In a future age, it is foretold that a noble soul will restore the kṣatriya lineage of the Solar dynasty. This illustrious line continued as follows: Praśuśruka was born, and his son was Susandhi. From Susandhi came Amarṣa, whose son was Sahasvān, and from him, Viśvabhava. Viśvabhava’s son was Bṛhadbala, who met his end in the great Bhārata war, slain by Abhimanyu, the valiant son of Arjuna. Thus have the principal kings of the Ikṣvāku line been recounted, and it is said that whoever listens to their deeds with reverence is freed from all sins. Among the descendants of Ikṣvāku was a king named Nimi. Desiring to perform a grand sacrifice that would last a thousand years, Nimi chose the sage Vasiṣṭha as his chief priest. However, Vasiṣṭha replied, “I have already been chosen by Indra for a sacrifice that will last five hundred years. Once that is complete, I will come and serve as your priest.” Nimi, remaining silent, did not object, and so Vasiṣṭha proceeded to fulfill Indra’s sacrifice. Meanwhile, King Nimi began his own sacrifice, assisted by other learned priests such as Gautama. When Vasiṣṭha had finished Indra’s rite, he returned, eager to serve Nimi, but found that Gautama was already officiating. Seeing that the king had not refused Gautama, Vasiṣṭha was angered. In his wrath, he assigned another rite to Gautama and cursed Nimi, saying, “Because you did not reject me, you will become without a body—Videha.” When the king awoke and learned of this, he replied, “Because you, my teacher, have cursed me while I was asleep and unaware, without even speaking to me, you too shall be cursed.” With these words, Nimi relinquished his body. By the power of Nimi’s curse, Vasiṣṭha’s energy entered the radiance of Mitra and Varuṇa. From their union with Urvaśī, Vasiṣṭha gained another body. As for Nimi, his body, beautiful and fragrant with the scent of oil and other substances, did not decay or suffer corruption, but remained as if freshly dead. When the sacrifice was completed, the priests addressed the gods who had come to receive their share, saying, “Let a boon be granted to the sacrificer.” The gods agreed, and Nimi spoke: “O blessed ones, there is no greater suffering in this world than the separation of body and soul. Therefore, I wish to dwell in the eyes of all beings, never to take on a body again.” The gods granted his request, and from that time forward, Nimi resided in the eyes of all creatures, and thus beings began to blink. Because King Nimi had died without a son, the sages, fearing the land would be left without a ruler, churned his body in the forest. From this act, a boy was born. Because he was born from the act of birth itself, he was called Janaka. Janaka’s son was named Videha, and thus he was also called Vaideha. From Mathana came Mithi, whose son was Udāvasu. The line continued: Nandivardhana, then Suketu, then Devarāta, followed by Bṛhadukūtha, then Mahāvīrya, Satyadhṛti, Dhṛṣṭaketu, and Haryaśva. Haryaśva’s son was Maru, whose son was Pratibandhaka, then Kṛtaratha, Kṛti, Vibudha, Mahādhṛti, Kṛtirāta, Mahāroma, Suvarṇaroma, Hrasvaroma, and then Sīradhvaja. While Sīradhvaja was performing a sacrifice for the sake of a son, his daughter Sītā arose from the furrow of the earth. Sīradhvaja’s brother was Kuśadhvaja, lord of Sāṅkāśya, and Sīradhvaja’s wife was Bhānumatī. From Bhānumat came Śatadyumna, whose son was Śuci. Śuci’s son was Ūrjjacavaha, then Satyadhvaja, then Kuni (or Kriṇi), then Añjana, then Ṛtujit, then Ariṣṭanemi, then Śratāyu, Sūryāśva, Sañjaya, Kṣemāri, Danena, then Mīnaratha (or Mānaratha), Satyaratha, Sātyarathi, Sātyaratharupagu, Śruta, Śāpa, and Suvarjjā, the son of Mitrāvaruṇa. Suvarjjā’s son was Subhāsa, then Suśruta, then Jaya, then Vijaya, then Ṛta, Sunaya, Vītahavya, Sañjaya, Dhṛti, Bahulāśva, and finally Kṛti. In Kṛti, the line of Janaka was firmly established. These are the kings of Mithilā, and among them, many were rulers devoted to the knowledge of the Self. At this point, Maitreya, the devoted disciple, spoke: “O venerable one, you have told me the descendants of the Sun. Now I wish to hear about all the royal descendants of Soma as well. Please tell me, O Brāhmaṇa, about those whose illustrious line still endures today, whose fame remains steadfast, and whose faces are radiant with grace.” Śrī 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—kings of great strength, valor, brilliance, character, and noble deeds. I will now relate it—listen carefully. Atri, the son of Brahmā, was born from the lotus that sprang from the navel of the divine Nārāyaṇa, the creator of all worlds. From Atri came Soma. The blessed Brahmā, the lotus-born, anointed Soma as the lord over the plants, herbs, and the stars. Soma performed the Rājasūya sacrifice, and due to his great power, supreme lordship, and authority, pride entered his heart. Overcome by arrogance, Soma abducted Tārā, the wife of Bṛhaspati, the preceptor of all the gods. Though Bṛhaspati, the blessed Brahmā, and all the divine sages pleaded with him to return her, Soma did not relent. Because of the enmity between Soma and Bṛhaspati, Uśanā (Śukra) became a supporter of Soma, while the blessed Rudra, having acquired knowledge from Aṅgirasa, aided Bṛhaspati. With Uśanā’s support, all the Daityas and Dānavas, including Jambha and Kumbha, made a great effort on Soma’s behalf. For Bṛhaspati, Indra, accompanied by all the armies of the gods, became his ally. Thus, a fierce battle arose between them, caused by Tārā, and it became known as the war for Tārā. In this battle, among the demons led by Rudra, all the gods released their weapons, and among the gods, the demons also discharged theirs. The tumult of battle agitated the hearts of both gods and demons, disturbing the very world itself, and so Brahmā was sought for refuge. Then the blessed lotus-born Lord pacified Śaṃkara, the demons, and the gods, and caused Tārā to be returned to Bṛhaspati. Seeing that Tārā was pregnant, Bṛhaspati spoke, “This child is not born in my domain; he belongs to another. Cast him away, do not keep him out of excessive boldness.” At these words, Tārā, ever devoted to her husband, immediately expelled the fetus onto a reed stalk. As soon as he was cast out, the child, endowed with great brilliance, absorbed the radiance of the gods.