yudhi·shthira said:

209.1

W

ise grandfather, you whose valor in battle derives from truth, I would like to hear a full account of Krishna, the immutable Lord.

Please tell me everything as it really is, bullish man, about his tremendous energy and primeval deeds.

And explain to me, mighty one, how and why the Lord assumed the form of an animal.

bhishma said:

209.5

Long ago, when I was out hunting, I found myself at Markandeya’s hermitage. There I saw a troop of silent sages seated in their thousands. After accepting the offering of milk and honey with which they paid me homage, I saluted them. Now listen attentively to the delightful story of heavenly events that the great seer Kashyapa narrated on that occasion.

Once upon a time there was an angry, greedy bunch of leading danavas and hundreds of great asuras under the leadership of Naraka. Intoxicated by their own strength, and joined by many other danavas eager for battle, they could not tolerate the incomparable prosperity of the gods.

209.10

These danavas harassed the gods and celestial seers, who could not find a safe haven no matter where they searched, Your Majesty. The gods saw that the earth was in a perilous state because it was plagued by these terrible, mighty danavas—oppressed by this heavy burden the earth was gloomy and miserable and began to sink. And so the Adityas, trembling with fear, petitioned Brahma as follows: