“(Rishi) Shaunaka said, ‘O Soota, narrate once more in detail this history of the learned and Dharmic Aastika. Our curiosity…

“Soota said, ‘O foremost of persons acquainted with (Lord) Brahma (Rishi Shaunaka), long before the mother of the snakes (Kadru)…

“Soota said, ‘That Brahmana of rigid vows (Jaratkaaru) then wandered over the earth for a wife but he did not…

“(Rishi) Shaunaka said, ‘For what reason did that tiger among kings, Raja Janamejaya, determine to take the lives of the…

“Soota continued, ‘Ruru then asked, ‘O best of Dwijas (Dwija means twice-born, while the first birth is natural, the second…

“Soota continued ‘The Dundubha then said, ‘In former times, I had a friend Khagamaa by name. He was powerful in…

“Soota said, ‘Ruru, on hearing those words, replied, ‘O snake, my wife (Pramadvara), dear to me as life, was bit…

O man of Dharma, for one belonging to this world whose days have run out can never come back to…

“Soota said, ‘O Brahmana (Rishi Shaunaka), Chyavana, the son of Bhrigu, fathered a son in the womb of his wife…

“Soota said, ‘Agni angry at the curse of (Maharishi) Bhrigu, thus addressed the Rishi, ‘O Brahmana, what means this rashness…