In the great narration of the sage Ugraśravāsa, the origins of incarnations—celestial, ghostly, and demonic—are revealed in wondrous order. In the Yadu lineage was born Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the first-born of the universe, son of Vasudeva and Devakī, the incarnation of Viṣṇu himself. Alongside him descended Śeṣa, who, to destroy ruthless demons such as Pralamba, took birth as Balarāma, son of Vasudeva by Rohiṇī. Rukmiṇī, incarnation of Lakṣmī, came as his divine consort, while Pradyumna embodied Sanatkumāra. Sixteen thousand Gopikās were celestial incarnates, drawn to earth by fate. Countless other deities, too, took form in the lineages of Yadu, Vṛṣṇi, Bhoja, and Andhaka.
In this age, Prabhāsa descended as Bhīṣma, the scion of wisdom and conqueror of Paraśurāma. Bṛhaspati took birth as Droṇācārya, the light of martial arts. Aśvatthāmā, born of Droṇa, was the terror of enemies and master of ancient codes, inheritor of profound ethical discernment. The Maruts incarnated as warriors skilled in battle—Drupada, Sātyaki, Virāṭa. Vidura, scion of dharma, was none other than Yama reborn. Kuntī and Mādrī, consorts of the venerable King Pāṇḍu, were incarnations of Siddhi and Buddhi. Dharma appeared as Yudhiṣṭhira, Vāyu as Bhīma, Indra as Arjuna, and the Aśvins as Nakula and Sahadeva. Draupadī shone forth as Lakṣmī herself, while Agni blazed anew as Dhṛṣṭadyumna, son of Drupada. Thus arose the warriors of the Mahābhārata, whose births were for the balance of the earth.
This sacred lineage, said the sage, is the root of wisdom, and whoever hears it with reverence is blessed with health and prosperity. Janamejaya, eager to know further, asked to hear the histories of the kings and nobles of the Kuru and Pāṇḍava houses—men of virtue, sagacity, dharmic pursuit, and great sacrifice—whose devotion to righteous rule bore the weight of earth. For they excelled in protecting their people, in performing grand rituals, and in keeping their vows of impartiality and justice.
From Kaśyapa and Aditi, daughter of Dakṣa, was born Vivasvān, who begot Yama, Śani, Yamunā, and Tapatī. Vivasvān became father to Vaivasvata Manu, who in turn gave rise to the four castes—Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya, and Śūdra—and to fifty kings, among them Vena, whose line perished through fratricidal strife. Ila, daughter of Manu, and Budha, son of the Moon, begot Purūravas, who ruled the earth of thirteen islands. In his pride, he oppressed scholars and Vedic seers, robbing them of dignity and liberty. Brahmā, angered by his misconduct, sent Sanatkumāra and other sages to guide him. Purūravas, swollen with power, refused them audience; insulted, they cursed him to lose memory and fall into madness. At that time, he was reveling in the company of celestial nymphs. From his union with Urvasi were born six sons—Āyu, Dhīmant, Amāvasu, Dhṛḍhāyu, Vanāyu, and Śatāyu. Āyu, with his consort Svabhānu, begot six more—Nahuṣa, Vṛddha, Śarma, Raji, Gaya, and Anenasa.
Nahuṣa became lord of the entire earth, performed a hundred sacrifices, and conquered all quarters. For his merit, he was raised to the throne of Indra. His queen, Priyamvada, bore him six sons: Yati, Yayāti, Samyāti, Āyāti, Ayati, and Dhruva. Yayāti, famed for virtue and sacrifice, married Devayānī, daughter of Śukrācārya, and begot Yadu and Turvasu. Through Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of the Asura king Vṛṣaparvan, he fathered Druhyu, Anu, and Puru. Cursed by Śukra with untimely old age, Yayāti, seeking to regain youth, asked his sons for their vitality in exchange for his crown. All refused save Puru, son of Śarmiṣṭhā, who alone offered his vigor, thereby gaining the inheritance of kingship.
Amazed at this tale, Janamejaya asked why Yayāti, a king of virtue, should incur a curse from his own father-in-law. The sage then recounted: Vṛṣaparvan, king of the Asuras, ruled under the guidance of Śukrācārya, who possessed the secret of Mṛtasañjīvanī—the art of reviving the dead. With this power, demons revived endlessly in their battles against the gods, striking terror into the celestial hosts. To counter this, the gods resolved to send young Kaca, son of Bṛhaspati, to study under Śukra and learn the secret. They instructed him to serve Devayānī, the sage’s daughter, with care and devotion, for through her goodwill the knowledge might be won.
Kaca approached Śukra with humility, offering himself as a disciple. Śukra, pleased by his modesty and recalling his respect for Bṛhaspati, accepted him. Kaca served loyally and won the affection of Devayānī. But the demons, discovering his mission, slew him repeatedly. Each time, Śukra, urged by his daughter, revived the boy with the power of Sanjīvanī. At last, the Asuras reduced Kaca to ashes, mixed him with liquor, and gave it to their preceptor to drink. Devayānī, grieving his absence, pressed her father for his return. Perceiving the truth, Śukra realized Kaca lived within him. Kaca’s voice called from inside, begging release. Śukra, bound by his daughter’s plea, commanded Kaca to tear his way out and revive him by Sanjīvanī. Thus, Kaca, taught the secret by his guru himself, restored Śukra to life, and completed his training.
Having mastered all the knowledge a disciple should seek, Kaca was prepared to depart. Yet Devayānī, bound by affection, sought to detain him, and thereby set in motion events that would alter the destiny of worlds
