*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 1-3.*
_Said Suka_: -- The goddess Earth, being oppressed by the heavy load of
tens of thousands of Daitya hosts, who were born as arrogant kings,
sought the shelter of Brahma. She took the form of a cow, and with tears
running down her cheeks, piteously related her grievances to the Lord of
Creation. Brahma took Siva and the Devas with him, and went over to the
Ocean of milk (Kshira Samudra), the abode of Vishnu. There he adored the
Lord of Preservation and heard the Divine voice, which he thus explained
to the Devas: --
"Even before this, the Lord knew about the grievances of the goddess of
Earth. Go, take your births, as parts of yourselves, in the clan of the
Yadus. The Lord of Lords, by governing His Kala Sakti, shall appear on
the Earth and relieve her pressure. The Supreme Purusha Himself shall be
born in the family of Vasudeva. Let the Deva girls take their births for
His gratification. The thousand-mouthed, self-illumining Ananta, who is
only a part of Vasudeva, shall be the elder-born, that he may do what
pleases Hari. Bhagavati, the Maya of Vishnu, who keeps the whole world
under delusion, shall also incarnate in part, as desired by the Lord,
for doing His work."
Saying all this to the Devas, and giving words of consolation to the
goddess of Earth, Brahma went back to his own abode.
Sura Sena, the chief of the Yadus, ruled over the town of Mathura. Hence
it became the chief seat of the Yadu kings. It is a sacred town, the
constant seat of Hari.
Once upon a time, at Mathura. Vasudeva drove in his chariot with his
newly married wife Devaki. The marriage presents were innumerable.
Kansa, the son of Ugrasena, held the reins of the horses himself, so
eager was he to please his sister Devaki.