PART V:

Section I.—The death of Kansa announced. Earth, oppressed by the Daityas, applies to the gods. They accompany her to Vishnu who promises to give her relief. Kansa imprisons Vasudeva and Devaki. Vishnu's instructions to Yoganidra.

Section II.—The conception of Devaki; her appearance; she is praised by the gods.

Section III.—Birth of Krishna, conveyed by Vasudeva to Mathura and exchanged with the new-born daughter of Yasoda. Kansa attempts to destroy the latter, who becomes Yoganidra.

Section IV.—Kansa addresses his friends, announces their danger and orders male children to be put to death.

Section V.—Nanda returns with the infants Krishna and Balarāma to Gokula. Putaua killed by the former. Prayers of Nanda and Yasoda.

Section VI.—Krishna overturns a wagon; casts down two trees. The Gopis depart to Vrindavana. Sports of the boys. Description of the season of the rains.

Section VII.—Krishna combats the serpent Kaliya; alarm of his parents and companions; he overcomes the serpent, and is propitiated by him; commands him to depart from the Yamuna river to the ocean.

Section VIII.—The Demon Dhenuka destroyed by Rāma.

Section IX.—Sports of the boys in the forest. Prahlamba the Asura comes amongst them; is destroyed by Rāma, at the command of Krishna.

Section X.—Description of autumn. Krishna dissuades Nanda from worshipping Indra; recommends him and the Gopas to worship cattle and the mountains.

Section XI.—Indra offended by the loss of his offerings causes heavy rains to deluge Gokula. Krishna holds up the mountain Gobardhana to shelter the cowherds and their cattle.

Section XII.—Indra comes to Gokula; praises Krishna and makes him prince over the cattle. Krishna promises to befriend Arjuna.

Section XIII.—Krishna praised by the cowherds; his sports with Gopis, their imitation and love of him, The Rasa dance.

Section XIV.—Krishna kills the demon Arishta, in the form of a bull.

Section XV.—Kansa informed by Nārada of the existence of Krishna and Balarāma; he sends Kesin to destroy them and Akrura to bring them to Mathura.

Section XVI.—Kesin in the form of a horse, slain by Krishna; he is praised by Nārada.

Section XVII.—Akrura's meditation to Krishna, his arrival at Gokula; his delight at seeing Krishna and his brother.

Section XVIII.—Grief of the Gopis on the departure of Krishna and Balarāma with Akrura; their leaving Gokula. Akrura bathes in the Yamuna; beholds the divine form of the two youths, and praises Vishnu.

Section XIX.—Akrura conveys Krishna and Rāma near to Mathura, leaves them; they enter the town. Insolence of Kansa's washerman; Krishna kills him. Civility of a flower-seller; Krishna gives him his benediction.

Section XX.—Krishna and Balarāma meets Kubja; she is made straight by the former; they proceed to the palace. Krishna breaks a bow intended for a trial of arms. Kansa's orders to his servants. Public games. Krishna and his brother enter the arena; the former wrestles with Chanura, the latter with Mushtika, the king's wrestlers; who are both killed. Krishna attacks and slays Kansa; he and Balarāma do homage to Vasudeva, and Devaki; the former praises Krishna.

Section XXI—Krishna encourages his parents; places Ugrasena on the throne; becomes the pupil of the Sandipani, whose son he recovers from the sea, he kills the marine demon, Panchajana, and makes a horn of his shell.

Section XXII.—Jarasandha besieges Mathura; is defeated, but repeatedly renews the attack.

Section XXIII.—Birth of Kalayavana; he advances against Mathura, Krishna builds Dwārakā and sends thither the Yadava tribe; he leads Kalayavana into the cave of Muchukunda; the latter awakes, consumes the Yavana king, and praises Krishna.

Section XXIV.—Muchukunda goes to perform penance, Krishna takes the army and treasures of Kalayavana, and repairs with them to Dwārakā. Balarāma visits Vraia; inquires its inhabitants after Krishna.

Section XXV.—Balarāma finds wine in the hollow of a tree and becomes inebriated; commands the Yamuna to come to him, and on her refusal drags her out of her course; Lakshmi gives him ornaments and a dress; he returns to Dwārakā and marries Revati.

Section XXVI.—Krishna carries off Rukmini; the princes who come to rescue her repulsed by Balarāma. Rukmin overthrown but spared by Krishna, found Bhojakata. Pradyumna born of Rukmini.

Section XXVII.—Pradyumna stolen by Sambara; thrown into the sea, and swallowed by a fish; found by Mayadevi; he kills Sambara, marries Mayadev, and returns with her to Dwārakā. Joy of Rukmini and Krishna.

SECTION XXVIII.—Wives of Krishna, Pradyumna's son Anirudha; nuptials of the latter. Balarāma beat at dice, becomes incensed, and slays Rukmin and others.

Section XXIV.—Indra comes to Dwārakā, and reports to Krishna the tyranny of Naraka. Krishna goes to his city, and puts him to death. Earth gives the earrings of Aditi to Krishna and praises him. He liberates the princesses made captive by Naraka, sends them to Dwārakā, and goes to Swarga with Satyabhāmā.

Section XXX.—Krishna restores her earrings to Aditi, and is praised by her; he visits the garden of Indra and at the desire of Satyabhāmā carries off the Pārijāta tree. Sachi excites Indra to its rescue. Conflict between the gods and Krishna, who defeats them. Satyabhāmā derides them. They praise Krishna.

Section XXXI.—Krishna with Indra's consent, takes the Pārijāta tree to Dwārakā; marries the princesses rescued from Naraka.

Section XXXII.—Children of Krishna. Usha the daughter of Bana, sees Aniruddha in a dream, and becomes enamored of him.

Section XXXIII.—Bana solicits Siva for war; finds Aniruddha in the palace, and makes him prisoner. Krishna, Balarāma, and Pradyumna come to his rescue. Siva and Skandha aid Bana; the former is disabled; the latter put to flight, Bana encounters Krishna who cuts off all his arms, and is about to put him to death. Siva intercedes and Krishna spares his life. Vishnu and Siva are the same.

Section XXXIV.—Paundraka, a Vasudeva, assumes the insignia and style of Krishna, supported by the king of Kasi. Krishna marches against and destroys them. The son of the king sends a magical being against Krishna; destroyed by his discus, which also sets Benares on fire, and consumes it and its inhabitants.

Section XXXV.—Samba carries off the daughter of Duryodhana but is taken prisoner. Balarāma comes to Hastināpur, and demands his liberation; it is refused; in his wrath he drags the city towards him, to throw it into the river. The Kuru chiefs give up Samba and his wife.

Section XXXVI.—The Asura Dwivida in the form of an ape destroyed by Balarāma.

Section XXXVII.—Destruction of Yadavas. Samba and others deceive and ridicule the Rishis. The former bears an iron pestle, it is broken, and thrown into the sea. The Yadavas go to Prabhasa by desire of Krishna; they quarrel and fight and all perish. The great serpent Sesha issues from the mouth of Rāma. Krishna is shot by a hunter, and again becomes one with universal spirit.

Section XXXVIII.—Arjuna comes to Dwārakā, and burns the dead and takes away the surviving inhabitants. Commencement of the Kali age. Shepherds and thieves attack Arjuna and carry off the women and wealth. Arjuna regrets the loss of his prowess to Vyasa; who consoles him and tells him the story of Ashtavakra's cursing the Apsaras. Arjuna and his brothers place Pariskhit on the throne, and go to the forests. End of the fifth book.