In the illustrious lineage of the Vṛṣṇis, two noble women, Gāndhārī and Mādrī, became the wives of Vṛṣṇi himself. Gāndhārī bore a son named Sumitra, who was a joy to his friends, while Mādrī too was blessed with a son, Devamīḍhuṣa. From Mādrī’s line also came Anamitra and Śini, both renowned among men for their virtues and prowess. Anamitra’s son was Nighna, who in turn had two sons: the greatly fortunate Prasena and his brother Satrājit. Satrājit, beloved of the sun god Sūrya, was so dear to him that Vivasvat bestowed upon him the celebrated Syamantaka jewel. This radiant gem became the foremost of all jewels on earth. One day, Satrājit went hunting alongside his brother Prasena, but tragedy struck: Satrājit met his end alone, slain by a ferocious lion. From the lineage of Śini, the younger son of Vṛṣṇi, truthfulness flourished. Satyavāk was born, famed for his unwavering honesty, and his son was Satyaka. Sātyaki, the mighty Yuyudhāna, was Satyaka’s son and the grandson of Śini. Yuyudhāna’s son was Asaṅga, whose own son was Kuṇi, and Kuṇi’s son was Yugandhara. These descendants became known as the Śaineyas. From the line of Mādrī’s son emerged Yudhājit, also called Śvaphalka, famed as a benefactor of the three worlds. Wherever the righteous king Śvaphalka resided, there was neither disease nor drought, such was his virtue. Śvaphalka took as his wife Gāndinī, the daughter of the king of Kāśi, who had been long delayed in her mother’s womb. Her father, wishing for her birth, spoke to her, urging her to be born. From within the womb, Gāndinī replied that she would emerge only if, for three years, her father gave a cow each day to a Brāhmaṇa. Her father, generous and steadfast, agreed and fulfilled her wish, and thus Gāndinī was born. Akrūra, famed for his generosity, was born to Śvaphalka and Gāndinī. Akrūra married Ratnā, the daughter of Śaiva, and from her were born sons: Upamanyu, Māṅgura, Vṛta, and Janamejaya, as well as Girirakṣa, Upekṣa, Śatrughna the destroyer of foes, Dharmabhṛt, Vṛṣṭadharma, Godhana, Vara, Āvāha, and Prativāha. Sudhārā, a noble lady, was also among their children. By Ugrasenī, Akrūra had two sons, Devavān and Upadeva, both esteemed by the gods. Sumitra’s line continued with the birth of Citraka, a man of great fame, whose sons were Vipṛthu, Pṛthu, Aśvagrīva, Subāhu, Sudhā, Sūka, and Gavekṣaṇa. The family further expanded with Ariṣṭanemi, Aśva, Dharma, Dharmabhṛt, Subhūmi, Bahubhūmi, and the two women Śraviṣṭhā and Śravaṇā. From Andhaka, whose wife was the daughter of Kāśi, were born four sons: Kukura, Bhajamāna, Śuci, and Kambalabarhiṣa. Kukura’s son was Vṛṣṇi, from whom descended Śūra, then Kapotaroma, a man of great strength, and his son Vilomaka. Vilomaka’s son was Nala, famed for his wisdom and friendship with Tumburu, and known by the noble name Candanānaka Dundubhi. From him came Abhijit, and then Punarvasu, who, longing for a son, performed the great Aśvamedha sacrifice. From the very heart of that Atirātra sacrifice arose Punarvasu, wise, all-knowing, generous, and devoted to sacrifice. He had two children, Āhuka and Āhukī, both renowned among the illustrious. Āhuka’s wife, the daughter of Kāśya, bore him two sons: Devaka and Ugrasena, both born from a divine womb. To King Devaka were born sons equal to the gods—Devavān, Upadeva, Sudeva, and Devarakṣita—and seven daughters, who were given in marriage to Vasudeva. These daughters were Vṛṣadevī, Upadevā, Devarakṣitā, Śrīdevā, Śāntidevā, Sahadevā, and Devakī, the last being the most distinguished and noble among them. Ugrasena had nine sons, with Kaṃsa as the eldest, and his lineage grew into the hundreds and thousands. Among these, Devakī, daughter of Devaka, became the wife of the wise Vasudeva—she was revered even by the gods and deeply devoted to her husband. Rohiṇī, greatly blessed, was also Vasudeva’s wife, as was Pauravī, the daughter of Bāhlika, herself honored by the gods. Rohiṇī gave birth to Rāma, the strongest of the strong and wielder of the plough, but out of fear of Kaṃsa, she concealed her radiant son. After Rāma’s birth and the tragic slaying of six sons, the wise Vasudeva begot Hari, the Supreme Self and god of gods, in Devakī. Thus Janārdana, the blessed Halāyudha Ananta, shining like silver, was born—taking human form under the pretext of Bhṛgu’s curse, he entered the world as Janārdana Vāsudeva, honoring the ways of mortals. At this time, by the will of the Lord of gods, Yoganidrā, arising from the body of Umā and known as Kauśikī, became the daughter of Yaśodā, thus playing her divine part in these sacred events.