Verse 1

¹Vitatha's son was Manyu, and Manyu's sons were Brhatksatra, then Jaya, Mahavirya, Nara and Garga. Sankrti was Nara's son. ²Sankrti's sons, child of Pandu, were Guru and Rantideva. Rantideva's greatness is sung both here and in the world beyond. ³His wealth came out of the empty sky. He gave away whatever came to him and ate only what came; he held nothing of his own, he was steady, and he went hungry along with his household. ⁴Forty-eight days went by, they say, in which he did not so much as drink. Then in the morning there stood ready ghee, milk-rice, a wheat cake, and water. ⁵His household had come to hard straits, and he was shaking with hunger and thirst. Just as he was about to eat, at that very hour, a brahmin came as a guest.