The father of Kamsa.

Antecedents: Vishnu – Brahma – Atri – Chandra – Budha – Pururavas – Ayus – Nahusha – Yayati – Yadu – Sahasrajit – Shatajit – Hehaya – Dharma – Kunti – Bhadrasena – Dhanaka – Kritavirya – – Kartaviryarjuna – Madhu – Vrishni – Yudhajit – Shini – Satyaka – Satyaki – Jaya – Kuni – Anamitra – Prishni – Chitraratha – Kukura – Vahni – Viloma – Kapotaloma – Tumburu – Dundubhi – Daridra- Vasu – Nahuka – Aahuka – Ugrasena.

Ugrasena didn’t become the king of Mathura by right. Once there was a famous place named Madhuvana on the banks of the Kalindi. It was named after the asura Madhu. Madhu had a son named Lavana. He continuously attacked the devas and was finally killed by Shatrughna, who then established his own kingdom there. The place was then named Mathura. After him, the two sons ruled the place, and after the decline of Suryavanshi kings, it came under the control of Yadavas and was ruled by Shurasena. Shurasena’s son was Vasudeva, Krishna’s father, who gave up the right to the kingdom and began raising cows. Because of that, Ugrasena, another Yadava king had to rule Mathura as per Devibhagavata Chaturthaskanda.

Kamsa is believed to be Ugrasena’s son, but he was born to Ugrasena’s wife and a gandharva named Dramila. Once , in her youth, Ugrasena’s wife was walking in the forests with her maids when Dramila saw her and impregnated her. She was furious and said that since Dramila had made her pregnant using devious means, a child born of her husband’s clan would kill Dramila’s child. Kamsa imprisoned Ugrasena and as per his mother’s words, he died at the hands of Krishna, who belonged to Ugrasena’s clan. Narada had informed Kamsa about these words, and Kamsa mentioned it to Akrura when he sent Akrura to fetch Krishna for the Dhanuryaga as per Bhagavata Dashamaskanda.

Though Ugrasena is believed to be the son of Aahuka, some scriptures maintain that Ugrasena was also known as Aahuka – Mahabharata Udyogaparva Chapter 128 verse 39.

Vasudeva became Ugrasena’s minister. After Kamsa imprisoned Ugrasena, he took over the throne, as per Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 22. Later Krishna killed Kamsa with Ugrasena’s permission and installed him back on the throne. During this time, Mathura was attacked by Jarasandha and Shalva.

During Ugrasena’s reign, the sages Vishwamitra, Kanva and Narada visited Dwaraka. The Yadavas wanted to ridicule them and dressed up a man named Samba as a pregnant woman and presented him before them. They claimed that she was the wife of Babhru and wanted to know if the child would be a boy or a girl. The sages understood what was happening and cursed that Samba would give birth to a pounder which would destroy the Yadava clan. The very next day, Samba delivered the pounder. The Yadavas panicked and informed Ugrasena. A distraught Ugrasena burned it and sprinkled the dust in the ocean. He also banned alcohol in the kingdom, as per Mahabharata Mausalaparva Chapter 1. To know how the Yadava clan was destroyed finally by this dust, see Krishna.

After his death, Ugrasena joined the vishwadevas as per Mahabharata Swargarohanaparva Chapter 5 verses 16-17.