"Janamejaya said, 'O Brahmana (Rishi Vaishampaayana), I have now heard from you this great history of my ancestors. I had also heard from you about the great monarchs that were born in this line. But I have not been satisfied, this charming account being so short. Therefore, be pleased, O Brahmana, to recite the delightful narrative just in detail commencing from Manu, the lord of creation. Who is there that will not be charmed with such an account, as it is sacred? The fame of these monarchs increased by their wisdom, Dharma, accomplishments, and high character, has so swelled as to cover the three worlds. Having listened to the history, sweet as ambrosia (Amruta in Sanskrit), of their liberality, capability, physical strength, mental vigour, energy, and perseverance, I have not been satisfied!'
"Vaishampaayana said, 'Hear then, O monarch, as I recite in full the auspicious account of your own race just as I had heard it from Dwaipayana (Maharishi Veda Vyasa) before.
"Daksha fathered Aditi, Aditi fathered Vivaswat (Lord Surya i.e. Sun), Vivaswat fatherd Manu, Manu fathered Ilaa and Ilaa fathered Pururavaa. Pururavaa fathered Aayu, Aayu fathered Nahusha, and Nahusha fathered Yayati. Yayati had two wives - Devayani, the daughter of Ushanas (Asura Guru Shukra), and Sharmishtha the daughter of Vrishaparvaa.
"Here occurs a shloka regarding (Yayati's) descendants, 'Devayani gave birth to Yadu and Turvasu; and Vrishaparvaa's daughter, Sharmishtha gave birth to Druhyu, Anu, and Pooru. The descendants of Yadu are the Yadavas and of Pooru are the Pauravas.
"Pooru had a wife of the name of Kausalya, on whom he fathered a son named Janamejaya who performed three Ashwamedha (yagna) and a yagna called Vishwajit. Then he entered into the forest. Janamejaya had married Anantaa, the daughter of Maadhava, and fathered upon her a son called Praachinwat.
"The prince (Praachinwat) was so called because he had conquered all the eastern countries up to the very confines of the region where the Sun rises. Praachinwat married Ashmaki, a daughter of the Yadavas and fathered upon her a son named Samyaati.
"Samyaati married Varaangi, the daughter of Drishadwata and fathered upon her a son named Ahampaati.
"Ahampaati married Bhanumati, the daughter of Kritaveerya and fathered upon her a son named Sarvabhauma.
"Sarvabhauma married Sunanda, the daughter of the Kekaya prince, having obtained her by force. He fathered upon her a son named Jayatsena, who married Sushavaa, the daughter of the Vidarbha king and fathered upon her Araacheena.
"Araacheena also married another princess of Vidarbha, Maryaadaa by name. He fathered on her a son named Arihan. Arihan married Angi and fathered on her Mahabhauma.
"Mahabhauma married Suyagna, the daughter of Prasenajit. Of her was born Ayutanaayi.
"He was so called (Ayutanaayi) because he had performed a yagna at which the fat of an Ayuta (ten thousands) of male beings was required. Ayutanaayi took for a wife Bhaasaa, the daughter of Prithusravas. By her was born a son named Akrodhana, who took to wife Karandu, the daughter of the king of Kalinga.
"Of her was born Devatithi, and Devatithi took for his wife Maryaadaa, the princess of Videha. Of her was born a son named Arihan.
"Arihan took to wife Sudeva, the princess of Anga, and upon her he fathered a son named Riksha.
"Riksha married Jwaalaa, the daughter of Takshaka, and he fathered upon her a son of the name of Matinaara, who performed on the bank of Saraswati the twelve years' yagna said to be so effective. On conclusion of the sacrifice, Saraswati appeared in person before the king and chose him for husband. He fathered upon her a son named Tamsu. Here occurs a sloka descriptive of Tamsu's descendants.
"Tamsu was born of Saraswati by Matinaara. Tamsu himself fathered a son named Ilina on his wife, the princess Kalingi.
"Ilina fathered on his wife Rathamtara five sons of whom Dushanta was the eldest.
"Dushmanta took to wife Shakuntala, the daughter of Vishwamitra. He fathered on her a son named Bharata. Here occurs two shlokas about (Dushanta's) descendants.
"The mother is but the sheath of flesh in which the father fathers the son. Indeed, the father himself is the son. Therefore, O Dusmanta, support your son and insult not Shakuntala. O god among men, the father himself becoming the son rescues himself from hell. Shakuntala has truly said that you are the author of this child's being.
"It is for this (i.e., because the king supported his child after hearing the above speech of Asariri - the divine voice) that Shakuntala's son came to be called Bharata (the supported).
"Bharata married Sunanda, the daughter of Saarvasena, the king of Kashi, and fathered upon her the son named Bhumanyu.
"Bhumanyu married Vijaya, the daughter of Dashaarha. He fathered upon her a son Suhotra who married Suvarna, the daughter of Ikshvaku. To her was born a son named Hasti who founded this city, which has, therefore, been called Hastinapura.
"Hasti married Yashodhara, the princess of Traigataa. Of her was born a son named Vikunthana who took for a wife Sudeva, the princess of Dashaarha. By her was born a son named Ajamidha.
"Ajamidha had four wives named Kaikeyi, Gaandhaari, Vimalaa and Naagaa. He fathered on them two thousand and four hundred sons.
"But amongst them all, Samvarana became the preserver of the dynasty. Samvarana took for his wife Tapati, the daughter of Vivaswat (Lord Surya, i.e., the Sun).
"Of her (Tapati) was born Kuru, who married Subhaangi, the princess of Dashaarha.
"He (Kuru) fathered on her a son named Viduratha, who took to wife Supriya, the daughter of the Maaghadhi. He fathered upon her a son named Arugwaan.
"Arugwaan married Amrita, the daughter of the Maagadhi.
"Of her (Amrita) was born a son named Parikshit, who took for his wife Suyushaa, the daughter of the Baahudaa, and fathered upon her a son named Bhimasena.
"Bhimasena married Sukumaari, the princess of Kekaya and fathered upon her Pratisravas whose son was Pratipa.
"Pratipa married Sunanda, the daughter of Shibi, and fathered upon her three sons, viz., Devaapi, Shantanu and Baalhika.
"Devaapi, while still a boy, entered the forest as a hermit. Shantanu became king. Here occurs a shloka in respect of Shantanu.
"Those old men that were touched by this monarch not only felt an indescribable sensation of joy but also became restored to youth. Therefore, this monarch was called Shantanu.
"Shantanu married Ganga, who bore him a son Devavrata who was afterwards called Bhishma.
"Bhishma, moved by the desire of doing good to his father, got him married to Satyavati who was also called Gandhakaali. In her maidenhood she (Satyavati) had a son by (Rishi) Paraasharaa, named Dwaipayana (Maharishi Veda Vyasa). Upon her Shantanu fathered two other sons named Chitrangada and Vichitravirya.
"Before they attained to majority, Chitrangada had been slain by the Gandharvas.
"But Vichitravirya became king, and married the two daughters of the king of Kashi, named Ambikaa and Ambaalika. But Vichitravirya died childless.
"Then Satyavati began to think as to how the dynasty of Dushanta might be preserved. Then she recollected the Rishi Dwaipayana (Maharishi Veda Vyasa). The latter coming before her, asked, 'What are your commands?' She (Satyavati) said, 'Your brother Vichitravirya has gone to heaven childless. Father virtuous children for him.' Dwaipayana, consenting to this, fathered three children - Dhritarashtra, Paandu, and Vidura.
"King Dhritarashtra had a hundred sons by his wife, Gandhaari in consequence of the boon granted by Dwaipayana. Amongst those hundred sons of Dhritarashtra, four became celebrated. They are Duryodhana, Duhshaasana, Vikarna, and Chitrasena.
"Paandu had two jewels of wives - Kunti, also called Prithaa, and Maadri. One day Paandu, while out on hunting, saw a deer covering its mate. That was really a Rishi in the form of a deer. Seeing the deer in that attitude, he killed it with his arrows, before its desire was satisfied. Pierced with the king's arrow, the deer quickly changed its form and became a Rishi, and said to Paandu, 'O Paandu, you are Dharmic and also familiar with the pleasure derived from the gratification of one's desire. My desire unsatisfied, you have slain me! Therefore, you also, when so engaged and before you are gratified, shall die!' Paandu, hearing this curse, became pale, and from that time would not go in to his wives.
"He (Paandu) told them these words, 'Through my own fault, I have been cursed! But I have heard that for the childless there are no regions hereafter.' Therefore, he (Paandu) solicited Kunti to have offspring raised for him. Kunti said, 'Let it be', So she raised up offspring. By Dharma she had Yudhishthira; by Maruta (Vaayu), Bhima; and by Shakra (Lord Indra), Arjuna.
"Paandu, well-pleased with her, said, 'This your co-wife is also childless. Therefore, cause her also to bear children.' Kunti saying, 'So be it,' imparted to Maadri the mantra of invocation. On Maadri were raised by the twin Ashwins, the twins Nakula and Sahadeva. (One day) Paandu, seeing Maadri decked with ornaments, had his desire kindled. As soon as he touched her, he died. Maadri ascended the funeral pyre with her lord. She said to Kunti, 'Let these twins of mine be brought up by thee with affection.'
"After some time those five Pandavas were taken by the Rishis of the forest to Hastinapura and there introduced to Bhishma and Vidura. After introducing them, the Rishis disappeared in the very sight of all. After the conclusion of the speech of those Rishis, flowers were showered down upon the spot, and the divine drums also were beaten in the skies. The Pandavas were then taken (by Bhishma).
"They (Pandavas) then represented the death of their father and performed his last honours duly. As they were brought up there, Duryodhana became exceedingly jealous of them. The sinful Duryodhana acting like Rakshasa tried various means to drive them away. But what must be can never be frustrated. So all Duryodhana's efforts proved fruitless.
"Then Dhritarashtra sent them, by an act of deception to Varanavata, and they went there willingly. There an endeavour was made to burn them to death; but it proved failed owing to the warning advice of Vidura.
"After that the Pandavas slew Hidimba, and then they went to a town called Ekachakra. There also they slew a Rakshasa of the name of Baka and then went to Panchala. There obtaining Draupadi for a wife they returned to Hastinapura. There they stayed for some time in peace and fathered children. Yudhishthira fathered Prativindhya; Bhima - Sutasoma; Arjuna - Srutakriti; Nakula - Shataanika; and Sahadeva - Srutakarmaa.
"Besides these, Yudhishthira, having obtained for his wife Devika, the daughter of Govaasana of the Shoubya tribe, in a Swayamvara, fathered upon her a son named Yaudheya.
"Bhima also obtaining for a wife Baladhara, the daughter of the king of Kashi, offered his own prowess as dower and fathered upon her a son named Sarvaga.
"Arjuna also, travelling to Dwaravati, brought away by force Subhadra, the sweet-speeched sister of Vaasudeva (Sri Krishna), and returned in happiness to Hastinapura. He fathered upon her a son named Abhimanyu endued with all accomplishments and dear to Vaasudeva (Sri Krishna) himself.
"Nakula obtaining for his wife Karenuvati, the princess of Chedi, fathered upon her a son named Niramitra.
"Sahadeva also married Vijaya, the daughter of Dyutimat, the king of Madra, obtaining her in a Swayamvara and fathered upon her a son named Suhotra.
"Bhimasena had some time before fathered upon Hidimba a son named Ghatotkacha.
"These are the eleven sons of the Pandavas. Amongst them all, Abhimanyu was the preserver of the family.
"He (Abhimanyu) married Uttara, the daughter of Virata, who brought forth a dead child whom Kunti took up on her lap at the command of Vaasudeva who said, 'I will revive this child of six months.' Though born before time, having been burnt by the fire of (Aswatthaman's weapon) and, therefore, deprived of strength and energy he was revived by Vaasudeva and endued with strength, energy and prowess. After reviving him, Vaasudeva said, 'Because this child has been born in an extinct race, therefore, he shall be called Parikshit'.
"Parikshit married Maadravati, your mother, O king (Janamejaya), and you are born to her, O Janamejaya!
"You have also fathered two sons on your wife Vapushtama, named Shataanika and Shankukarna.
"Shataanika also has fathered one son named Aswamedhadatta upon the princess of Videha.
"O king (Janamejaya), thus have I recited the history of the descendants of Pooru and of the Pandavas. This excellent, Dharma-increasing, and sacred history should ever be listened to by vow-observing (vrata-observing) Brahmanas, by Kshatriyas devoted to the practices of their varna and ready to protect their subjects; by Vaishyas with attention, and by Shudras with respect, whose chief occupation is to wait upon the three other orders. Brahmanas familiar in the Vedas and other persons, who with attention and respect recite this sacred history or listen to it when recited, conquer the heavens and attain to the abode of the blessed. They are also always respected and adored by Devas, Brahamanas, and other men. This holy history of Bharata has been composed by the sacred and illustrious (Maharishi) Vyasa. Veda-knowing Brahmanas and other persons who with respect and without hatred hear it recited, earn great merits of Dharma and conquer the heavens. Though sinning, they are not disregarded by any one. Here occurs a shloka, 'This (Bharata) is equal to the Vedas: it is holy and excellent. It gives wealth, fame, and life. Therefore, it should be listened to by men with complete attention.'"
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