In the days following the reign of Rāma, his brothers Bharata and Śatrughna distinguished themselves with mighty deeds. Bharata, intent on conquering the Gandharvas, entered into battle and slew three crores of them, displaying extraordinary valor. Śatrughna, renowned for his strength, vanquished Lavaṇa, the fierce Rākṣasa son of Madhu, thus establishing the city of Mathurā. Through the remarkable strength, courage, and heroic actions of Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata, and Śatrughna—those destroyers of the most wicked—the world was brought into order. Having fulfilled their duties, they ascended to heaven. The people of Kosala, devoted to these divine incarnations, also attained their world, sharing in their consciousness. Rāma, the destroyer of evil, had two sons: Kuśa and Lava. Lakṣmaṇa’s sons were Aṅgada and Candraketu; Bharata’s were Takṣa and Puṣkala; and Śatrughna’s were Subāhu and Śūrasena. Kuśa’s lineage continued with his son Atithi, followed by Niṣadha, then Anala, Nabhā, Puṇḍarīka, Kṣemadhanvan, Devānīka, Ahīnaka, Ruru, Pāriyātraka, Devala, Vatsala, Utka, Vajranābha, Śaṃkhana, Ādyuṣitāśva, and Viśvasaha. From Viśvasaha was born Hiraṇyanābha, a great yogi, whose disciple was King Jaimini, and from whom Yājñavalkya learned yoga. Hiraṇyanābha’s son was Puṣya, succeeded by Dhruvasaṃdhi, Sudarśana, Agnivarṇa, Śīghraga, and Maru. Maru, having taken up yoga, even now remains in the village of Kalāpa, and in a future age, he will restore the kṣatriya lineage of the Solar dynasty. Maru’s son was Praśuśruka, followed by Susandhi, Amarṣa, Sahasvān, and Viśvabhava. Viśvabhava’s son was Bṛhadbala, who was slain in the Bhārata war by Abhimanyu, Arjuna’s son. These are the principal kings of the Ikṣvāku line; whoever hears their deeds is freed from all sins. Among the descendants of Ikṣvāku was Nimi, who began a thousand-year sacrificial session, choosing Vasiṣṭha as chief priest. Vasiṣṭha, however, had already been chosen by Indra for a five-hundred-year sacrifice and promised to serve Nimi afterward. When the king remained silent, Vasiṣṭha, perceiving his intent, proceeded to perform Indra’s sacrifice. Meanwhile, Nimi conducted his own sacrifice with other priests, such as Gautama. When Indra’s sacrifice was completed, Vasiṣṭha returned, eager to officiate Nimi’s rite, but found Gautama already presiding. Seeing that the king had not refused him, Vasiṣṭha, angered, assigned another rite to Gautama and cursed Nimi: “Because you did not reject me, you will become without a body—Videha.” The awakened king replied, “Because you, my wicked teacher, cursed me while I was asleep and unaware, without speaking to me, a curse will fall upon you as well.” With these words, Nimi gave up his body. Due to this curse, Vasiṣṭha’s energy entered the radiance of Mitra and Varuṇa, and from their union with Urvaśī, Vasiṣṭha obtained another body. Nimi’s body, beautiful and fragrant, did not decay but remained fresh. At the completion of the sacrifice, the priests asked the gods to grant Nimi a boon. Nimi requested: “There is no greater suffering than the separation of body and soul. Let me dwell in the eyes of all beings and not take on a body again.” The gods granted his wish, and from then on, all creatures began to blink. Since Nimi had died without a son, the sages, fearing the land would be without a ruler, churned his body in the forest. From this act, a boy was born, named Janaka, for he was born from the act of birth. Janaka’s son was Videha, and being his father, Janaka was called Vaideha. From Mathana came Mithi, followed by Udāvasu, Nandivardhana, Suketu, Devarāta, Bṛhadukūtha, Mahāvīrya, Satyadhṛti, Dhṛṣṭaketu, Haryaśva, Maru, Pratibandhaka, Kṛtaratha, Kṛti, Vibudha, Mahādhṛti, Kṛtirāta, Mahāroma, Suvarṇaroma, Hrasvaroma, and then Sīradhvaja was born. While Sīradhvaja was performing a sacrifice for the sake of a son, Sītā, his daughter, arose from the furrow. Sīradhvaja’s brother was Kuśadhvaja, lord of Sāṅkāśya, and his wife was Bhānumatī. From Bhānumat came Śatadyumna, whose son was Śuci, followed by Ūrjjacavaha, Satyadhvaja, Kuni (or Kriṇi), Añjana, Ṛtujit, Ariṣṭanemi, Śratāyu, Sūryāśva, Sañjaya, Kṣemāri, Danena, Mīnaratha (or Mānaratha), Satyaratha, Sātyarathi, Sātyaratharupagu, Śruta, Śāpa, Suvarjjā (son of Mitrāvaruṇa), Subhāsa, Suśruta, Jaya, Vijaya, Ṛta, Sunaya, Vītahavya, Sañjaya, Dhṛti, Bahulāśva, and Kṛti, in whom the line of Janaka is established. These are the kings of Mithilā, among whom many will be rulers devoted to the knowledge of the Self. Maitreya then addressed Parāśara: “O venerable one, you have recounted the descendants of the Sun. Now I wish to hear about the royal descendants of Soma as well. Please tell me of those whose illustrious line endures today, whose fame is steadfast and whose faces are radiant.” Parāśara replied: “Listen, O best of sages, to the lineage of Soma, renowned for its splendor, in which many kings of the earth have arisen. This lineage has been adorned by kings such as Nahuṣa, Yayāti, and Kārtavīrya Arjuna, endowed with strength, valor, brilliance, character, and noble deeds. I will now relate it. Atri, the son of Brahmā—who was born from the lotus that sprang from the navel of the divine Nārāyaṇa, creator of all worlds—was the father of Soma. The blessed Brahmā, lotus-born, anointed Soma as lord over the plants, herbs, and stars. Soma performed the Rājasūya sacrifice, and by his great power, supreme lordship, and authority, pride entered him. Because of his arrogance, he abducted Tārā, the wife of Bṛhaspati, preceptor of the gods. Though Bṛhaspati, Brahmā, and all the divine sages pleaded with him, Soma would not release her. The enmity between Soma and Bṛhaspati led Uśanā (Śukra) to support Soma, while the blessed Rudra, having acquired knowledge from Aṅgirasa, aided Bṛhaspati.