As the tale unfolds, Kaṃsa—ever fearful and cunning—was confronted with the question: “While you guard your body, O deceiver in Kaṃsa’s form, what evil have you committed, fool, that your destroyer has now been born?” Out of dread for Devakī’s eighth child, Kaṃsa had slain her infants, but destiny decreed that her eighth son would be his undoing. Kaṃsa’s attempts to substitute the child proved futile, for by the combined power of Hari and Devakī, his efforts were rendered inert. In the end, Kaṃsa was slain by Kṛṣṇa, whose deeds are ever pure, and many others—those who had harmed gods and Brāhmaṇas—met their end as well. Kṛṣṇa’s sons, led by Pradyumna, and many other renowned warriors are counted among his progeny. All his sons resembled him, and among them, Cārudeṣṇa and others stood out. Especially mighty were the sons borne by Rukmiṇī, for Kṛṣṇa had sixteen thousand one hundred wives, but Rukmiṇī was his beloved and eldest. With her, Kṛṣṇa, whose actions were stainless, dwelt for twelve years. Desiring sons, Kṛṣṇa worshipped Hara, subsisting only on air for twelve years. Through this devotion, Cārudeṣṇa, Sucāru, Cāruveṣa, and Yaśodhara were born. Cāruśravā, Cāruyaśas, Pradyumna, and Sāmba too were granted to him by the grace of the trident-bearing Lord. Seeing these heroic sons and those of Rukmiṇī, Jāmbavatī, Kṛṣṇa’s wise wife, approached him and said, “O lotus-eyed one, please grant me a son who is distinguished, virtuous, and esteemed by the lord of gods.” Hearing Jāmbavatī’s words, Hari, the faultless Lord of the universe, undertook austerities. Nārāyaṇa, Kṛṣṇa, bearer of the conch, discus, and mace, journeyed to the hermitage of the sage Vyāghrapāda. There, seeing sage Aṅgiras, Janārdana bowed and, at his command, obtained the divine Pāśupata yoga. Kṛṣṇa had his hair and beard removed, was anointed with ghee, and girded with a muñja grass belt. He stood with arms raised, unsupported, on the tips of his toes, subsisting on fruits, water, and air, practicing severe austerity for three seasons. Pleased by these austerities, Rudra granted many boons to Kṛṣṇa, including Sāmba, the son of Jāmbavatī. Thus, Jāmbavatī, wife of Hari, rejoiced in incomparable joy upon receiving Sāmba, just as Aditi rejoiced upon obtaining Āditya. Then, by the curse of wise Rudra, the thousand arms of Bāṇa were severed. With Halāyudha’s aid, Kṛṣṇa slew the Daityas and easily destroyed wicked kings on the battlefield. He vanquished Naraka, the foremost Daitya born of the gods, acting by the boon of the great brāhmaṇa Urdhvacakra. The mighty Kṛṣṇa, unmatched in prowess, took for his enjoyment over sixteen thousand maidens. On the pretext of a curse, he destroyed the lineage of the brāhmaṇas, and after annihilating that family, Acyuta remained at Prabhāsa. For over a hundred years, Kṛṣṇa, remover of the affliction of old age, dwelled in Dvārakā. He upheld the words of sage Durvāsas regarding the curse of Viśvāmitra, Kaṇva, and Nārada at Piṇḍāraka. Finally, under the pretext of Jara’s arrow, Kṛṣṇa abandoned his human form, favoring the hunter, and ascended to heaven. By the curse of Aṣṭāvakra, all the wives of wise Kṛṣṇa were carried away by thieves through the power of illusion. Balabhadra, too, renounced and became a serpent, departing along with Kṛṣṇa’s auspicious wives, led by Rukmiṇī. All of them, together with Agni, entered the fire; and so did goddess Revatī with wise Balabhadra, whose deeds were pure. The Brahmins entered the fire, and she followed her husband’s path. After performing the funeral rites for Hari, Partha, of supreme valor, also did so for Rama, the others, and the Vrishnis, offering roots, tubers, and fruits. Lacking proper materials, Partha and his brothers themselves went to heaven. Thus, in brief, has been told the account of Kṛṣṇa, whose actions were untainted. The manifestation and dissolution of the great soul occur solely by his own will; this is the history of the kings of the Soma lineage. Whoever recites, hears, or causes Brahmins to hear this tale surely attains the Vaishnava world—there is no need for doubt. At this point, the sages address Suta: “O Suta, you have indicated the primordial creation, but not revealed it; now, please narrate it in detail, O virtuous one.” Maheshvara, the great god, is established beyond both Prakriti and Purusha—he is the supreme soul, lord of sages. From the Lord arose the unmanifest, the supreme cause, known as Pradhana and Prakriti by those who contemplate reality. This unmanifest is devoid of scent, color, and taste, free from sound and touch, ageless, constant, imperishable, eternal, abiding in its own nature. It is the womb of the world, the great element, the supreme, eternal Brahman—the form of all beings, impelled by the command of the Lord.