12 -Birth of Krishna 

Lomaharşhaņa said: 

1. Krostr had two wives-Gandhari and Madri. Gāndhārī gave birth to Anamitra of great might. 

2. Madri gave birth to Yudhäjit and Devamīdhuşa. Thus. the flourishing family of Vruşņis came to be threefold. 

3. Madri had two (more) sons: the splendid Vrusni and Andhaka. Vruşņi had two sons-Svaphalka and Chitraka. 

4. O excellent sages, there is no fear from sickness, no fear of drought in the place where Svaphalka the righteous soul is present. 

5. O excellent sages, once, Indra the chastiser of Påka did not shower rain in the realm of the king of Käsi, for three years. 

6. He therefore brought the excessively honoured Svaphalka there (to his kingdom). Due to the arrival of Svaphalka, 

Indra showered rain. 

7-8. Svaphalka married the daughter of the king of Käsi, named Gandini. She was so called because she gave every day a cow to a brahmin. Akrūra a liberal donor, a performer of sacrifices, a learned hero and one fond of receiving guests, was born of Svaphalka. He distributed wealth as gift to the Brahmins. 

9-10. Other sons too were born viz. Upamadgu, Madgu, Medura, Arimejaya, Avikṣita, Aksepa Satrughna, Arimardana, Dharmadhrk, Yatidharma, Dharmokşa, Andhakaru, Aväha and Prativáha. Varangană a beautiful daughter was also born to him. 

11. O excellent brahmins, Prasena and Upadeva of divine splendour were born to Ugrasena, a woman of beautiful limbs, by Akrūra. 

12-17. Chitraka begot these sons-viz. Pruthu, Viprthu, Ašvagrīva, Aśvabāhu, Svapärśvaka, Gaveşana, Ariştanemi, Aśva, Sudharma, Dharmabhrut, Subāhu, and Bahubāhu, and two daughters Sraviştha and Sravaņa. He begot of Asiknī the heroic son Śūra, Devamidhuşa. Ten courageous sons were born of the crowned queen Bhojya. At the outset was born the mighty Vasudeva (otherwise known as) Anakadundubhi (so called be cause) when he was born drums were beaten in heaven and the loud report of Ănaka drums arose in the skies. At that time heavy shower of flowers fell on the abode of Sūra. In the whole of this mortal world there was none equal to him in handsome features. He was foremost among men and he had the splendour of the moon. 

18-24. The other nine sons were born: Devabhäga, Deva śravas, Anādhrusti, Kanavaka, Vatsavān, Gruñjama, Syāma, Samīka and Gandūşa. He had five excellent ladies as daughters Pruthukirti, Pruthå, Srutadevă, Srutaśrava and Rājādhidevi. These five were mothers of mighty heroes. Jagrhu was born as. the son of Śrutadevă and the king of Avanti. King Siśupāla was born of Srutaśravă and the king of Cedi. Formerly, he had been Hiranyakaśipu the king of Daityas. Dantavakra of great might, the heroic overlord of Karūşas was born of Pruthukīrti as the son of Vruddhaśarman. Kunti adopted Prutha as his daughter. Pāndu married her. King Yudhisthira conversant with virtuous conduct was born of Kunti through the blessings of Dharma; Bhīmasena was born through the blessings of Vayu and Arjuna was born through the blessings of Indra. Arjuna was a hero who had valour and exploit cqual to that of Indra. In the whole world he had none to face him in a chariot-battle. Sini was born of Anamitra the youngest of the sons of Vruşņi. 

25. Satyaka was the son of Sini and Yuyudhana was the son of Satyaka. Uddhava was the blessed son of Devabhāga. 

26-28. They call the excellent Devaśravas the most excellent among the learned men. Anádhrusţi begot of Aśhmaki, Satrughna a son who repulscd foes and earned fame. 

Srutadevā too gave birth to a son. The son of Srutadevā is well known as Naisādi (a son of Nişada-hill tribe). O excellent sages, he was Ekalavya who was brought up by the Nişādas (huntsmen). 

Vasudeva the valorous son of Sūra gave his broom-born heroic son Kausika to Vatsāvan who had no issue. He gave the son (as in a religious act) along with water libations. 

29-31. To Gandūsa who had no son, Visvaksena gave his sons Cărudeşņa, Sudesna and Pancāla who had characteristic marks of a warrior. He was a warrior who never remained with out a battle. O excellent brahmins, this mighty warrior was the youngest son of Rukmiņī. When Cärudesna went on his compaigns thousands of crows closely followed him thinking-"To day we will enjoy the delicious flesh of those who are killed by Cărudeşna". 

32. Tantrija and Tantripāla were the two sons of Kanavaka. Viru and Aśvahanu were the two heroic sons of Gruñjama. 

33-34. Samika was the son of Syama. Samika ruled over a kingdom. He felt depressed being a mere Bhoja. Hence he performed a Rājasūya sacrifice. Ajātaśatru the destroyer of enemies was born to him. Henceforth, I shall describe the heroic sons of Vasudeva. 

35. Thus the race of Vrusni is threefold. It is mighty and it has many branches. One who retains this extensive race in memory is never afflicted by any calamity. 

36-38. Vasudeva had fourteen excellent women as his wives. The first five were: a descendant of Purū named Rohinī, Madirā, Vaisakhi, Bhadra and Sunāmni. The second set of seven ladies comprised Sahadevā, Santidevä, Sridevi, Devarakṣitā, Vrukadevī, Upadevī and Devaki. The thirteenth and the fourteenth were Sutanu and Yadavi. These two had at first been maid servants. 

39. The descendant of Purū named Rohiņi was the daughter of Bāhlika. O excellent sages, she was the eldest and most favourite wife of Anakadundubhi. 

40-41. Rohini had eight sons and a daughter. The eldest son was Räma. The others were Sārana, Satha, Durdama, Damana, Subhra, Pindāraka and Usinara. The daughter was named Chitra. O excellent sages, this Chitră afterwards became famous as Subhadrā. 

42. The renowned Sauri (Krishna) was born of Devaki and Vasudeva. The beloved son Nisatha of Rāma was born of Revati. 

43. Abhimanyu, the skilled chariot-fighter was born of Subhadra and Arjuna Satyaketu was born of the daughter of king of Kāśi and Akrūra. 

44. Understand individually by their names the sons of great valour who were born to Vasudeva in his highly blessed seven wives. 

45-50. Bhoja and Vijaya were the two sons of Sāntideva. Vrka deva and Gada were the two sons of Sunamā. Vrukadevi gave birth to the noble son Agāvaha. The daughter of the king of Trigarta and wife of Sisirāyani was inquisitive to ascertain his manliness. No semen was discharged. In his twelfth year he had the colour of a black pig. Falsely accused, Gärgya was urged by anger. He seized a cowherd lass and began to indulge in sexual intercourse. That cowherd lass was a heavenly nymph in disguise. She conceived the foetus of Gärgya. It was unerring and very difficult to bear. It was through the behest of the trident bearing lord Siva that the heavenly nymph, the wife of Gárgya, in human form had done this. A heroic son of great might named Kalayavana was born of her. 

51-57. O excellent sages, the boy grew up in the harcm of a Yavana who had no son. He grew into a youth of leonine frame. The upper half of his body was shapely muscular and cylindrical. Hence, he came to be called Kalayavana. 

The king (Yavana) was in the habit of fighting. He asked the excellent brahmin Nārada who mentioned the Vrusnis and Andha kas as the persons whom he should fight. He marched against Mathurā with an Akşauhiņī of soldiers. He sent a messenger to the Vrusnis and Andhakas. Keeping the highly intelligent Krişhna as their leader the Vrusnis and the Andhakas met together and took counsel as they were afraid of the Yavana king. They decided to run away. Out of deference to the Pināka-bearing lord Siva they abandoned Mathură and resolved to colonise Kusasthalī, Dväravati.