Chapter CXLIV - Description of the Harivamsa

Brahma said:—Now I shall narrate the family history of Hari which teems with the sanctified exploits of Krishna. Vasudeva begot Krishna and Valadeva on the person of Devaki for the edification of the righteous and annihilation of the wicked. The eternal God was incarnated on this mortal globe in the shape of Krishna. The Monstress Putana was engaged by the tyrant Kansa to put an end to his life, in infancy, with the pretext of suckling him. But Krishna sucked her poisoned nipples with a force that verily killed her on the spot. The mighty prowessed Krishna overturned the car-demon, felled the two tree-monsters named Jamala and Arjuna, and destroyed the serpent Kaliya and the monster Dhenuka. At this time, he supported the mount Govardhana on the tip of his finger, and was honoured and Worshipped by the God Indra for this exploit. He relieved this sinful earth of its weight of sin, and pledged himself to protect the five sons of Pandu in their days of trouble and distress. The demon Arishta fell an easy victim to his prowess, and he cheered the Gopas and Gopa-maidens of Brindaban by slaying the monster Keshi. He dragged down the demon Kansa from the platform, and killed the wrestlers Chanuka, Mushtika and Milla, who guarded the person of that detestable tyrant.

Krishna had eight principal wives, such as Rukmini, Satyabhama, etc., besides a seraglio of sixteen thousand other wives. By them he got hundreds, nay thousands of sons and grandsons. By Rukmini he had a sou named Pradyumna, who killed the demon Shambara. The son of Pradyumna was Aniruddha, who married Usha, the daughter of king Vana. There ensued a deadly conflict between Krishna and the God Shankara; when the elopement of Usha with Aniruddha was detected and made known to the world. Krishna cut down the thousand arms of king Vana with the exception of two. Once upon a time, he killed the demon Naraka and carried the flower Parijat from the garden of heaven. Shishupala, Vala, and the monkey, named Dvibidha, were also among the victims, who fell at the stroke of his mighty discus.

The son of Aniruddha was Vajra, who became the king of Mathura, when Krishna was translated to heaven. In order to please his preceptor Sandipani, Krishna brought back the soul of his son from the mansion of death, and brought back to life the son of that holy sage. For the furtherance of the divine cause, he installed Ugrasena as king on the throne of Mathura.