Part 1: Birth of Vasudeva (parents Andhakavṛṣṇi and Subhadrā)

Now there is in this Bharata an excellent city Mathura, adorned by the river Yamunā like a dark garment. In this city Yadu was king, many kings having passed away since Bṛhaddhvaja, son of Vasu, of the line of Hari. Yadu had a son, Śūra, whose splendor was equal to the sun, and Śūra had two sons, Śauri and Suvīra, eminent heroes. King Śūra placed Śauri on the throne and Suvīra in the rank of heir-apparent and became a mendicant, as disgust with worldly existence had developed.

Śauri gave the kingdom of Mathurā to his younger brother, Suvīra, and went to the country of Kuśārta. There he founded Śauryapura.^[1] Sons, Andhakavṛṣṇi and others, were born to King Śauri; Bhojavṛṣṇi and others to Suvīra, whose strength was boundless. Suvīra gave the kingdom of Mathurā to Bhojakavṛṣṇi and, after founding the city Sauvīra in the Sindhus, remained there, powerful. Powerful Śauri installed Andhakavṛṣṇi on his throne, became a mendicant under Muni Supratiṣṭha and attained emancipation. While Bhojavṛṣṇi directed the realm at Mathurā, he had a son, Ugrasena, who had enormous strength of arm.

Ten sons were born to Andhakavṛṣṇi from Subhadrā: Samudravijaya, Akṣobhya, Stimita, Sāgara, Himavat, Acala, Dharaṇa, Pūraṇa, Abhicandra, and Vasudeva were the ten, called Daśārhas. They had two younger sisters, Kuntī and Mādrī. Their father gave Kuntī to Pāṇḍu and the other to Damaghoṣa.