s. m, Derived from the Sanskrit Krishna black, dark blue. Name of a celebrated Avatár of Vishnu, sometimes supposed to be Vishnu himself as distinct from his ten Avatárs. The son of Vasudeva and Devakí, he was born with a black skin. Kansa, his cousin who had been told he would be destroyed by a son of Devakí, wished to kill him. His father escaped with him and the young Krishna was brought up by a herdsman Naṇdá and his wife Yasodá. His contest with Indra, his sports with Rádhá and the Gopís, and the actions of his life, are favourite and well known themes in India:—Krishan pakkh, s. m. The fortnight during which the moon is on the wane, the waning half of the moon; i. q. Kishan.