Devāpi, the noble king of the Paurava line, and Puru, descended from the illustrious Ikṣvāku dynasty and endowed with great yogic powers, now dwell quietly in the village of Kalāpa. When the Kṛta Yuga dawns again, these two will return as the founders of the kṣatriya lineage, becoming the seeds from which Manu’s line will flourish anew. Through such succession, the earth has been ruled by the sons of Manu throughout the three great ages—Kṛta, Tretā, and Dvāpara. Even now, in the Kali Yuga, some of those seed-bearers remain, just as Devāpi and Puru are presently established, O sage. Thus have I, Parāśara, briefly described to you the lineage of kings; but know, Maitreya, that even in a hundred years, its full account could not be told. These and many other kings, blinded by delusion, have claimed dominion over the earth, forgetting that their own bodies are subject to decay. Thinking, “How is this immovable earth mine? How will it belong to my son or to my descendants?”—such kings all met their end. Others came before them and others followed, and those who are yet to come will also be replaced by others in their turn. Watching the ceaseless ambitions of kings, intent on conquest and anxious for expeditions, the earth herself seems to laugh in the autumn, adorned with blossoming flowers. Maitreya, listen now to the verses sung by the earth, which the sage Asita once recited to the righteous king Dharmadhvaja. The Earth spoke: “How does this delusion arise even among wise kings, by which, though they share the same duties, their minds become so excessively trusting? First, ministers seek to conquer themselves; then, they desire to subdue their servants, their citizens, and their enemies as well. Thinking, ‘By this sequence we shall conquer the earth with its oceans,’ their minds become attached, and they do not see death, which is close at hand. The ocean becomes their boundary, and the world falls under their control; but what is the liberation gained by conquering oneself, and what is its fruit? Having abandoned their ancestors, and departing without taking them, kings, out of great delusion, desire to conquer me, the earth. Because of me, conflict arises among fathers and sons, and among brothers too, due to extreme delusion and the attachment of their minds. ‘This whole earth is mine, it belongs to me and to my lineage forever’—whoever, after death, became king elsewhere, had this mistaken thought. Seeing a mind bound by attachment, leaving me and going under the sway of death, how does attachment, born from me, take hold in the heart of one who follows him? ‘This earth is mine—quickly abandon it!’ say kings through their messengers to their enemies; among them, my attachment is excessive, yet compassion arises again for the deluded.” Parāśara continued, “Thus, Maitreya, are the verses of the Earth-song. When heard, attachment melts away, just as snow disappears in the sun’s heat. In this way, I have properly recounted to you the lineage of Manu, in which kings are portions and sub-portions of Viṣṇu, the sustainer of the world. Whoever listens with devotion to this lineage of Manu, as it is recited in order, all their sins are destroyed and their soul becomes pure. Such a person attains incomparable wealth and prosperity, with undisturbed senses, by hearing the illustrious lineages of the moon and sun. Knowing of Ikṣvāku, Jahnu, Māndhātṛ, Sagara, Avikṣit, Raghu, Yayāti, Nahuṣa, and others who have all reached their end—the mighty, the powerful, those with endless stores of wealth—kings whose stories remain only as tales, overcome by time and strength—a wise man does not become attached to sons, wives, homes, fields, or possessions. The heroic men who performed austerities for countless years, who offered great sacrifices and possessed immense strength—their stories remain only as remnants, overcome by time. Pṛthu, who traversed all worlds, undefeated and victorious over enemies, was destroyed by the wind of time, like silk cotton cast into fire. Kārtavīrya, who subdued all continents and destroyed hostile kings, enjoying their sovereignty, is now only spoken of in stories, himself the result of imagination and doubt. The splendor of the ten-headed Rāvaṇa, which illuminated all directions among the Raghavas, vanished in a moment at the mere frown of the destroyer of Tripura, leaving not even ashes behind. The emperor Māndhātṛ, whose name was renowned on earth, is now only the subject of stories—who, after hearing this, even with a dull mind, would cling to possessiveness, thinking it virtuous? Bhagīratha and others, Sagara, Kakutstha, the ten-headed one, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, Yudhiṣṭhira and the rest—these truly lived, not falsely; but where are they now? We do not know. Those kings who are present now, and those yet to come, whom I have described as most illustrious among the best of Brāhmaṇas, these and others so named will all become as those before them. Knowing this, a wise man should not harbor possessiveness, even toward his own self—let alone sons, wives, fields, and other embodied beings. At this, Maitreya spoke: “You have described in full the expansion of the royal line and narrated their deeds as they occurred. Now, O great sage, I wish to hear in detail the true account of the portion-incarnation of Viṣṇu, who was born in the Yadu dynasty. Tell me of the deeds performed by the blessed Supreme Person, who descended to earth in part and in portion.” Śrī Parāśara replied, “Maitreya, listen as I recount to you the deeds of Viṣṇu, who appeared in part and in portion for the good of the world. Long ago, Vasudeva married Devakī, the daughter of Devaka, who was most fortunate and radiant as a goddess. Kamsa, the son of Bhoja, became the charioteer for their wedding chariot as Vasudeva and Devakī were united.