In the ancient days, Kṛṣṇa, the great protector, watched over eighty thousand mighty Yādavas. From the union of Pradyumna and Vaidarbhī came Aniruddha, renowned for his love of battle. Aniruddha’s lineage continued with Vajra and other powerful Yādavas, so that their numbers swelled to three crores, alongside sixty thousand Dānavas. Whenever obstacles arose among men, Hari, the Supreme Lord, destroyed them, for he incarnated as a man to restore the order of duties and uphold righteousness. Throughout the ages, twelve great battles were fought between the gods and the demons for the sake of inheritance. The first was the fierce battle of Nārasiṃha, followed by the heroic struggle of Vāmana. Next came the Vārāha battle, and the fourth was the legendary churning of the ocean for nectar. Then unfolded the Tārakāmaya battle, and the sixth was the conflict with the Ājīvakas. The battle of Tripura followed, then the slaying of Andhaka, the ninth being the destruction of Vṛtra. Afterward, Hari overcame the deadly Hālāhala poison and then fought the dreadful Kolāhala battle. Long ago, in his Nārasiṃha form, the divine protector Hari tore apart the tyrant Hiraṇyakaśipu with his claws, saving the devoted Prahlāda, king among men. During the great conflict between gods and demons, Vāmana, born of Kaśyapa and Aditi, subdued the mighty Bali and restored the kingdom to Mahendra, the king of the gods. As Varāha, Hari slew Hiraṇyākṣa and rescued the earth, which had been submerged, earning the praise of the divine hosts. When the gods and demons churned the ocean, they used Mount Mandara as the churning rod and Vāsuki as the rope. From this great effort, nectar was obtained for the gods. In the Tārakāmaya battle, the gods were protected; Indra was restrained, and the demons, creators of the Soma lineage, were checked by their wise teachers. Sages such as Viśvāmitra, Vasiṣṭha, and others aided the gods, overcoming the hateful demons. Hari, the refuge of Brahma and the lord of all, burned the city of Tripura, acting as protector of the gods and destroyer of demons. He, devoted to Revati, struck down the blind demon who had troubled Rudra and sought to seize Gaurī. In the form of Viṣṇu, he upheld the law of the gods, slaying Vṛtra, the destroyer of the gods, and thus protecting the divine hosts. Taking the form of Paraśurāma, Hari defeated Śālva and other demons, protected the gods and their leaders, and destroyed wicked rulers. He removed the poison Hālāhala and the demon from Maheśvara, dispelling the fear of the gods. The demon Kolāhala and the poison Hālāhala were conquered, and all the gods were protected by Viṣṇu, who preserved righteousness. In the battles between gods and demons, Kolāhala was defeated, and Viṣṇu again protected the gods through the preservation of dharma. Thus, whether it be kings, princes, sages, or gods—those named and even those unmentioned—all are forms of Hari, the Supreme. Now, Agni spoke of the lineages of kings. Turvasu’s son was Varga, whose son was Gobhānu; Gobhānu’s son was Traiśāni, and Traiśāni’s son was Karandhama. Karandhama’s son was Marutta, and his son was Duṣmanta. From Duṣmanta came Varūtha, and from Varūtha, Gāṇḍīra. Gāṇḍīra’s son was Gāndhāra, from whom five mighty peoples arose: the Gāndhāras, Keralas, Colas, Pāṇḍyas, and Kolas. The lineage continued with Druhyu and Vabhrusetu; Vabhrusetu’s son was Purovasu, from whom came the Gāndhāras. From them was born Gharma, whose son was Ghṛta. From this clarified butter, a wise one was born, and from him came a hundred prudent sons: Ānadrā, Sabhānara, Ākṣupa, and Parameṣuka among them. From Sabhānara came Kālānala, whose son was Sṛñjaya. Purañjaya was born of Sṛñjaya, and his son was Janamejaya. Janamejaya’s son was Mahāśāla, and from him came Mahāmanā. From Mahāmanā came Uśīnara, then Ṛgāyantu, and after him Tṛga. From Narāyantu came Nara. Kṛmi was the son of Kṛmi; in Daśā, Subrata was born, and in Dṛśadvati, Śivi likewise. Śivi had four sons: Pṛthudarbha, Vīraka, Kaikeya, and Bhadraka, whose names were given to auspicious peoples. Titikṣu was born of Uśīnaraja, and from Titikṣu came Ruṣadraya; from Ruṣadratha came Paila, and from Paila, Sutapā. From Sutapā was born the great yogi Bali, and from him came Aṅga and Vaṅga, the chief; Puṇḍu, Kaliṅga, and Bāloya. Bali was a yogi endowed with great strength. From Aṅga came Dadhivāhana, whose son was King Diviratha. Diviratha’s son was Dharmaratha, and his son was Citraratha. From Citraratha came Satyaratha, and his son was Lomapāda. Lomapāda’s son was Caturaṅga, and his son was Pṛthulākṣa. From Pṛthulākṣa came Campo, from Campo, Haryyaṅgaka; from Haryyaṅga came Bhadraratha, and his son was Bṛhatkarmā. Bṛhatkarmā’s son was Vṛhadbhānu, and from him came Vṛhātmavān. From Vṛhātmavān came Jayadratha, and from Jayadratha, Vṛhadratha. Vṛhadratha’s son was Viśvajit, and from Viśvajit was born Karṇa. Karṇa’s son was Vṛṣasena, and his son was Pṛthusena. Thus were the kings born in the noble Aṅga lineage. Now, let the lineage of Puru be heard. Agni said: Janamejaya was born of Puru; his son was Prācīnnanta. From Prācīnnanta came Manasyu, and from Manasyu came the noble Vītamaya. Vītamaya’s son was Śundhu, whose son was Bahuvidha. From Bahuvidha came Saṃyāti, and from Saṃyāti, Rahovādī. Rahovādī’s son was Bhadrāśva, who had ten sons: Ṛceyu, Kṛṣeyu, Sannateyu, his own son, Ghṛteyu, Citeyu, Sthaṇḍileyu the excellent, Dharmoyu, Sannateyu, Kṛceyu, and Matināraka. Thus, the noble lineages and the wondrous deeds of Hari and his incarnations have been recounted, showing the protection of the righteous, the destruction of evil, and the unbroken succession of kings and peoples in the ancient world.