As long as Devapi remained steadfast in virtue and was not tainted by faults, the kingdom rightfully belonged to him. Yet, when it was finally determined, “Enough of this, let the kingdom be given to him,” the chief minister Ashmaravin dispatched ascetics into the forest—ascetics who spoke in accordance with the Vedic doctrine. Through their efforts, even the mind of the prince—the upright son of the king—was led away from the righteous path and made to follow teachings that opposed the Vedic doctrine. King Shantanu, troubled by the words of the Brahmins and burdened with sorrow, gathered those Brahmins before him and journeyed to the forest, intent on offering the kingdom to his elder brother, Devapi. Upon reaching the hermitage, the gods themselves approached Devapi, the humble son of the king. The Brahmins, speaking words grounded in the Vedic tradition, declared to Devapi, “The kingdom should be ruled by the elder brother.” But Devapi, in many ways, refuted their arguments with reasoning contrary to the Vedic doctrine. The Brahmins then turned to Shantanu and said, “Come, O King, enough of this delay. The drought, which had persisted endlessly due to the utterance of words opposed to the Vedic doctrine, has now ceased.” They explained that since the elder brother had fallen from virtue, Shantanu was not merely the successor, but the rightful ruler. With this, Shantanu returned to his city and governed the kingdom. Even though Devapi remained, having spoken words opposed to the Vedic doctrine, the Lord Parjanya sent rain for the benefit of all. In this lineage, Bahlika was blessed with a son named Somadatta. Somadatta himself became the father of three sons: Bhuri, Bhurishravas, and Shalya. Shantanu, renowned and learned, was blessed with Bhishma, born to him from the immortal river Jahnavi. Shantanu also fathered two sons, Chitrangada and Vichitravirya, through Satyavati. Chitrangada, still a boy, was slain in battle by the Gandharva of the same name. Vichitravirya married Ambā and Vālika, daughters of the king of Kashi, but due to excessive enjoyment and distress, he was seized by consumption and passed away. By Satyavati’s command, Krishna Dvaipayana—my own son—honoring his mother’s word as law, begot Vidura in the field of Vichitravirya, through the maid sent by Dhritarashtra and Pandu. Dhritarashtra, upon Gandhari, fathered a hundred sons, among whom Duryodhana and Duhshasana were foremost. Pandu, while hunting in the forest, was rendered incapable of fathering children by the curse of a sage. Therefore, through the blessings of Dharma, Vayu, and Indra, Yudhishthira, Bhimasena, and Arjuna were born to Kunti, and through the Ashvins, Nakula and Sahadeva were born to Madri—five sons in all. All five brothers shared Draupadi as their wife. From Yudhishthira came Prativindhya; from Bhimasena, Shrutasena; from Arjuna, Shrutakirti; from Nakula, Shatakarma; and from Sahadeva, Shrutakarma. Kashi received a son named Sarvaga from Bhimasena. Yaudheyi bore Devaka to Yudhishthira. Hidimba bore Ghatotkacha to Bhimasena. Kashi again received Sarvaga from Bhimasena. Vijayī bore Kuhotra to Sahadeva. Renumati bore Niramitra to Nakula. Ulupi, the serpent maiden, bore Iravan to Arjuna. By the daughter of the king of Manipur, Arjuna begot Babruvahana through the custom of putrika. Subhadra, even in her youth, bore Abhimanyu, who was endowed with great strength and valor and conquered all enemy warriors. When Abhimanyu’s wife Uttara was pregnant, the unborn child was reduced to ashes in the womb by the Brahma weapon unleashed by Ashvatthama. Yet, by the will and power of the Lord, whose feet are worshipped by gods and demons alike, the child was revived, and Parikshit was born. Parikshit, now, rules the earth with unbroken righteousness. Next, I shall recount the future kings. The present ruler is Parikshit; his sons will be Janamejaya, Shrutasena, Ugrasena, and Bhimasena. Janamejaya’s son will be Shatanika, who, having studied the Vedas under Yajnavalkya and acquired weapons from Kripa, with a mind detached from pleasure and pain, and instructed by Shaunaka in self-knowledge, will attain supreme liberation. From Shatanika will be born Ashvamedhadatta; from him, Adhisimakrishna; from Adhisimakrishna, Nicakshu, who, when Hastinapura is carried away by the Ganges, will reside in Kaushambi. He will have a son named Ushna; from Ushna will come Vicitraratha, then Shuciratha, then Vrishniman, then Sushena, then Sunitha, from Sunitha, Richa, then Nricakshu, whose son will be Sukhābala, from him Pariplava, then Sunaya, then Medhavi, from Medhavi, Nrpanjaya, then Mridu, from him Tigma, then Vasudana, and after him, another Shatanika. From this Shatanika will come Udayana; from Udayana, Vihinara; then Dandapani, then Niramitra, and from him, Kṣemaka. Thus it is said: “The lineage which is the source of Brahmins and Kshatriyas, honored by royal sages, will, upon reaching King Kṣemaka, come to an end in the Kali age.” Now, O wise one, I shall describe the future kings of the Ikshvaku line. Brihadkshana will be the son of Brihadbala.