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The Advent of Lord Kṛṣṇa: Introduction
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were known as the  ṣaḍ-garbhas , or six  garbhas , and they were all equally powerful and expert in military affairs. These  ṣaḍ-garbhas  gave up the association of Hiraṇyakaśipu, their grandfather, and underwent great austerities to satisfy Lord Brahmā, who, upon being satisfied, agreed to give them whatever benediction they might desire. When asked by Lord Brahmā to state what they wanted, the  ṣaḍ-garbhas  replied, “Dear Lord Brahmā, if you want to give us a benediction, give us the blessing that we will not be killed by any demigod,  mahā-roga , Yakṣa, Gandharva-pati, Siddha, Cāraṇa or human being, nor by great sages who are perfect in their penances and austerities.” Brahmā understood their purpose and fulfilled their desire. But when Hiraṇyakaśipu came to know of these events, he was very angry at his grandsons. “You have given up my association and have gone to worship Lord Brahmā,” he said, “and therefore I no longer have any affection for you. You have tried to save yourselves from the hands of the demigods, but I curse you in this way: Your father will take birth as Kaṁsa and kill all of you because you will take birth as sons of Devakī.” Because of this curse, the grandsons of Hiraṇyakaśipu had to take birth from the womb of Devakī and be killed by Kaṁsa, although he was previously their father. This description is mentioned in the  Hari-vaṁśa ,  Viṣṇu-parva , Second Chapter. According to the comments of the  Vaiṣṇava-toṣaṇī , the son of Devakī known as Kīrtimān was the third incarnation. In his first incarnation he was known as Smara and was the son of Marīci, and later he became the son of Kālanemi. This is mentioned in the histories.
An additional verse in this chapter of  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam  is accepted by the Madhvācārya-samprādaya, represented by Vijayadhvaja Tīrtha. The verse is as follows:
atha kaṁsam upāgamya nārado brahma-nandanaḥ ekāntam upasaṅgamya vākyam etad uvāca ha
atha —in this way;  kaṁsam —unto Kaṁsa;  upāgamya —after going;  nāradaḥ —the great sage Nārada;  brahma-nandanaḥ —who is the son of Brahmā;  ekāntam upasaṅgamya —after going to a very solitary place;