From Vṛkadevī, a noble and virtuous woman, was born Avagāha, a soul of great merit. And from Vṛkadevī herself came another son, Nandaka. Devakī, too, bore a remarkable child as her seventh son—Madana—blessed with fortune and undefeated in battle. Once, while wandering through the forest with Śraddhādevī, Śauri fathered his eldest son, Kauśika, by a Vaiśyā woman. Śauri also had two other wives, Sutanū and Ratharājī, and to him were born two strong sons, Puṇḍra and Kapila. Jarā, a Niṣāda skilled in archery, was the first among his offspring, followed by Saubhadra and Bhava, both mighty in strength. Devabhāga’s son was known as Uddhava, famed for his wisdom, and the wise firstborn was said to be born of Devaśravas. The illustrious daughter of Ikṣvāku, who was the wife of Anādhṛṣṭi, bore a son named Śrāddha, pure in spirit and reminiscent of Śatrughna. Karūṣā, who had longed for a child, was blessed by Kṛṣṇa with a mighty and fortunate son named Sucandra. To Jāmbavatī were born two sons, both marked by nobility and power: Cārudeṣṇa and Sāmba. Nandana’s sons were Tantipāla and Tanti, and from Śamīka came four valiant sons—Virāja, Dhanu, Śyāma, and Sṛñjaya. Of these, Śyāma had no offspring, and Śamīka, disenchanted with the status of being a Bhoja, withdrew to the forest and attained the stature of a royal sage. It is said that whoever earnestly recounts or listens to the glorious birth of Kṛṣṇa is freed from all sin. Then, in ages past, the great god Mahādeva, formerly known as Kṛṣṇa, lord of all creatures, chose to descend among humans for the sake of divine play. By the austere devotion of Vasudeva, the lotus-eyed, four-armed, radiant Lord was born to Devakī. When Vasudeva beheld the divine child, marked with the auspicious sign of Śrīvatsa and other celestial features, he humbly said, “Withdraw this form, O Lord. I fear Kaṃsa, who has slain my sons—each a mighty warrior.” Hearing these words, Acyuta withdrew his divine form. With Vasudeva’s consent, he took Śauri to the house of Nandagopa. There, entrusting the child to Nandagopa, he said, “Let him be protected. All auspiciousness will come to the Yādavas, for this child born of Devakī will be the one to slay Kaṃsa.” But who are Vasudeva and Devakī, and who are Nandagopa and Yaśodā, she of great vows? Vasudeva was none other than Kaśyapa, and Devakī his beloved Aditi; Kaśyapa was a portion of Brahmā, and Aditi a portion of the Earth herself. The mighty Lord fulfilled the deepest desires of Devakī—those she had always cherished for her unborn, great-souled son. Thus did the god descend to earth, entering a human form, bewildering all beings by his yogic power and illusion. When righteousness waned, Viṣṇu was born as a Vṛṣṇi, the Lord, to restore dharma and destroy the demons. Kṛṣṇa’s queens were many: Rukmiṇī, Satyabhāmā, Satyā, Nāgnajitī, Subhāmā, Śaibyā, Gāndhārī, and Lakṣmaṇā, as well as Mitravindā, Kālindī, the goddess Jāmbavatī, Suśīlā, Mādrī, Kauśalyā, Vijayā, and thousands more—sixteen thousand in all. Rukmiṇī bore sons skilled in battle: the heroic Cārudeṣṇa and Pradyumna, renowned for his strength, along with Sucāru, Bhadracāru, Sudeṣṇa, Bhadrā, Paraśu, Cārugupta, Cārubhadra, Sucāruka, and the youngest, Cāruhāsa, as well as a daughter, Cārumatī. Satyabhāmā’s sons were Bhanu, whose eyes shone like bees, Rohita, radiant as the sun, Tamra, Chakra, and Jalandhama. Four younger sisters were also born to them. Jāmbavatī’s son was Sāmba, who shone brightly in battle. From Nāgnajitī came Mitravan, Mitravinda, the noble lady Mitravinda, Mitrabahu, and Sunitha. These were her offspring. Beyond these, thousands of sons were born to Kṛṣṇa—a hundred thousand in all, and Vasudeva had eighty thousand sons, or so it is said. Upasangha’s sons were Vajra and Sankshipta; Gaveshana fathered Bhurindrasena and Bhuri. Pradyumna’s heir by Vaidarbhi was the wise Aniruddha; to him were born Aruddha and Mrigaketana. Kashya, daughter of Supārśva, bore to Sāmba five mighty sons, renowned for their truth and valor. In all, there were three crore valiant Yādavas of great soul, and sixty hundred thousand of great power and might. All these were born as portions of the gods, brimming with energy—those who had battled gods and asuras, and those asuras of immense strength. Born among men, these mighty ones afflicted the world; for their destruction, a great being took birth in the Yādava lineage. There were a hundred noble clans among the Yādavas, and all these continued in the sacred Vaishnava line, upholding the glory of their divine heritage.