Once when mother earth was overburdened by hundreds of thousands of military phalanxes of various conceited demons dressed like kings, she approached Lord Brahmā for relief. Mother earth assumed the form of a cow. Very much distressed, with tears in her eyes, she appeared before Lord Brahmā and told him about her misfortune. Thereafter Lord Brahmā went with mother earth, Lord Śiva, and all the other demigods to the shore of the ocean of milk. There the demigods worshiped Lord Viṣṇu, the master of the universe, the supreme God of all gods, who provides for everyone and diminishes everyone’s suffering. With great attention they worshiped Him by reciting the Vedic mantras known as the Puruṣa-sūkta.
While in trance, Lord Brahmā heard the words of Lord Viṣṇu vibrating in the sky. Thus he told the demigods, “O demigods, hear from me the order of Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, the Supreme Person, and execute it attentively without delay. Before we submitted our petition to the Lord, He was already aware of the earth’s distress and planned to descend. For as long as the Lord moves on earth to diminish its burden by His potency in the form of time, all you demigods should appear through plenary portions as sons and grandsons in the family of the Yadus. All your wives should also descend to satisfy Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who will appear as the son of Vasudeva.
The first expansion of Kṛṣṇa is Saṅkarṣaṇa, who is known as Ananta. He is the origin of all incarnations within this material world. Before the appearance of Lord Kṛṣṇa, this original Saṅkarṣaṇa will appear as Baladeva just to please Lord Kṛṣṇa by assisting Him in His transcendental pastimes.”