UGRASENA I King Ugrasena, father of Kaṁsa.
1)
Genealogy. Descended from Viṣṇu thus: Brahmā- Atri-Candra-Budha-Purūravas-Āyus-Nahuṣa-Yayāti- Yadu- Sahasrajit-Śatajit- Hehaya-Dharma- Kunti-(Kuṇi)- Bhadrasena-Dhanaka-Kṛtavīrya-Kārttavīryārjuna- Madhu-Vṛṣṇi-Yudhājit-Śini-Satyaka-Sātyaki (Yuyudhāna)-Yaya-Kuṇi- Anamitra-Pṛśni- Citraratha-Kukūra Vahni-Vilomā-Kapotalomā-Tumburu-Dundubhi- Daridra-Vasu-Nāhuka-Āhuka-Ugrasena-Kaṁsa.
2)
Ugrasena became king. Ugrasena became king of Mathurāpurī. His Kingship was not a hereditary acquisition. There is a story behind it. In olden days, in the plateau of Kālindī there was a famous place called Madhuvana. The place was called so because it was the abode of an Asura named Madhu. Madhu had a son, Lavaṇa. Śatrughna killed him as he was a very troublesome fellow and a thorn on the side of the Devas. Śatrughna then established a beautiful kingdom there and ruled it. He named it Mathurā. After the death of Śatrughna his two sons ruled Mathurā. Then, when the Solar dynasty came to its end, Mathurā came under the Yādavas. A Yādava king called Śūrasena ruled over the kingdom. Vasudeva, father of Śrī Kṛṣṇa was the son of Śūrasena. After the death of his father Vasudeva took up the profession of herding cows, and therefore Ugrasena, another king of the Yādava dynasty had to become king of Mathurā.
[Devī Bhāgavata, 4th Skandha] .
3)
Ugrasena and Kaṁsa. There is a common belief that Kaṁsa was the son of Ugrasena. But, the Bhāgavata relates the following to the effect that Kaṁsa was born to a Gandharva called Dramila of Ugrasena's wife. When once Ugrasena's wife was in her monthly periods, she walked in the forest with her companions. A Gandharva called Dramila saw her then, felt attracted by her and made her pregnant. Angered at this, she cursed Dramila thus: “Since you have procreated a son in me, while I am in my periods this son will be killed by a boy born in my husband's family.” Kaṁsa was the son born to her in the above manner. Kaṁsa ascended the throne after putting Ugrasena in prison. According to the curse of Ugrasena's wife, Śrī Kṛṣṇa was born in Ugrasena's family and he killed Kaṁsa. Nārada had informed Kaṁsa of the Dramila interlude. Kaṁsa told this story secretly to Akrūra when the latter was deputed by him to invite Kṛṣṇa to the dhanur yajña.
[Bhāgavata, 10th Skandha] .
The name Āhuka. Genealogy states that Ugrasena was the son of Āhuka. But, in certain contexts Ugrasena is called Āhuka also. “Afterwards we made Āhuka- Ugrasena King...”
[M.B. Udyoga Parva, Chapter 128, Verse 39] .
5)
Ugrasena imprisoned. Vasudeva, father of Śrī Kṛṣṇa was Ugrasena's minister. Kaṁsa, when he attained majority imprisoned Ugrasena and became himself king.
[M.B. Sabhā Parva, Chapter 22] .
6)
Ugrasena regained kingdom. Śrī Kṛṣṇa killed Kaṁsa with the permission of Ugrasena and made him king again. During the reign of Ugrasena, Jarāsandha and Śālva attacked Mathurāpurī. (See under Kṛṣṇa).
7)
Ugrasena and the iron rod. While Ugrasena was ruling the Kingdom, the sages Viśvāmitra, Nārada and Kañja once came to Dvārakā. To insult the sages, the Yādavas brought before them, Sāmba dressed as a pregnant woman. The Yādavas told the sages that she was Babhru's wife, and wanted to be told whether the child she delivered would be male or female. The sages understood their evil mentality, and prophesied that Sāmba would deliver an iron rod fierce enough to annihilate the whole Yādava race. According to the prophecy the next day Sāmba delivered an iron rod. The Yādavas imparted the news to Ugrasena, who got the iron rod reduced to powder and deposited the powder in the sea. He also enforced prohibition of liquor in the country. (To know how the powder of the rod ruined the Yādava dynasty see under Kṛṣṇa).
[M.B. Mausala Parva, Chapter 1] .
8)
After death. After his death, Ugrasena joined the Viśvadevatās. Bhūriśravas, Śala, Bhūri, Kaṁsa- Ugrasena, Vasudeva, Uttara with his brother Śaṅkhathese kings (after death) joined the company of Viśvadevatās.
[M.B. Svargārohaṇa Parva, Chapter 5, Verses 16, 17] .
UGRASENA II A brother of King Janamejaya. He, along with his two brothers thrashed the son of Saramā.
[M.B. Ādi Parva, Chapter 3, Verses 1 and 2] .
UGRASENA III Son of Kaśyapa by his wife Muni.
[M.B. Ādi Parva, Chapter 65, Verse 42] . He was present at the birthday celebrations of Arjuna.
[M.B. Ādi Parva, Chapter 122, Verse 52] . He was also present to witness the fight between Arjuna and Kṛpācārya at the Virāṭa city.
[M.B. Virāṭa Parva, Chapter 56, Verses 11 and 12] .
UGRASENA IV A king who was Svarbhānu, the asura, reborn.
[M.B. Ādi Parva, Chapter 67, Verses 12 and 13] .
UGRASENA V A son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. He is also called Citrasena.
[M.B. Ādi Parva, Chapter 67, Verse 100] . This Ugrasena was killed by Bhīma.
[M.B. Droṇa Parva, Chapter 137] .
UGRASENA VI Son of Parīkṣit, king of the Lunar dynasty.
[M.B. Ādi Parva, Chapter 94, Verses 52-54] .