Sinīvālī, Kuhū, Rākā, and Anumati came into the world, their births marking the unfolding of divine lineages. Anasūyā, wife of Atri, gave birth to their sinless sons, continuing the noble heritage. Prīti, the wife of Pulastya, bore a son named Datoli. In a previous cycle of creation, during the Svāyambhuva Manvantara, the sage Agastya existed, and his three sons—Kardama, Śvāvarīya, and Sahiṣṇu—were born to him. Kṣamā, the wife of Pulaha, brought forth children, and Sannati, wife of Kratu, gave birth to the Bālakhilyas. Sixty thousand ascetics, each radiant like water, smoke, and the sun, and each only the size of a thumb-joint, were born with upward-flowing seed. Ūrjjā, the wife of Viśiṣṭha, gave birth to seven sons: Rajogātra, Ūrdhvabāhu, Vasana, Anagha, Sutapā, Śukra, and the lord of fire, the eldest son of Brahmā—all spotless sages. From this lord of fire, through Svāhā, three sons were born: Pāvaka, Pāvamāna, and Śuci, who consumes water. From these three, in succession, forty-five more sons were born, making a total of forty-nine fires. These fires are described as father and three sons, and thus, the ancestors created by Brahmā have been explained. Among these ancestors, the Agniṣvāttas, Bahirṣads, Anagnis, and Sāgnis, together with Svadhā, gave birth to Mainā and Vaidhāriṇī. Both daughters were learned in Brahman, yoginīs endowed with supreme knowledge and all virtues. Thus, the progeny of Dakṣa’s daughters is recounted. Whoever remembers this lineage with faith will never remain childless. Śrī Parāśara continued, saying: Priyavrata and Uttānapāda, the two mighty and righteous sons of Svāyambhuva Manu, have been described to you. Of these, Uttānapāda had a son named Uttama by Suruci, his beloved wife, who was exceedingly dear to him. The king’s other queen, Sunīti, was not greatly favored, and her son was Dhruva. One day, Dhruva saw his cousin Uttama seated on the king’s lap and wished in his heart to climb onto his father’s lap as well. But the king, though present, did not welcome Dhruva, who had come with affection and eagerness. Suruci, seeing her co-wife’s son eager to climb onto the lap, and her own son already seated there, spoke harshly to Dhruva: "Why do you desire in vain, child, such a great wish? One born from another woman cannot attain what is not conceived in my womb. You desire the highest, which is unattainable; you lack discernment. Truly, you are also his son, but you were not borne by me. This royal seat, the refuge of all kings, is fit only for my son. Why do you trouble yourself? Your wish is lofty, just as my son’s, but why in vain? Do you not realize that you were born from Sunīti?" Hearing these words from his stepmother, Dhruva, angry and hurt, left his father’s presence and went to his own mother’s dwelling. Sunīti saw her son’s anger, his lower lip trembling, and took him onto her lap, asking gently, "Child, what is the cause of your anger? Who has not welcomed you? Who would blame your father, who has wronged you?" Dhruva told his mother everything as it happened—how Suruci, proud, had spoken before the king. Hearing this, Sunīti was distressed, sighed deeply, and her eyes filled with tears as she spoke: "Suruci has spoken the truth, my son; you are unfortunate. Indeed, the virtuous are not freed from co-wives. Do not be disturbed, dear one, by what has been done in the past. Who can give or take away what you have not done? Therefore, you should not let sorrow arise in you because of those words. The royal throne, the royal umbrella, boons, and elephants—these belong to the one whose merit is great. Understand this, my son, and be at peace. By the merit of deeds in previous births, Suruci became the king’s wife, while another like me, lacking merit, is called otherwise. Her son, endowed with accumulated merit, is thus Uttama; my son, Dhruva, was born with little merit. Even so, you ought not to make yourself unhappy; a person should be content with whatever is his, as long as it lasts. If you have been greatly distressed by Suruci’s words, then strive for the accumulation of merit, which bestows all results. Be virtuous, devoted to righteousness, friendly, and intent on the welfare of living beings; just as water flows downward, so too do riches come to one who is worthy." Dhruva replied, "Mother, though you have spoken these words to calm me, they do not remain in my heart, which has been wounded by harsh speech. Therefore, I shall strive in such a way that I attain the highest and most excellent position, honored by all the worlds and never fading. Suruci is the king’s beloved, but I was not born from her womb; mother, see my power, though I was born even from your aged womb." Thus, the story unfolds, tracing the divine lineages and the beginning of Dhruva’s resolve, a tale of virtue, merit, and the search for honor that echoes through the ages.