Krishna Saves Rajarshi Nriga from Hell
The Pandavas praise Markandeya for restoring Indradyumna to heaven, but Markandeya tells them of another king saved by someone greater. Devaki's son Krishna, he says, rescued rajarshi Nriga when he had descended into hell and was in distress, and returned him to heaven.
The Pandavas heard Markandeya's account of King Indradyumna's fall and restoration. They were pleased. "That was proper," they said. "You did the right thing in restoring King Indradyumna to heaven again, when he had fallen from the world of heaven."
Markandeya nodded. Then he added: "Devaki's son Krishna also saved rajarshi Nriga, when he had descended into hell and was in distress. He returned him again to heaven."
He said nothing more. The comparison hung in the air: two kings, two falls from grace, two rescuers. One rescued by a sage who had lived through the end of the world. The other rescued by a god who had not yet revealed what he was. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 488