From Devanā was born Madhu, whose birth served the cause of wisdom. From Madhu came the mighty Manu, and from Manu arose his illustrious lineage. Among these descendants shone Nandana, radiant in splendor, and Mahāpuruvasha. From Puruvasā’s son came Purudvān, renowned as the best among men. Purudvān begot Purūdvaha in the city of Bhadravati. He married Aikshaki, and their son was Sattva, who embodied the quality of goodness. From Sattva was born Sāttvata, famed for increasing the glory of his line. It was through this lineage that the great-souled Jyāmagha was born, blessed with many descendants. Ultimately, he attained union with the wise king Soma. Sūta continued: Kauśalyā bore a son of the Sāttvata line, a youth of beauty, known as Bhajina, Bhajamāna, and the divine king Devāvṛdha. Andhaka, Sahābhoja, Vṛṣṇi, and a descendant of Yadu were also born into this line. Now, listen carefully to the account of their four branches. To Bhajamāna, through Śṛñjaya, was born Bāhya, and after him, Bāhyaka. Śṛñjaya had two sons, and Bāhyaka took both into his household. His two wives, who were sisters, bore him many sons: Nimi, Paṇava, and Vṛṣṇi, the conqueror of enemy cities. Among those recognized as brahmins in the external Karyaśṛñjaya were Ayutāyuta, Sāhasra, Śatajid, and Vāmaka. Among those regarded as brahmins in the external Kāryyābhagini, King Devāvṛdha performed supreme austerity. Devāvṛdha wished earnestly, “May I have a son endowed with all virtues.” In response, Savarṇā joined herself in this resolve and touched the sacred water. By her touch, the river itself became a sage, and thus the auspicious river became favorable to the king. Overwhelmed by contemplation, she decided, “I cannot find a woman whose son would be as virtuous as desired. Let me myself become his wife in this vow.” Her own hand was fashioned for her, and her disposition was as she wished. Becoming a maiden, Sāvitrī spoke a supreme word. The king, desiring her, sought her out. She conceived by him, radiant and noble-minded, and in the ninth month, the river goddess gave birth. She brought forth a son endowed with all the virtues Devāvṛdha had wished for. In that lineage, learned brahmins still recite ancient verses, praising the virtues of the great-souled Devāvṛdha, whose fame reached both far and near. Babhru, the best among men, arose in this line, and Devāvṛdha himself was equal to the gods. Sixty-five men and seventy thousand attained immortality, surpassing even Devāvṛdha. He was a sacrificer, generous lord, heroic, devoted to brahmins, truthful in speech, wise, renowned, greatly fortunate, and a mighty chariot-warrior among the Sāttvatas. From his lineage flourished the Sumahābhojas and the Mārtikāvalas. Vṛṣṇi took as wives Gāndhārī and Mādrī. Gāndhārī bore Sumitra, the delight of friends, while Mādrī gave birth to Yudhājit and Deva-mīḍhuṣa. Both Anamitra and his son were excellent men; Anamitra’s son was Nighna, who had two sons: Prasena, greatly fortunate, and Śakrajit, who was once his inseparable companion. One night, as dawn approached, Śakrajit, the best among charioteers, took his chariot to the riverbank to touch the waters and greet the rising sun. As he approached, the sun god Vivasvān appeared before him, radiant and encircled with light, his form difficult to discern. The king spoke to Vivasvān: “Just as I see you in the sky, O lord of lights, so I see you now before me. And just as you stand here, radiant and encircled with light, what difference is there between your direct presence and your form in the heavens?” Pleased by these words, the venerable sun god removed the Syamantaka gem from his own neck and gifted it to the king. Śakrajit now beheld the sun in a tangible form and stood in awe. As Vivasvān prepared to depart, Śakrajit spoke once more: “O lord of fiery splendor, traverser of the worlds, at this very moment, grant me that gem.” And so, Bhāskara, the radiant sun, gave him the Syamantaka gem. The king, having received it, returned to his city. The people, astonished, ran after him, exclaiming, “This is the Sun himself entering the city!” Śakrajit entered the inner city and palace, dazzling the assembly. Out of affection, he bestowed the divine Syamantaka gem upon his brother Prasena. Wherever the Syamantaka gem resided, the kingdom enjoyed timely rains and freedom from disease. Govinda desired to obtain the Syamantaka gem from Prasena, but though able, he neither seized it nor acquired it by force. One day, Prasena went hunting, adorned with the gem, but because of it, he met a terrible fate at the claws of a lion. Then Jāmbavān, king of the bears, slew the lion, took the divine gem, and retreated into his own cave. Because of these events, the great Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas began to suspect Kṛṣṇa, thinking he coveted the gem for himself. Unable to bear their false accusations, the mighty Lord Kṛṣṇa, slayer of enemies, withdrew into the forest, seeking to clear his name.