“Satyavati said, ’O puissant one, let our grandson be such, but, O foremost of ascetics, let me have a son of tranquil pursuits.’

“Richika said, ’O thou of the fairest complexion, there is no distinction, I conceive, between a son and a grandson.  It will be, O amiable one, as thou sayest.’

“Vasudeva continued, ’Then Satyavati brought forth a son in Bhrigu’s race who was devoted to penances and characterised by tranquil pursuits, viz., Jamadagni of regulated vows.  Kusika’s son Gadhi begot a son named Viswamitra.  Possessed of every attribute of a Brahmana, that son (though born in the Kshatriya order) was equal to a Brahmana.  Richika (thus) begot Jamadagni, that ocean of penances.  Jamadagni begot a son of fierce deeds.  The foremost of men, that son mastered the sciences, including the science of arms.  Like unto a blazing fire, that son was Rama, the exterminator of the Kshatriyas.  Having gratified Mahadeva on the mountains of Gandhamadana, he begged weapons of that great god, especially the axe of fierce energy in his hands.  In consequence of that unrivalled axe of fiery splendour and irresistible sharpness, he became unrivalled on earth.  Meanwhile the mighty son of Kritavirya, viz., Arjuna of the Kshatriya order and ruler of the Haihayas, endued with great energy, highly virtuous in behaviour, and possessed of a thousand arms through the grace of (the great Rishi) Dattatreya, having subjugated in battle, by the might of his own arms, the whole earth with her mountains and seven islands, became a very powerful emperor and (at last) gave away the earth unto the Brahmanas in a horse-sacrifice.  On a certain occasion, solicited by the thirsty god of fire, O son of Kunti, the thousand-armed monarch of great prowess gave alms unto that deity.  Springing from the point of his shafts, the god of fire, possessed of great energy, desirous of consuming (what was offered), burnt villages and towns and kingdoms and hamlets of cowherds.  Through the prowess of that foremost of men, viz., Kritavirya of great energy, the god of fire burnt mountains and great forests.  Assisted by the king of the Haihayas, the god of fire, caused by the wind to blaze forth with energy consumed the uninhabited but delightful retreat of the high-souled Apava.  Possessed of great energy, Apava, O mighty-armed king, seeing his retreat consumed by the powerful Kshatriya, cursed that monarch in wrath, saying, ’Since, O Arjuna, without excepting these my specious woods, thou hast burnt them, therefore, Rama (of Bhrigu’s race) will lop off thy (thousand) arm.  The mighty Arjuna, however, of great prowess, always devoted to peace, ever regardful of Brahmanas and disposed to grant protection (unto all class), and charitable and brave, O Bharata, did not think of that curse denounced on him by that high-souled Rishis.  His powerful sons, always haughty and cruel, in consequence of that course, became the indirect cause of his death.