In the illustrious lineage of Vasudeva, a powerful son named Kapila was born, the first among men skilled in archery, whose birth brought great joy. Alongside him, Saubhadra and Abhava, both endowed with immense strength, entered the world. Devabhāga’s son, Prastāva, also known as Budha, was born as well. Paṇḍita was the first among these, followed by Bāhu and the noble Devaśravas. From the famed Ikṣvāku dynasty, Manasvinī, celebrated for her virtues, became the wife of one among them. Nivṛttaśatru, also called Śatrughna, was born from Śraddhā. To Gaṇḍūṣā, Kṛṣṇa, pleased with her devotion, granted a hundred sons. Among these, Candra was given—a being of great fortune and might. Rantipāla and Ranti, both sons of Nandana, were also born. Śamīka had four valiant sons: Viraja, Dhanu, Vyoma, and Sṛṃjaya, all renowned for their strength. Vyoma, however, had no offspring, while Sṛṃjaya’s son, Dhanaṃjaya, rose to rule the Bhojas, becoming a royal sage. It is said that anyone who recites or listens to the glorious birth of Kṛṣṇa is freed from all sins. Then, the god Mahādeva—who was formerly Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of all creatures—was born among men for the sake of divine play. Through the austerities of Vasudeva, in the womb of Devakī, the lotus-eyed Lord took birth, appearing with four arms and a divine form, the very refuge of all beings. When Vasudeva beheld the Lord, marked with the auspicious Śrīvatsa and the signs of the gods, he spoke with reverence: “Withdraw this divine form, O Lord. I am afraid of Kaṃsa, who has already slain my six mighty sons.” Hearing these words, Acyuta withdrew his celestial form. With divine permission, Śauri (Vasudeva) carried the child to the house of Nandagopa. Handing the child to Nandagopa, Vasudeva said, “Let him be protected. All auspiciousness will come to the Yadavas.” It was foretold that this child of Devakī would destroy Kaṃsa, and until then, the earth would be relieved of its heavy burdens. Furthermore, this divine child would slay all wicked kings during the great battle of the Kauravas, when all the kṣatriyas would be assembled. He would become Arjuna’s charioteer, and after ridding the earth of unrighteous rulers, he would enjoy the world’s rewards, having fulfilled his purpose. He would also lead the entire Yadu clan to the world of the gods. At this point, Bhīṣma asked, “Who is this Vasudeva, and who is the illustrious Devakī? Who is Nandagopa, and who is the great-vowed Yaśodā, who raised Viṣṇu and was called his mother? Who bore him in her womb, and who raised him?” Pulastya replied: “Vasudeva was Kaśyapa in a previous birth, and Devakī is remembered as his beloved Aditi. Kaśyapa is a portion of Brahmā, and Aditi is of the earth. Nanda is known as Droṇa, and Yaśodā became the earth herself.” The mighty-armed Lord then fulfilled the desires Devakī had cherished in her heart, wishes she had made to that great soul in the past. Soon, the Supreme God entered a human body, deluding all beings and arriving by his own yogic power. When righteousness and sacrifice were lost, Viṣṇu, the mighty one, was born in the Vṛṣṇi clan to restore dharma and destroy the asuras. Among his wives were Rukmiṇī, Satyabhāmā, Satyā, Nāgnijitī, Sumitrā, Śaibyā, Gāndhārī, Lakṣmaṇā, Subhīmā, Mādrī, Kauśalyā, and Vijayā—sixteen thousand goddesses in all. Rukmiṇī bore sons skilled in all arts: Cārudeṣṇa, heroic in battle; mighty Pradyumna; Suchāru; Cārubhadra; Sadaśva; Hrasva; Cārugupta; Cārubhadra; and Cāruka. Satyabhāmā’s sons were Charuhasa, Kanistha, Kanya, the lovely Charumati, Bhanu, Bhimaratha, and Kshana. Among them were Rohita, radiant as the sun, Tamrabandha, and Jalandhama, along with four younger sisters. From Jambavati was born the exceedingly handsome Samba, who composed the solar scriptures and built the temple’s image. At the original site, this great soul established a foundation, and by the grace of the Lord of gods, leprosy was destroyed. Sumitra, Charumitra, and Mitravinda were born as well, and from Nagnajiti came Mitrabahu and Sunitha. Thus were thousands of sons born, and Vasudeva himself had eighty thousand sons. Pradyumna’s heir, the most intelligent, was born from Vaidarbhi—Aniruddha, the great warrior in battle, also called Mrigaketana. From Samba and Kamya, the daughter of Supārśva, was born a mighty son. Among these, the supreme five deities of sattva-nature are celebrated. There were thirty million noble Yadavas of great soul, and six hundred thousand who were supremely powerful. All these energetic beings were born as portions of the gods—those who had fallen in the ancient battles between gods and demons, and mighty asuras as well. Born among humans, they troubled mankind, and for their deliverance, they took birth in the Yadava lineage. There were a hundred clans of the great-souled Yadavas, and among them, Viṣṇu was established as their leader and lord.