Invocation and dialogue between Shaunaka and Ugrashrava; Janamejaya’s prayer to hear the detailed history of the Vrishni dynasty; description of the primordial creation.
Description of the lineage of Svayambhuva Manu and the birth of Daksha Prajapati.
Expansion of creation through Daksha Prajapati; Narada making Daksha’s sons renounce worldly life; description of Daksha’s sixty daughters and their descendants.
Story of Prithu; expansion of the kingdom and establishment of the guardians of the directions.
Story of Prithu; Vena’s self-destruction through tyranny; account of Prithu’s birth.
Story of Prithu; Prithu adopting Bhudevi as his daughter; Earth Goddess in the form of a cow yielding various kinds of milk; description of the vessels and milkers.
Description of the Manvantaras, Manus, deities, and sages.
Measurement of Brahma’s four Yugas, Manvantaras, days, and years.
Birth of Vaivasvata Manu, Yama, Yami (Yamuna), the Ashwini Kumaras, and Shanaishchara (Saturn).
Description of those born in the lineage of Vaivasvata Manu; origin of Pururavas.
Story of Dhundhumara.
Description of Dhundhumara’s lineage; birth of Galava.
Story of Trishanku and the birth accounts of his descendants including Harishchandra.
Birth and history of Sagara; creation of the ocean through the efforts of Sagara’s sons.
Description of the Solar Dynasty.
Shraddha Kalpa; Janamejaya’s questions regarding the Pitris and Shraddha; Shantanu accepting the offering from Bhishma.
Pitri Kalpa; dialogue between Bhishma and Markandeya; conversation of Markandeya and Sanatkumara.
Pitri Kalpa; description of the Pitris, worlds, powers, and maidens; Markandeya receives divine vision.
Pitri Kalpa; story of Bharadvaja’s sons; fate of fallen yogis; characteristics of those qualified for yogic perfection; conclusion of the dialogue.
Pitri Kalpa; description of the lineages of Brahmadatta and Ugrayudha; narration of Shuka Niti through a bird.
Pitri Kalpa; Markandeya explains the greatness of Shraddha; the sons of Kaushika obtain a noble rebirth through its merit.
Pitri Kalpa; the bird Shuchivak curses three swans; the swan Sumana frees them through grace.
Three cursed swans are reborn as a king and ministers in Kampilya; the remaining four swans attain liberation.
Birth of Vibhraja, son of Brahmadatta; Brahmadatta’s distress with his wife Sannati; remembrance of previous births and liberation through penance.
Origin of the Moon; Rajasuya sacrifice; war between gods and demons; birth of Budha.
Life of King Pururavas; description of his lineage; creation of the three sacred fires; journey to the Gandharva world.
Lineage of Amavasu, the second son of Pururavas; births of Vishvamitra and Parashurama.
Story of King Raji and his sons; Indra regains his lost position.
Description of the lineage of Anenas; incarnation of Dhanvantari; story of Divodasa and Varanasi; praise of Alarka.
Description of the lineages of Nahusha and Yayati; life of Yayati.
Description of the lineage of Puru.
Lineage of Richeyu; Ajamidha, Panchala, Somaka, Kuru, Turvasu, Druhyu, and Anu dynasties.
Description of the Yadu dynasty; birth and life of Kartavirya; merit of hearing the lineages of Yayati’s five sons.
Description of the Vrishni dynasty; introduction to Akrura, Vasudeva, Kunti, Satyaki, Uddhava, Charudeshna, Ekalavya, and others.
Incarnation of Sri Krishna; births of Krishna’s brothers and sisters; appearance of Kalayavana.
Description of Kroshthu’s lineage; exchange of gotras between priests and Kshatriyas.
Description of the Babhru lineage.
Description of the Bhajamana lineage; story of the Syamantaka jewel.
Deaths of Prasena, Satrajit, and Shatadhanva due to the Syamantaka jewel; Balarama teaching mace warfare to Duryodhana; Akrura giving the jewel to Krishna and Krishna returning it.
Janamejaya asks about the mysteries of the incarnations of Varaha, Narasimha, Parashurama, Krishna, and others.
Brief description of the incarnations of Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Dattatreya, Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, Vyasa, and Kalki.
Description of Vishnu’s supreme lordship; story of the marvelous Tarakamaya war.
Description of the demon army preparing to battle the gods.
Preparations of the gods for the Tarakamaya war.
War between gods and demons; origin of Aurvagni.
Indra praises the Moon; destruction of demon armies by Chandra and Varuna; Maya’s magical attack; arrival of Kalanemi.
Battle and power of Kalanemi.
Dialogue between Kalanemi and Mahavishnu; slaying of Kalanemi; Vishnu reassures the gods and departs for Brahmaloka.
Reception of Mahavishnu in Brahmaloka.
Mahavishnu residing in Narayana Ashrama; inquiry about the reason for the arrival of Brahma and others.
Brahma explains the condition of the world and urges Vishnu to relieve the burden of the Earth.
Assembly of Mahavishnu and the gods on Mount Meru; Earth Goddess requests relief from her burden.
Descent of divine portions of the gods according to Brahma’s command.
Dialogue between Narada and Mahavishnu; Narada describes the suffering on Earth and urges divine incarnation.
Mahavishnu replies to Narada; Brahma identifies the suitable place and future parents for the incarnation.
Vishnu Parva
Narada visits Mathura and warns Kamsa of impending danger; Kamsa boasts of his power.
Kamsa attempts to destroy Devaki’s womb; Vishnu transfers the souls of the six demons (Shadgarbhas) into Devaki’s womb through the Goddess of Sleep.
Hymn to Arya (the Goddess).
Kamsa kills Devaki’s children; birth of Sankarshana and Krishna; Yogamaya’s appearance; Kamsa seeks Devaki’s forgiveness.
Beauty of Gokula; arrival of Nanda.
Breaking of the cart and slaying of Putana.
Uprooting of the twin Arjuna trees.
Childhood sports of Krishna and Balarama; Krishna creates wolves to encourage migration from Gokula.
Vraja inhabitants move from Gokula to Vrindavana.
Description of the rainy season.
Krishna’s beauty; Bhandiravata; Yamuna; menace of Kaliya serpent.
Subduing of Kaliya by Krishna; Kaliya departs; cowherds witness Krishna’s greatness.
Slaying of Dhenukasura by Balarama.
Slaying of Pralambasura by Balarama.
Krishna’s inquiry about the Indra festival; explanation by an elder cowherd.
Krishna proposes Govardhana worship and cow worship; description of autumn.
Performance of the Govardhana sacrifice; divine manifestation and blessings.
Indra sends torrential rains; Krishna lifts Govardhana Hill and shelters the people.
Arrival of Indra; Krishna is anointed as Govinda; advice regarding Arjuna.
Cowherds question Krishna about his divine acts; Krishna replies; brief description of the Rasa Lila.
Slaying of Arishtasura.
Kamsa’s fears; summons to the Yadavas; Akrura is sent to bring Krishna and Balarama.
Reply of Andhaka to Kamsa.
Oppression and death of Keshi.
Akrura meets Krishna in Vraja.
Akrura conveys Kamsa’s orders and describes the plight of Vasudeva and Devaki.
Journey of Akrura with Krishna and Balarama; vision of Ananta and the divine realm in the Yamuna.
Krishna and Balarama enter Mathura; death of the washerman; blessing of the florist; grace to Kubja; breaking of Kamsa’s bow.
