Krishna, the illustrious Yadava prince, entered the great wrestling arena and engaged in fierce combat with Chanura, while his brother Balarama matched strength with Mushtika. In the end, both Chanura and Mushtika fell at their hands, along with the other wrestlers who stood against them. These formidable wrestlers were the sons of Jarasandha, the mighty king. When news of their defeat reached Jarasandha, he was enraged. Out of loyalty to Kamsa, he marched upon Mathura, laying siege to the city and waging war against the Yadavas. In time, Rama and Krishna departed from besieged Mathura and journeyed to Gomanta. There, they faced Jarasandha in battle and vanquished him. They also overcame Paundraka Vasudeva, another foe who challenged their power. Having secured victory, Krishna established the glorious city of Dvaraka on the western shore. There, surrounded by the Yadavas, he made his dwelling. After slaying Bhauma, he rescued the captive maidens and brought them safely to his new city. Krishna, known as Janardana, married these maidens—who hailed from the ranks of gods, Gandharvas, and Yakshas. Among them were sixteen thousand wives, with Rukmini at their head, as well as eight others of note. With Satyabhama, the vanquisher of Naraka, Krishna mounted Garuda and soared to Mani mountain. There, he overcame Indra himself and seized the celestial jewel. He also brought the divine Parijata tree down from heaven and planted it in Satyabhama’s house. Desiring mastery of all arts, Krishna learned the science of weapons from the sage Sandipani. As a token of gratitude, he returned Sandipani’s lost son to him. He also defeated the demon Panchajana, earning the honor of Yama, and slew Kalayavana, for which he was honored by Mucukunda. Krishna showed deep reverence to Vasudeva, Devaki, and the devoted Brahmanas. Meanwhile, Balarama and his consort Revati, after performing a great sacrifice, prepared themselves for departure from the world. From Krishna’s union with Jambavati was born Shamba, and from his other wives came other sons. Rukmini bore him Pradyumna, who, on the sixth day after birth, was abducted by the demon Shambara and cast into the ocean. There, a fisherman caught the child inside a fish, which was then brought to Shambara. Living with Shambara was Mayavati. Mayavati, upon seeing her own husband, Pradyumna, within the fish, was filled with affection. She nourished him and revealed, “I am your Rati, and you are my husband. You are Kama, made bodiless by Shiva, and I was taken by Shambara. I am not Shambara’s wife. You, who know the ways of magic, must slay Shambara.” Hearing her words, Pradyumna slew Shambara and, together with Mayavati, returned to Krishna. Krishna and Rukmini rejoiced at their son’s return. Pradyumna’s son was Aniruddha, noble-minded and destined to wed Usha. Usha was the daughter of Bana, the son of Bali, who ruled in the city of Shonita. Through severe austerity, Bana became a favorite of Shiva, who, pleased with him, promised that Bana would obtain battle as he desired. Usha, seeing Gauri play with Shiva, longed for a husband. Gauri assured her, “Your husband will come to you in a dream at night.” On the twelfth day of the month of Vaishakha, Usha saw her destined husband in a dream, just as Gauri had foretold. Knowing of Usha’s secret union, her friend Citralekha painted the likeness of the man she had seen and, by her powers, brought Aniruddha from Dvaraka to Usha without hindrance. Thus, Aniruddha, Krishna’s grandson, came to Usha, who was the daughter of Bana’s minister Kumbhanda. When Bana’s guards discovered the union, they reported it, and a fierce battle erupted between Bana and Aniruddha. Hearing of these events from Narada, Krishna, accompanied by Pradyumna and Balarama, mounted Garuda and flew to Shonita. There, they overcame the fire and fever sent by Maheshvara. A great battle ensued between Hari (Krishna) and Shankara (Shiva), with volleys of arrows filling the sky. Nandi, Vinayaka, Skanda, and others fought but were defeated by Krishna’s allies. When Shiva was overcome by Krishna’s Jṛmbhana weapon, a thousand arms of Bana were severed. Rudra sought safety and was granted it. By Vishnu’s grace, Bana was spared. The two-armed one addressed Shiva: “The fearlessness you and I have granted to Bana remains. There is no division between us; whoever creates division between us attains hell.” Thus, Vishnu, worshipped by Shiva and others, stood with Aniruddha and Usha. Krishna then returned to Dvaraka, where he delighted Ugrasena and the Yadavas. Aniruddha’s son, Vajra, was all-knowing and descended from Markandeya. Balarama, destroyer of Pralamba, drew the Yamuna river and shattered the monkey Dvivida. He also quelled the madness of the Kauravas. Krishna, the Lord, dwelt in joy with Rukmini and his other wives, and among the Yadavas, he fathered countless sons. Agni now spoke, saying, “I shall recount the Bharata, describing the greatness of Krishna. Vishnu took the Pandavas as his cause to relieve the earth of its burden.” From Vishnu was born Brahma; from Brahma, Atri; from Atri, Soma; from Soma, Budha; from Budha, Aila; and from Aila, Pururavas. From Pururavas came Ayu, then King Nahusha, then Yayati. In the line of Puru, Bharata was born, and from him, King Kuru. In this noble lineage was born Shantanu. From Shantanu came Bhishma, son of Ganga, and his younger brothers, Chitrangada and Vichitra, as well as Satyavati’s son, Shantanu. After Shantanu ascended to heaven, Bhishma, who remained unmarried, protected his brothers’ kingdom. Chitrangada, still a child, was slain in battle. Bhishma, the conqueror, brought two maidens—Ambika and Ambalika, daughters of the king of Kashi—for Vichitravirya. After Vichitravirya died of consumption, with Satyavati’s consent, a king was begotten on Ambika. Dhritarashtra was born to Ambalika, and Pandu, son of Vyasa, was also born. From Dhritarashtra and Gandhari came a hundred sons, headed by Duryodhana. At the hermitage of Shatashringa, due to the lack of a wife, death befell Pandu; from a sage’s curse, Dharma begot Yudhishthira on Kunti for Pandu. Bhima was born from the wind-god, Arjuna from Indra; and from Madri, the twin sons Nakula and Sahadeva were born to the Ashvins. Pandu, united with Madri, died. Karna was born to Kunti while she was still a maiden, and he sided with Duryodhana. Thus, by fate, enmity arose between the Kurus and the Pandavas.