Janamejaya said: -
1. O Brahmana, I have heard in detail the account of the births of the Devas, the Danavas, the Rakshasas, the Gandharvas and the Apsaras.
2. I Now desire to hear the accounts of the births of the kings of the Kuru race from the beginning. Therefore, O Brahmana, narrate them before all these Brahmana Rishis.
Vaishampayana said: -
3. O best of the Bharata race, the founder of the Paurava dynasty was a greatly powerful king, named Dushmanta. He was the protector of the earth bounded by the four seas.
4. That king of men enjoyed the fourth part of all the products of the land. He was (also) the lord of various countries in the midst of the sea.
5. That chastiser of foes had sway even over all the countries of the Mlecchas, which were full of men of the four orders, and which was surrounded by the sea, the mine of gems.
6. During his reign, there were no mixed castes, no tillers of the land, no toilers of the mines and no sinful men.
7. O best of men, during his reign, all men, were virtuous and they did everything with an eye on virtue.
8. O child, during his reign, there was no fear from the thieves and no fear from famines; and there was no fear of diseases.
9. Men of all the four castes took pleasure in doing their respective duties and they performed all acts without the desire of gaining fruits. O protector of the world, depending upon him, his subjects felt no fear.
10. Parjanya (Indra) poured showers of rains at the proper time and the crops were all juicy. The earth was full of all kinds of wealth and animals.
11. The Brahmanas were always engaged in their duties and they were very truthful. He (Dushmanta) was a young prince of wonderful prowess and of a body like the thunder-bolt.
12. He could support the Mandara (mountain) with its woods and forests, raising it up on his arms. He was an expert in the four kinds of club-fight and also in using every kind of weapons.
13. He was greatly expert in riding elephants and horses. In strength, he was like Vishnu and in splendour he was like the sun.
14. In gravity he was like the ocean and in patience he was like the earth. The king (Dushmanta) was loved by all his subjects and he too ruled very virtuously those contented men.
Thus ends the sixty-eighth chapter, Sambhava, in the Adi Parva.