one should avoid conversation and contact with sinful heretics, especially during rituals, at the commencement of sacrifices, and particularly when initiated. If, due to ritual neglect, a person is born for one month, the wise should look at the sun to purify themselves from even seeing such a one. What then of those who have completely abandoned the three Vedas, who eat food from others, who are sinful, and who oppose the teachings of the Vedas? Association, conversation, and even being with such extremely sinful heretics of evil conduct should be avoided. One should not honor, even with words, heretics engaged in forbidden acts—those who follow the ways of cats, who are deceitful, argumentative, or hypocritical. Contact and association with such sinful heretics should be shunned from afar. These, called naked ascetics and heretics, destroy the śrāddha rites; by conversing with them, a person's merit for the day is lost. Such heretics are sinful; the wise should not converse with them, for even speaking with them destroys the merit gained that day. Even those who wear matted hair or are shaven-headed, who eat in vain, who reject all purity, who are excluded from water offerings and ancestral rites—by conversing with them, men go to hell. Then, Maitreya spoke: “O venerable one, you have explained what should be done by those established in virtuous deeds, both regular and occasional. Please tell me more, O teacher. You have described the duties of the social orders and the stages of life; I wish to hear about the lineage of kings—please tell me that, O teacher.” Śrī Parāśara replied: “Maitreya, listen as I recount the lineage of Manu, adorned by many kings accomplished in sacrifice, valor, heroism, and wisdom, beginning with Brahmā. Now, to dispel the sins of this lineage, hear this account in its proper order, O Maitreya. Just as the blessed Viṣṇu, the origin and eternal foundation of all worlds, embodies the Ṛg, Yajus, and Sāma Vedas, so from Him, Brahmā—called Hiraṇyagarbha, the cosmic egg—first appeared in mortal form. From Brahmā’s right thumb was born Dakṣa Prajāpati; from Dakṣa came Aditi; from Aditi, Vivasvān; and from Vivasvān, Manu. Manu had ten sons: Ikṣvāku, Nṛga, Dhṛṣṭa, Śaryāti, Nariṣyanta, Prāṃśu, Nābhaga, Diṣṭa, Karūṣa, and Pṛṣadhra. Desiring sons, Manu performed a sacrifice for Mitra and Varuṇa. There, due to an error by the officiating priest, a daughter named Ilā was born. By the favor of Mitra and Varuṇa, that same Ilā became Sudyumna, a son of Manu. Again, due to the wrath of the lord, she became a woman and wandered near the hermitage of Budha, son of Soma. Moved by affection, Budha fathered Purūravas, his own son, with her. Even after Purūravas’ birth, the great sages, desiring Sudyumna’s manhood, performed sacrifices of the Ṛg, Yajus, Sāma, Atharva Vedas, and all Vedas, embodying mind, knowledge, and the essence of food, invoking the divine form of the Yajña-Puruṣa. By their favor, Ilā again became Sudyumna. He had three sons: Uttkala, Gaya, and Vinata.