After the defeat of Ravana, Rama took the purified Sita and, together with the devoted monkeys, boarded the wondrous Pushpaka chariot. They journeyed back to the resplendent city of Ayodhya, where Rama assumed the throne and ruled the kingdom with great wisdom and compassion, caring for his subjects as a father cares for his children. During his reign, Rama performed ten grand ashvamedha sacrifices and offered sacred oblations at Gaya, honoring the ancestors. He continued the ancestral rites, gave generous gifts, and, upon seeing his sons Kusha and Lava, installed them as rulers. Rama’s reign lasted for eleven thousand years. In this time, Shatrughna vanquished the demons Lavana and Shailusha. Having paid respects to revered sages such as Agastya and having learned of the origins of the demons, Rama, his purpose fulfilled, ascended to heaven, taking with him the people of Ayodhya. At this point, Brahma spoke, declaring his intention to recount the Harivamsha—the supreme glory of Krishna. From Vasudeva and Devaki was born the illustrious Vasudeva—Bala—and Krishna himself. For the protection of righteousness and the destruction of evil, Krishna, as a child, slew the demoness Putana by sucking out her life as she nursed him. He overturned the cart-demon, broke the twin Arjuna trees, subdued the mighty serpent Kaliya, and struck down the demon Dhenuka. Krishna lifted the Govardhana mountain to shelter his people, and Indra himself worshipped him for this deed. Thus, Hari fulfilled his vow and helped relieve the earth of its burden. For the protection of Arjuna and others, Krishna slew demons such as Arishta and Keshi, bringing satisfaction and security to the cowherds and the people. In the wrestling arena, Krishna defeated the mighty Chanura and Mushtika, and then slew the wicked Kamsa. He was united with Rukmini, Satyabhama, and six other supreme wives, making eight in all. Besides them, Krishna had sixteen thousand other wives, and from these unions came sons, grandsons, and descendants numbering in the hundreds and thousands. From Rukmini, Pradyumna was born, who slew the demon Shambara. Pradyumna’s son was Aniruddha, who became the lord of Usha, the daughter of Bana. In a great battle, Krishna fought Shiva, the moon-crested one, and cut away Bana’s thousand arms, leaving only two. Krishna also slew Naraka and brought the celestial Parijata tree to earth. Balarama, Shishupala, and the monkey Dvivida were also vanquished by his hand. From Aniruddha was born Vajra, who became king after Krishna’s departure. Vajra appointed Sandipani and his son as his gurus, and in Mathura, Ugrasena was established as the protector of the gods. Brahma then declared he would recount the Bharata, the tale of how Krishna removed the earth’s burden through the great war fought for the sake of the Pandavas and others. From Vishnu’s navel arose Brahma, and from Brahma, his son Atri was born. From Soma came Budha, and from Budha and Ila, Pururavas was born. In this lineage, Ayus was born, then Yayati, Bharata, and Kuru. In Kuru’s line came Shantanu, whose son by Ganga was Bhishma, a man of all virtues and supreme accomplishment. Shantanu and Satyavati had two sons: Chitrangada, who was slain by a Gandharva, and Vichitravirya, who married the princess of Kashi. When Vichitravirya died childless, Vyasa fathered sons through niyoga: Dhritarashtra by Ambika, Pandu by Ambalika, and Vidura by a maidservant. Dhritarashtra and Gandhari had a hundred sons led by Duryodhana. From Pandu, through Kunti and Madri, were born the five mighty Pandavas: Yudhishthira, Bhimasena, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva. Fate brought enmity between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, and Duryodhana, reckless and envious, persecuted the Pandavas. When the house of lac was set ablaze, the Pandavas escaped unharmed, their minds pure. They found refuge in the house of a Brahmin in Ekachakra, where they slew the demon Baka. Later, in the land of Panchala, the Pandavas won Draupadi at her self-choice ceremony, proving their valor. With the approval of Drona and Bhishma, Dhritarashtra reconciled with the Pandavas, granting them half the kingdom centered at the splendid city of Indraprastha. There, the Pandavas built a great assembly hall and performed the Rajasuya sacrifice with disciplined vows. Arjuna journeyed to Dvaraka and, with Krishna’s blessing, won Subhadra, Krishna’s sister, as his wife. Arjuna received from the gods the divine chariot Nandighosha, the unrivaled bow Gandiva known throughout the three worlds, a quiver of inexhaustible arrows, and impenetrable armor. With these, he and Krishna offered a mighty tribute to the fire-god, Jatavedas. Arjuna conquered kings in all directions, collecting their jewels and presenting them to his righteous elder brother Yudhishthira. Yet, even Yudhishthira, surrounded by his brothers, was defeated by Duryodhana’s deceitful dice game, aided by Karna, Duhshasana, and Shakuni. The Pandavas, with Draupadi and the sage Dhaumya, spent twelve years in the forest performing great austerities, accompanied by groups of ascetics. For a thirteenth year, they lived in disguise in the city of Virata, serving humbly in the cattle-stalls. When their exile ended, the Pandavas sought peace, requesting from King Duryodhana only five villages in place of half their kingdom. Denied even this, they were compelled to battle at Kurukshetra, commanding seven divisions of divine troops. Duryodhana and his allies, with eleven divisions, engaged in a tumultuous war, as fierce as the ancient battles between gods and demons. Thus, Krishna, for the sake of the Pandavas and the earth, brought about the great war that lifted the burden of the world.