Vaishampayana said:—Thereupon repairing to the nether region Vishnu arrived where Saragarbha Asuras, on account of the imprecation of Hiranyakasipu, were living in the womb of water. He saw them lying there possessed by death-like sleep (24–25). Thereupon entering into the body of the Saragarbhas in a state of dream, Vishnu, having truth for his prowess, caught hold of their vital breaths and consigned them to the care of sleep. He said "O sleep, by my command take the vital airs of all these leading Dānavas Saragarbhas and place them in order in the womb of Devaki (26-28). They will be born of her womb and proceed to the abode of Death. Kansa’s efforts will be baffled and Devaki’s labour will be crowned with success (29). I will show you such a favour that like me you will be powerful on earth and adored of all creatures (30). Thereupon when my gentle portion will be conceived by Devaki in her seventh conception, take that eldest brother of mine in the seventh month and place him within Rohini’s womb (31). On account of his thus being taken away from the womb, that moon-like elder brother of mine will pass, in his youth, by the name of Sangkarsana (32). Thereupon thinking that ’Devaki has untimely given birth to a child out of fear in the seventh time’ Kansa will be very careful for the eighth time when I will be in her womb (33). O goddess, may you fare-well; as being the ninth of our race, you will be conceived by Yashodā, the best of milk-women, the most beloved wife of Nanda the master of Kansa’s kine. You will be born on the ninth day of the dark half of the month (34–35). I too, in the middle of the night under the influence of Abhijit,¹⁸⁷ will come out happily of the womb (36). O sleep, highly dreadful is Kansa’s rule. Therefore in the eighth month, we will be simultaneously born (and exchanged by Vasudeva) (37). I will be taken to Yashodā and you will be taken to Devaki. By this our interchange Kansa will be stupified (38). Then taking you by the leg he will dash you against a stone; you will then at once go up to the sky and attain to your eternal region (39). O goddess, there the effulgence of your face will be like that of Sangkarshana and your body will be dark-blue like mine and your arms will be as huge as those of mine (40). O sleep, when armed with an uplifted mace of three heads, and with a dagger of golden handles, when with a cup full of wine and a clean lotus, when adorned with a blue raiment and a yellow cloth thrown round your breast, you will occupy the road of the celestials, your breast will adorned with a necklace shining like the rays of the moon, your two ears will be adorned with two celestial _Kundalas_ and your countenance will shine like the moon (41-43). O goddess, adorned, at my command, with a wonderful crown and hair nets, with flags of peacock feather and _Angadas_, embellishing the ten quarters, with your dreadful arms resembling the serpents, encircled