In the land of Avanti, two powerful brothers named Vindānuvinda stood as prominent figures. From Śrutaśravā, the noble Caidya, Śiśupāla was born—a prince destined for renown. Among the royal sages, Damaghoṣa fathered a son famed for his prowess, who, in a previous birth, had been Daśagrīva, the mighty crusher of enemies. This son had a younger brother, Yaduśravā, and a younger sister, the daughter of Rujā. Vasudeva, revered as Anakadundubhi, was blessed with thirteen illustrious wives. Among them were Pauravī, Rohiṇī, Madirā, Bhadrā, Vaiśākhī, and the seventh, Devakī. Sugandhi and Vanarājī were also among his consorts, as well as two others who served as attendants. The eldest and most fortunate wife, beloved by Vasudeva, bore his first son—Rāma, renowned for his strength. She also gave birth to Sāraṇa and Niśa. Rohiṇī herself bore eight children: Durddama, Damana, Śubhra, Piṇḍāraka, Kuśītaka, and a daughter named Citrā. Rāma became the grandfather of two notable grandsons, Niśita and Utsuka, as well as Pārśvī, Pārśvanandī, and a son named Satyadhṛti. Other descendants included Mandabāhya, Rāmāṇa, Girika, Gira, Śuklagulma, Gulma, and Daridrāntaka. Among the daughters, the first five were named Arciṣmatī, Sunandā, Surasā, and Suvacā. Sāraṇa’s daughters were Śatabalā, Bhadrāśva, Bhadragupti, and Bhadravighna. The lineage also saw Bhadrabāhu, Bhadraratha, Bhadrakalpa, Supārśvaka, Kīrttimān, Rohitāśva, and Bhadraja. Durmada and Abhibhūta were sons born in Rohiṇī’s line, along with Nanda, Upananda, Mitra, Kukṣimitra, and Acala. Madirā’s sons were Citropa, Citra, and Puṣṭi, along with Sudeva. Bhadra’s mighty sons were Upabimba, Bimba, Sattvadanta, and Mahaujas. From Vaiśākhī, Samada and Śauri produced the excellent son Kauśika. Devakī and Śauri had Suṣeṇa, another renowned son. Tadaya, Bhadrasena, Yajudāya, Bhadravideka, and Kaṃsa—these sons were born but met their end at the hands of Kaṃsa. At that time, the long-lived Lord Viṣṇu, the previous Kṛṣṇa and progenitor of beings, was born again into the world. Kṛṣṇā, called Subhadrā and Bhadrabhāṣiṇī, was born as his younger sister. Subhadrā, the delight of the Vṛṣṇis, was celebrated for her virtue. From Subhadrā, the charioteer Pārtha (Arjuna) begot Abhimanyu. Among Vasudeva’s seven illustrious wives, many heroic sons were born. With Devā, Śūra begot Abhayāsakha; Śārṅgadeva produced Tambu, and Śauri begot Kulodvaha. Upasaṅga and Vasu, sons protected by the gods, were also born, but Kaṃsa slew these ten sons as well. Upadevā gave birth to Vijaya, Rojana, and Vardhamāna, all illustrious sons. Vṛka Devī gave birth to Svagāhava, a great soul, and also to Āgāhī, Svasā, Surūpā, and Śiśirāyiṇī. Devakī’s seventh son, Sunāsā, was born on earth, followed by Gaveṣaṇa, a distinguished warrior. Śrāddhadeva, for whom the twice-born performed rites in the forest, was given by Śauri to Śaibyā as an imperishable son, Kauśika. Sugandhī and Vanarājī were wives of Śauri; from them, Vasudeva had sons Puṇḍra and Kapila. Puṇḍra became king, while Kapila chose the life of the forest. Another mighty hero, Niṣāda, bearer of the bow, was born to Vasudeva, becoming the first king of his lineage. The illustrious son of Devarata became renowned, born of Devaśravas. In the Asmaka lineage, a famed and respected son was born—Nivartta, mighty in strength and destroyer of Indra’s foes, devoted to ancestral rites. Śrāddhadeva was born, from whom Niṣadha and others descended; Ekalavya, of great valor, was raised among the Niṣādas. To the childless Gaṇḍūṣā, Kṛṣṇa, pleased by devotion, granted two sons: Cārudeṣṇa and Sāmba, both skilled in weapons and bearing auspicious marks. Tantija and Tantimāla were Kanaka’s own sons. To Vastāvan, who was sonless, Vasudeva gave the heroic Śauri and Kauśika as foster sons. Tapā and Kodhanu, Virajā and Śyāmasṛñji were born; Śyāma remained childless, and Śyāmaka, shunning the state of being a Bhoja, went to the forest and attained the status of a royal sage. Whoever recites this sacred account of Kṛṣṇa’s birth with steadfast discipline, or has it recited to a Brāhmaṇa, attains great happiness. The god of gods, Kṛṣṇa, radiant with splendor, was once the lord of creatures. For the sake of sport among humans, Nārāyaṇa, the master, was born. Through the austerities of Devakī and Vasudeva, the lotus-eyed, four-armed, divine Kṛṣṇa, endowed with fortune, was revealed. The blessed Lord, the yogin Kṛṣṇa, manifested in human form, though his true nature remained unmanifest, is that very Lord and master. Nārāyaṇa, from whom creation arose and who is imperishable, having become the god Nārāyaṇa, was the eternal Hari. He who created the primeval man and made him lord of creatures, having become the son of Aditi, was known as the delight of the Yādavas, and as the god Viṣṇu, became the younger brother of Indra.