Janamejaya said : Worshipful Sir, I desire to hear from you in detail the accounts of the births and deeds and achievements among men, of the Devas, the Danavas, the Rakshasas, the Gandharvas, the lions, the tigers, the snakes, the birds and other animals and in short of all creatures, that became incarnate in human forms.

Vaishampayana said : O king of men, I shall first tell you all about those Devas and the Danavas who were born amongst men.

The best of the Danavas, who was known by the name of Viprachitti, became that best of men who is known as Jarasandha.

O king, that son of Diti, who was known by the name of Hiranyakashipu, became (that king) who was known in this world by the name of powerful Shishupala.

The younger brother of Prahlada who was known as Sanhlada, became among men that best of Balhikas, known as famous Shalya.

The youngest (brother of Prahlada) known as Anuhrada, became famous in this world as Dhristaketu.

O king, that son of Diti who was known as Shibi, became the famous monarch Druma on earth.

O best of men, that best of Asuras, who was known as Bashkala, became the great Bhagadatta on earth.

The five powerful and swift Asuras, namely Ayahshira, Ashvashira, Ayahshanku, Gaganmurdha and Vegavan,

O king, these powerful great Asuras were all born in the illustrious dynasty of Kekaya and became great kings.

The mighty Asura, who was known as Ketuman, became the king Amitauja of terrible deeds.

The great and fortunate Asura, who was known as Svarbhanu, became the king Ugrasena of fearful deeds.

The great and fortunate Asura who was known as Ashva, became the invincible king Ashoka of great prowess.

O king, that son of Diti, the younger brother of Ashva, who was known as Ashvapati, became the mighty king Hardikya.

The great and fortunate Asura who was known as Vishaparva, became king Dhirghaprajna on earth.

O king, the younger brother of Vrishaparva, who was known as Ajaka, became Shalva on earth.

The great Asura who was known as Ashvagriva, became king Rochamana on earth.

O king, the intelligent and illustrious Asura who was known as Sukshma, became the illustrious king Brihadratha on earth.

That best of Asuras, who was known as Tuhunda, became the king Senabindu on earth.

That great strong Asura, who was known as Ishupada, became king Nagnajita of worldknown prowess.

The great Asura who was known as Ekachakra, became known on earth as Prativindhya.

The great Asura, capable of displaying various modes of fight and known as Virupaksha, became known as king Chitradharman on earth.

That best of Danavas, known as the heroic Hara, became the famous and fortunate king Subahu on earth.

That Asura of great prowess, the chastiser of his foes, known as Ahara, became king Bahlika on earth.

That best of Asuras, who was known as Nichandra and whose face was as beautiful as the moon, became the fortunate king Munjakesha on earth.

That great intelligent and invincible Asura, who was known as Nikumbha, became the best of kings Devadhipa on earth.

That Asura who was known as Sarabha amongst the sons of Diti, became the royal sage Pourava on earth.

O king, that greatly powerful and fortunate Asura who was as Kupata, became the famous king Suparshva on earth.

O king, the great Asura who was known as Kratha, became the royal sage Parvateya, as effulgent as a golden mountain.

That Asura, who was known as Shalabha the second, became king Prahlada in the land of the Bahlikas on earth. was as

That best of the Diti's sons, who was known as Chandra and who was as handsome as the lord of the stars (moon), became Chandravarman, the king of Kambojas on earth.

O king, that best of Danavas, who was known as Arka, became the royal sage Rishika on earth.

O best of kings, that best of Asuras, who known Mritapa, became king Paschimanupaka on earth.

That greatly powerful Asura, known as Gavishtha, became king Drumasena on earth.

That great and fortunate Asura, who was known as Mayura, became king Vishva on earth.

That Asura who was the younger brother of Mayura and who was known as Suparna, became king Kalakirti on earth.

The greatly powerful, Asura, who was known as Chandrahanta, became king Sunaka on earth.

The great Asura, who was known as Chandravinashana, became king Janaki on earth.

O king of the Kuru race, that best of the Danayas who was known as Dirgajihva, became king Kashiraja on earth.

That Asura (Rahu) who was born of Singhika and who persecuted the sun and the moon, became king Kratha on earth.

The eldest of the four sons of Danayu, who was known as Vikshara, became the powerful king Vasumitra of earth.

The second brother of Vikshara, the great Asura, became the king of the country called Pandya.

That best of Asuras, who was known by the name of Vira, became king Paundramatsyaka on earth.

O king, that great Asura who was known as Vritra became the royal sage Manimala on earth.

That Asura, who was the younger brother of Vritra and was known as Krodhahanta, became king Danda on earth.

That Asura who was known as Krodhavardhana became king Dandadhara on earth.

O best of kings, the eight sons of the Asura Kaleyas were all born on earth and they all became great kings as powerful as tigers.

Of the eight great Kaleya Asuras, the eldest Jayatsena became the king of Magadha.

The second, as powerful as Indra, became king Aparajita on earth.

The third was a great Asura, endued with great prowess and power of deception, (Magical powers) and he became the greatly powerful king of the Nishadas.

The fourth of the brothers became the best of royal sages, Shrenimana.

That great Asura, the fifth (brother) became king Mahauja, the oppressor of his foes on earth.

That greatly intelligent and powerful Asura who was the sixth (brother) became the vest of royal sages Abhiru on earth.

The seventh of the brothers) became king Samudrasena, famous all over the earth from its centre to the sea and he was learned in the Shastras.

O king, the eighth of the Kaleyas, who was known as Brihata became a virtuous king, ever engaged in doing good to all creatures,

That mighty Danava, who was known as Kukshi, became king Parvatiya, as effulgent as a golden mountain.

That mighty and powerful Asura, who was known as Krathana, became king Suryaksha on earth.

That handsome Asura, who was known as Surya, became on earth that best of all kings Darada the king of the Bahlikas.

O king, many heroic monarchs, were born on earth form the race of Asuras, called Krodhavasha, of whom I have already spoken to you.

(They were) were) Madraka, Karmaveshta, Siddhartha, Kitaka, Suvira, Subahu, Mahavira, Bahlika, Kratha, Vichitra, Suratha, handsome Nila, Chiravasa, Bhumipala, Dantavaktra, Durjaya, Rukmi, Janamejaya, Ashada, Vayuvega, Bhuriteja, Ekalavya, Sumitra, Vatadhana, Gomukha, Karushakas, Kshemdhurti, Shrutayu, Udvaha, Brihatsena, Kshema, Ugratirtha, the king of Kalinga and Matimana, the king who was known as Ishvara.

These greatly fortunate, powerful and illustrious and best of monarchs were all born on earth of the race of Asuras, called Krodhavasha.

That great Danava who was known as Kalanemi became the son of Ugrasena, king Kamsa, on earth.

The best of the kings of the Gandharvas was born on earth as Devaka who was as effulgent as Indra himself.

O descendant of the Bharata race, Drona, the son of Bharadvaja, who was not born of any woman, sprang from the celestial Rishi Brihaspati.

O best of kings, he was a hero of great achievements and the best of all those that were learned in the ways of using arms. He was most illustrious and most powerful.

He was called learned, in the Vedas, as well as in the Science of arms by all men wellversed in the Vedas. He was a doer of wonderful deeds and a pride of his race.

O descendant of the Bharata race, O king, his son, the heroic, surpassingly energetic and lotus-eyed Ashvathama, the terror of all his foes and the great oppressor of all enemies, was born on earth from the united portions of Mahadeva, Yama, Kama and Krodha.

Begot by her husband Shantanu, the eight Vasus were given birth to by Ganga, on account of the curse of Rishi Vasistha and also from the command of Indra.

The youngest of them was Bhishma, who was the dispeller of the fears of the Kurus, who was greatly intelligent, who was a great scholar in the Vedas and a best of speakers and the destroyer of the enemy's ranks.

That best of men, being learned in the science of arms and endued with great energy, fought with the illustrious (Parshu) Rama, the son of Jamadagni.

O king, that Brahmana Rishi, who was known in the world as Kripa, was the embodiment of all manliness, was born of the Rudraganas.

O king, that king and great car-warrior, that chastiser of foes, who was known as Shakuni in the world, know him to be the Dvapara himself.

He who was known as Satyaki, the upholder of the pride of Vrishnis and the chastiser of foes, was born of the portion of celestial Marutas.

That royal sage, king Drupada, the best of all the wielder of arms, was also born the portions of the same celestials (Marutas).

O king, know that Kritavarma that king of men, that man of matchless deeds, that best of best Kshatriyas,

That chastiser of foes, was also born of the same celestials. The king Virata, the conqueror of other kingdoms, was also born of the same celestials.

That son of Arishta, known as Hansa, the king of the Gandharvas, was born to increase the Kuru race.

He was known on earth as Dhritarashtra, the son of Krishna Dvaipayana; he had long arms, he was greatly powerful and he was a king with prophetic eyes.

He became blind for the fault of his mother and anger of the Rishi. His younger brother was greatly powerful and strong. He was known as Pandu and was devoted to truth, virtue and purity.

Know, that he who was known as Vidura, he wino was the best of all virtuous men, he who was the god of justice himself who was the excellent and greatly fortunate son of Atri (Surya). one

The evil and wicked-minded king Duryodhana, the destroyer of the fame of the Kuru dynasty, was born of the portion of the Kali.

O king, It was he who was the cause of the slaughter of all creatures and of the world, he ruined the earth.

It was he who fanned the fire of hostility, the great fire of destruction. The sons of Pulastya became on earth the brothers of Duryodhana.

They were hundred, Dushasana Durmukha, Dusaha and others, all wicked to the extreme. I do not mention their names.

All of them supported Duryodhana in his wicked acts. O best of the Bharata race, they were all sons of Pulastya (Rakshas). Over and above these one hundred sons, Dhritarashtra had another son Yuyutsu, begot on a Vaisya woman.

Janamejaya said : O Lord, tell me the names of all the sons of Dhritarashtra beginning from the eldest, according to the order of their births.

Vaishampayana said : (They are) Duryodhana, Yuyutsa, Dushasana, Dussaha, Dushala, Durmukha, Vivingshati, Vikarna, Jalasandha, Sulochana, Vinda, Anuvinda, Durdharsha, Subahu, Dushpradharshana, Durmarshana, Durmukha, Dushkarna, Karna, Chitra, Upachitra, Chitraksha, Charu, Chitrangada, Durmada, Dushpradharsha, Vivitsu, Vikata, Sama, Urnanabha, Padmanabha, Nanda, Upananda, Senapati, Shushena, Kundodara, Mahodara, Chitrabahu, Chitravarma, Suvarmana, Durvirochana, Ayobahu, Mahabahu, Chitrachapa, Sukundala, Bhimavega, Bhimabala, Balaki, Bhima, Vikrama, Ugrayudha, Bhimashara, Kanakayu, Drindayudha, Drindavarmana, Drindakshetra, Somakirti, Anudara, Jarasandha, Drindasandha, Satyasandha, Sahasrayaka, Ugrashrava, Ugrasena, Kshemamurti, Aparajita, Panditaka, Vishalaksha, Duradhana, Drindahasta, Suhasta, Vatavega, Suvarcha, Adityaketu, Bahvashi, Nagadatta, Anuyayi, Nishangi, Kavachi, Dandi, Dandadhara, Dhanugraha, Ugra, Bhimaratha, Vira, Virabahu, Alolupa, Abhaya, Raudrakarma, Drindaratha, Anadhrishya, Kundabhedi, Viravi, Dirghalochana, Dirghbahu, Mahabahu, Vyudhoru, Kanakangada, Kundaja and Chitraka. He (Dhritarashtra) had also a daughter, named Dushala, above and over these one hundred sons. Dhritarashtra had another son, named Yuyutsa, born of a Vyasa woman, who was also above and over these one hundred sons.

O king, thus have I told you the names of the one hundred sons (of Dhritarashtra) and also of the name of his daughter. You have now known their names according to the orders of their births.

They were all heroes, great car-warriors and learned in the use of arms. They were also well-versed in the Vedas and experts in statesmanship

O king, all of them were mighty in attack and defence and all of them were learned. They married wives suitable to them in beauty and accomplishments.

At the marriageable age, the king of the Kurus at the advice of Shakuni bestowed his daughter Dushala on Jayadratha, the king of the Sindhus.

Know, O king, king Yudhishthira was a portion of Dharma; Bhima was that of Maruta; Arjuna was that of the king of the celestials (Indra).

The most handsome men amongst all men and the matchless beauties on earth, Nakula and Sahadeva were the portions of the Ashvinas.

He, who was known as Varcha the son of Soma, became Abhimanyu of wonderful deeds, the son of Arjuna.

O king, before his (Varcha) incarnation on earth, Soma thus spoke to the celestials, "I cannot part with my son; he is dearer to me than life.

Let this agreement be made and let not that agreement be violated. The destruction of the Asuras is the work of the celestials, therefore it is our work also.

Let this Varcha go, but let him not stay long on earth. Nara will be born as Indra's son and he will have Narayana as his friend.

He will be known on earth as powerful Arjuna, the son of Pandu. My boy will be his son and even in his boyhood will be a great car-warrior.

O best of immortals, let him remain on earth only for sixteen years. On his sixteenth year, will take place that great fight.

In which your incarnations will kill innumerable heroes. And in the fight in which Nara and Narayana (Arjuna and Krishna) will not be present,

And in which, O celestials, the (Kuru) heroes will fight with constructing a Chakravyuha, (in that fight) my son will defeat all foes and compel them to retreat.

The boy will enter into that impenetrable Vyuha and will walk about the place. He will defeat and kill many heroes and great carwarriors.

The mighty-armed hero, within the course of half a day, will send the one-fourth part of the foes, to the land of the dead.

Then towards the close of the day, many heroes and great car-warriors will return to the charge and attack my son. Thereupon, my mighty-armed son will come back to me.

He will beget one heroic son who will keep alive the almost extinct Bharata dynasty."

Having heard these words of Soma, the celestials said, “Be it so.” They then all worshipped and praised the lord of the stars (Soma).

O king, thus have I told you the accounts of the births of your father and his father (and so on;. Know, O king, the great car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna was born of a portion of Agni.

Know that Shikhandi, who was previously a woman, was born of a portion of a Rakshasa. O best of the Bharata race, those that became the five sons of Draupadi,

Know, O best of the Bharata race, were the celestials called Vishvedevas. (They were) Prativindhya, Sutasoma, Shrutakirti.

Shatanika, the son of Nakula and the powerful Shrutasena. The best of the Yadus, Shura, became the father of Vasudeva.

His daughter was named Pritha, who was matchless on earth in beauty. Her father (Shura) promised before Fire that he would give his first-born child to the son of his paternal aunt, king Kuntibhoja, who was childless. He gave his daughter (Pritha) to that king, expecting to get his favour. And king Kuntibhoja, adopted her as his daughter. She was engaged in her (foster) father's house in attending upon Brahmanas and guests.

One day she attended upon the terrible and wrathful ascetic, vow-observing Durvasa, who was learned in the mysteries of religion and well-acquainted with truth. She, with all possible care, gratified that self-controlled ascetic.

The illustrious man said, “O fortunate girl, I am much pleased with you. To those of the celestials whom you will call by this Mantra (that I teach you).

(They will instantly come) and by their grace you will give birth to offspring." Thus addressed that girl, being much curious (to see the effect of the Mantra).

Called Surya when she was a maid. The illustrious god of light (Surya) made her conceive.

And she begot a son, who became the best of all wielders of arms. He was born with a coat of arms and a pair of ear-rings and he looked as handsome as a celestial child.

And as effulgent as the sun and every part of his body was well embellished. From the fear of her friends and relatives, privately,

She throw that illustrious son into water (river). But the child, thus thrown into the water, was taken up by the illustrious husband of Radha.

Adhiratha (the husband of Radha) made the child his son. And the couple then gave him the name of Vasushena, by which name he soon became known all over the country. As he grew up, he became very strong and excelled in the use of all weapons.

He became the best victor and learned in all the Vedangas. When that wise and truthloving man was doing his japa, then there was nothing to that high-souled man which he could not give to the Brahmanas. To do good to his son (Arjuna), illustrious Indra, one day assuming the form of a Brahimana,

Begged from him his ear-rings and his natural coat of arms. Removing the ear-rings and coat of arms from his ear and breast, he gave them to him (Indra).

Indra, who being much surprised (for his liberality), presented him with a dart and spoke to him thus, "The Devas, Asuras, Gandharvas, Rakshasas, Uragas or men,

At whoinever, O hero, you will hurt this weapon, he will certainly be killed. He (the son of Pritha) was previously known by the name of Vasushena,

But for his mighty deeds, he was subsequently called Karna. Because the greatly illustrious hero removed his natural coat of Arms (from his breast).

He, the eldest son of Pritha, was called Karna. O best of kings, he thus began to grow up in the Suta caste.

Karna, the best of kings, expert in the use of all arms, the destroyer of his foes, became the friend and counsellor of Duryodhana, Know, O king, he was born of a portion of the sun. Of that god of gods, that everlasting Being, whose name is Narayana, the powerful Vasudeva (Krishna), was a portion in the world of men.

Baladeva was a portion of the Naga, Shesha. O king, know that the greatly energetic Pradyumna was a portion of Sanatkumara. In this was many dwellers of heaven became great men on earth, In the race of Vasudeva, thus increasing its glory.

O king, the Apsaras, of whom I have already spoken, were also born on earth in portions as ordered by Indra.

O king, sixteen thousand portions of these celestial ladies, became in the world of men the wives of Vasudeva. A portion of Sree (Lakshmi), herself became incarnate on earth out of love (for Narayana).

She was born in the race of Bhishmaka and that illustrious lady was named Rukmini. Draupadi was born from a portion of Sachi, (the wife of Indra) in the race of Drupada and from the altar of the sacrifice.

She was neither tall nor short, she had the fragrance of blue lotus. Her eyes were like the lotus leaves, her thighs were fair and round and her dense masses of hair were black and curly.

She was endued with all auspicious marks and her complexion was like the emerald. She was the charmer of the hearts of the five kings of men (the Pandavas).

The goddesses Siddhi and Dhriti became the mothers of the five (Pandavas). They were named Kunti and Madri. And the goddess, who was Mati, became the daughter of Subala (Gandhari, the wife of Dhritarashtra).

Thus, O king, have I described to you the births and incarnations of the portions of the Devas, Asuras, Gandharvas, Apsaras and Rakshasas, those that appeared on earth as invincible kings. Those illustrious ones that were born in the extensive race of the Yadus, those that were born as Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas, have all been described. This Anshavatarana (accounts of incarnations), which is capable of bestowing wealth, fame, long-life, offspring and victory, should be heard with proper frame of mind.

Hearing the incarnations of the Devas, the Asuras and the Gandharvas, the learned person, thus knowing the mystery of creation, preservation and destruction, does not feel depressed, even in the greatest sorrow.