Śyāmaḥ was left without offspring, while Śamīka, disdaining the Bhoja kingship, withdrew into the forest and ultimately attained the status of a royal sage. It is said that anyone who continually recounts or listens to the glorious birth of Kṛṣṇa is freed from all sins. Long ago, Mahādeva, who was once Kṛṣṇa himself—the lord of all creatures—descended to earth for the sake of divine play. The mighty god, radiant and lotus-eyed, four-armed and adorned with celestial beauty, was born to Devakī by the austerity of Vasudeva. When Vasudeva beheld the divine child, marked with the auspicious Śrīvatsa and other heavenly signs, he beseeched him, “Withdraw this form, O Lord. I fear Kaṃsa, who has slain my sons—my eldest, who were mighty warriors.” Hearing Vasudeva’s plea, Acyuta withdrew his divine form. After granting permission, he took Śauri to the house of Nandagopa. Giving the child to Nandagopa, Vasudeva said, “Let him be protected. All auspiciousness will come to the Yādavas. This child born in Devakī’s womb will slay Kaṃsa.” Who were Vasudeva and Devakī, renowned in the world? Who was Nandagopa, and who was Yaśodā, the great vow-holder? Vasudeva was the one who begot Viṣṇu and called him ‘son’; Devakī bore him in her womb, and Yaśodā raised him. Vasudeva was none other than Kaśyapa, and Devakī was Aditi, his beloved; Kaśyapa was a portion of Brahmā, and Aditi a portion of the earth. The mighty-armed god fulfilled the desires Devakī always cherished for the unborn great soul. That divine being descended to earth, entering a human body, bewildering all beings by his yogic power and illusion. When righteousness waned, Viṣṇu was born in the Vṛṣṇi clan, the Lord, to establish dharma and destroy the demons. Among his consorts were 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 goddesses in all. Rukmiṇī bore sons skilled in battle: Cārudeṣṇa, heroic in war; Pradyumna, of great strength; Sucāru; Bhadracāru; Sudeṣṇa; Bhadrā; Paraśu; Cārugupta; Cārubhadra; Sucāruka; Cāruhāsa, the youngest; and a daughter, Cārumatī. Satyabhāmā bore Bhanu, whose eyes resembled bees, Rohita, radiant in form, Tamra, Chakra, and Jalandhama. Four younger sisters were born to them. From Jāmbavatī came Samba, who shone in battle. Mitravan and Mitravinda, the noble lady Mitravinda, Mitrabahu, and Sunitha were born of Nāgnajitī—these were her offspring. Hear also of the thousands of sons: a hundred times a thousand sons were born to that wise one. Vasudeva had eighty thousand sons, and it is said there was also one hundred thousand, O best of twice-born. Upasangha had two sons: Vajra and Sankshipta. Bhurindrasena and Bhuri were sons of Gaveshana. Pradyumna’s heir, born of Vaidarbhi, was the wise Aniruddha; in battle, Aruddha and Mrigaketana were born to him. Kashya, daughter of Supārśva, bore to Samba five mighty sons, renowned for their truthfulness and valor. There were three crore valiant Yadavas of great soul, and sixty hundred thousand powerful and mighty ones. All these were born as portions of the gods, possessing great energy—those who slew the gods and asuras, and those asuras of great might. Born among humans, they afflicted mankind; for their destruction, one was born in the Yadava lineage. There were one hundred clans of the great-souled Yadavas; all these clans continued in the Vaishnava lineage. Among them, Viṣṇu is the leader, established in authority; all the Yadavas abide by his command. Alongside them were the seven sages, Kubera, the Yaksha Manicara, Shalaka, Narada, the Siddha, and Dhanvantari. The primordial god Viṣṇu, together with these deities—why are these beings remembered as groups, and how many are their origins? How many future and other manifestations of the great soul will there be? When Brahmins and Kshatriyas are peaceful, for what purpose is he born here? For what purpose did Viṣṇu, the foremost among Vrishni and Andhaka, manifest among humans again and again? Tell us, who ask. When the age turns and time grows weak, Viṣṇu abandons his divine form and is born among humans. In the battles between gods and asuras, Hari, the Lord, is born. In the Daitya Hiraṇyakaśipu, he once ruled the three worlds. When Bali presided over the three worlds in succession, there was a supreme friendship between gods and asuras. The world became exceedingly agitated, filled with asuras known as Yugākhyas, and the gods and asuras, remaining under their command, were equal. A terrible and intense conflict arose for the sake of Bali’s might—a great and dreadful battle that brought destruction to gods and asuras alike.