Satyavatī, moved by her mother’s question about the strength and power of the Brahmin’s son, offered her own oblation to her mother. When the sage returned from the forest and saw Satyavatī, he was troubled by her actions. He said, “O most sinful one! What improper act have you committed? Your form appears exceedingly fierce; surely you have used the oblation meant for your mother. This is not proper.” The sage explained, “I have established all valor and strength in your son’s conduct, and also endowed him with the complete wealth of Brahmin qualities—peace, knowledge, forbearance, and so forth. If your mother acts contrary to this, your son will possess the fierce, weapon-bearing, and destructive conduct of a Kshatriya; but if she desires tranquility, he will have the conduct of a Brahmin.” Hearing this, Satyavatī immediately bowed at the sage’s feet and pleaded, “Revered one! I have acted out of ignorance; please show me your grace. May such a son not be born to me; instead, let such a grandson be born.” The sage replied, “So be it.” In time, Satyavatī gave birth to Jamadagni, while her mother gave birth to Viśvāmitra. Satyavatī herself became the river Kauśikī. Jamadagni, son of Reṇu of the Ikṣvāku lineage, married Reṇukā. From her, Jamadagni begot Paraśurāma, the destroyer of all Kshatriya power, who is a portion of the divine Nārāyaṇa and the teacher of all worlds. Śrī Parāśara then spoke of Purūravas’ eldest son, Āyu, who married Rāhu’s daughter. From her, Āyu had five sons: Nahusha, Kṣatravṛddha, Raṃbha, Raji, and Anenā. Kṣatravṛddha’s son was Suhotra, who had three sons—Kāśyapa, Kāśa, and Gṛtsamada. Gṛtsamada’s son was Śaunaka, who established the fourfold order. Kāśya’s lineage continued: Kāśya, then the king of Kāśī, then Rāṣṭra, then Dīrghatapā, whose son was Dhanvantari. Dhanvantari, accomplished in all acts and the remnant among beings, received a boon from the blessed Nārāyaṇa at the time of a past creation: “Having descended in the lineage of the kings of Kāśī, you will properly divide the science of life (Āyurveda) into eight branches and receive a share of the sacrificial offerings.” Dhanvantari’s son was Ketumān; Ketumān’s son was Bhīmaratha; his son was Divodāsa; and his son was Pratardana. Pratardana, having destroyed the line of Bhadraśreṇya and conquered all his enemies, became known as Śatrujit. Because his son was dear to him, he was called Vatsa, and thus his son was known as Vatsa. Due to his devotion to truth, he gained the name Ṛtadhvaja. He obtained a horse named Kuvalaya and became widely known as Kuvalayāśva. The son of that calf was named Alarka, of whom it is sung: for six thousand and six hundred years, no one other than Alarka, while still young, ruled the earth. Alarka’s son was Sannati; Sannati’s son was Sunitha; his son was Suketu; Suketu’s son was Dharmaketu; then came Satyaketu, Vibhu, Suvibhu, Sukumara, Drishtaketu, Vitihotra, Bharga, then Bhargabhumi, and then the establishment of the fourfold order—these are the kings of the Kashyapa line. Next, Parāśara described the lineage of Raji. Raji had five hundred sons, all of incomparable strength and sovereignty. At the beginning of the war between the gods and the demons, both sides, eager for victory, approached Brahma and asked which side would be victorious. Brahma replied, “Victory will be with the side for which Raji takes up arms and fights.” The demons approached Raji and requested his help, offering him the position of Indra after victory, but insisted Prahlada was their Indra and departed. The gods approached Raji similarly, and, desiring his alliance, promised him the position of Indra. With Raji’s help, the gods destroyed the demon host. Indra, victorious, bowed at Raji’s feet and declared him his father and protector, the highest among beings. Raji, smiling, replied, “So be it; for a respectful greeting, even if filled with many flattering words from the enemy’s side, cannot be disregarded,” and returned to his city. Indra retained the position of Indra, but when Raji ascended to heaven, Raji’s sons, prompted by the sage Narada, requested the kingdom from Indra. When Indra refused, Raji’s sons, being stronger, defeated him and assumed the position of Indra themselves. After a long time, Brihaspati, seeing Indra deprived of his share of the three worlds’ sacrifices, spoke to him. Indra asked for at least a piece of sacrificial cake the size of a jujube fruit for nourishment. Brihaspati replied, “If you had asked me earlier, what would I not have done for your sake? In just a few days, I will restore you to your own position.” Brihaspati then performed a ritual to bewilder the minds of Raji’s sons and increase Indra’s power. Overcome by delusion, Raji’s sons abandoned righteousness and the Vedas and were destroyed by Indra, who, with his power restored by the priest, ascended to heaven. Thus, hearing of Indra’s fall and restoration, a man does not suffer misfortune or wickedness. Raṃbha was childless. Kshatravriddha’s son was Pratikshatra; his son was Sanjaya; then Vijaya; from him Yajnakrit; his son was Harshavardhana; Harshavardhana’s son Sahadeva; from him Adina; his son Jayasena; then Samhuti; then his son Kshatradharma—these are the descendants of Kshatravriddha. Now, Parāśara described the lineage of Nahusha. Nahusha had six mighty and valiant sons: Yati, Yayati, Samyati, Ayati, Viyati, and Kriti. Yati did not desire the kingdom; Yayati became king and married Devayani, daughter of Ushanas, and Sharmishtha, daughter of Vrishaparvan. Because of Kavi’s curse, Yayati was afflicted with old age before his time. By the favor of Shukra’s words, Yayati wished to transfer his old age and said to his eldest son Yadu, “Because of your mother’s great curse, old age has come upon me prematurely; by her grace, I may transfer it to you for a thousand years, so that, satisfied with pleasures, I may enjoy your youth.” When told, “You must not refuse this,” Yadu did not wish to accept that old age, so his father cursed him, saying, “Your descendants will not inherit the kingdom because of you.” Yayati then urged his other sons—Drahya, Turvasa, and Anu—to accept his old age and give him their youth, but each refused, and so he cursed them. Finally, he spoke to Puru, the youngest son of Sharmishtha. Puru, devoted to his father, bowed respectfully and nobly accepted old age, giving his own youth to Yayati. Yayati, rejuvenated, enjoyed pleasures as he wished, governed his subjects well, and lived according to righteousness, time, and his own strength. Enjoying pleasures together with Vishvaci, Yayati’s mind became daily absorbed in the thought, “I will reach the end of desires.