There was a king, beloved by his peers, who enjoyed his days of pleasure alongside his devoted wife. When his father departed from this world, the king ascended the throne of Videha and ruled his people with wisdom and strength. He performed many sacred sacrifices, generously gave gifts to all who sought his favor, fathered sons, and bravely faced his adversaries in battle. Having governed his realm with justice and protected the earth, the king ultimately gave up his precious life on the battlefield, holding fast to righteousness until his final breath. His wife, a woman of virtuous gaze, once more ascended the funeral pyre after him, as she had done before, fulfilling the rites with joy and devotion. Together, the king and his noble consort attained worlds beyond even those of Indra—realms eternal, where all desires are fulfilled. They reached a state of incomparable and exceedingly rare marital union in heaven, enjoying the fruits of their merit and purification. O best of the twice-born, thus has been described not only the fault in associating with heretics, but also 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 one is initiated. If, by neglecting ritual, a person is born for only a month, the wise purify themselves even from seeing such a one by gazing at the sun. 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, or even being with such extremely sinful heretics of evil conduct must be avoided. One should not honor, even with words, those heretics engaged in forbidden acts, those who follow the ways of cats, those who are deceitful, argumentative, or hypocritical. Contact and association with such sinful heretics of evil conduct should be shunned from afar. These, called naked ascetics and heretics, destroy the śrāddha rites; merely conversing with them causes one to lose the merit gained that day. The wise should never converse with such heretics, for doing so destroys all merit earned that day. Even those who wear matted hair or are shaven-headed, who eat without purpose, who reject all purity, who are excluded from water offerings and ancestral rites—by conversing with them, men go to hell. At this point, Maitreya addressed his venerable teacher: “O revered one, you have explained to me 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 now wish to hear about the lineage of kings—please recount that, O teacher.” Śrī Parāśara replied, “Maitreya, listen as I narrate the lineage of Manu, adorned by many kings accomplished in sacrifice, valor, heroism, and wisdom, beginning with Brahmā himself. To dispel the sins of this lineage, hear this account in its proper order. Just as the blessed Viṣṇu, the origin and eternal foundation of all worlds, embodies the Ṛg, Yajus, and Sāma Vedas, so from Him, Brahmā—known as 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, Ilā became Sudyumna, a son of Manu, O Maitreya. Yet 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 with her. After Purūravas was born, the great sages, desiring Sudyumna’s manhood, performed sacrifices of all the Vedas, invoking the divine form of the Yajña-Puruṣa; thus, by their favor, Ilā again became Sudyumna. He had three sons: Uttkala, Gaya, and Vinata. Because of his prior existence as a woman, Sudyumna did not receive a share of the kingdom. Then, by his father’s command and the counsel of Vasiṣṭha, the city named Pratiṣṭhāna was given to Sudyumna, and he in turn gave it to Purūravas. From their lineage, Kṣatriyas arose in all directions. But Pṛṣadhra, son of Manu, became a Śūdra due to the killing of his guru’s cow. Manu’s son Karūṣa gave rise to the Karūṣa Kṣatriyas, who were mighty and valiant. Diṣṭa’s son Nābhāga became a Vaiśya, and from him was born his son Balaṃdhana. From Balaṃdhana came Vatsaprīti and Udārakīrtti. From Vatsaprīti was born Prāṃśu. From Prāṃśu, Prajāpati was born as his only son. Then from him came Khanitra, and from him was born Cakṣuṣa. Thus, O Maitreya, the sacred lineage of Manu unfolded, adorned by kings of sacrifice, valor, and wisdom, and established the noble orders of the world.