Krishna as in the MBH

Due to the popularity of the Bhagavatham and especially the widely organized Saptahams, many stories connected with the childhood exploits of Bhagavan Krishna are well known to people in every nook and corner of the country. But there are many other stories relating to Bhagavan Krishna, often told in his own words, which give us tremendous new insights into his personality. I give below in very brief words, some of these ..... in hopes that it will give rise to further interest in reading the MBH in original and thereby understand more about this many-sided wonderful personality.

1) He spent 12 years in extreme Tapas in the Himalayas, seeking to propitiate Lord Siva, for the boon of getting a son by his wife Rukmini.
2) After the birth of a son named Pradyumna, he was carried away by asuras even as a baby. One of Krishna's other wives Jambavati, also requested him for a son of great exploits. Complying with her request, he again went to Kailasa and did another 12 years Tapas. With the blessings of Mahadeva, got another supremely handsome son named Samba.
3) It is ironic that these two sons of Krishna, Pradyumna and Samba, became the direct cause of the destruction of Vrishni Race, also assisted by Sathyaki and Kritavarma.
4) Despite his divine nature, Krishna in his human birth was unable to prevent the depredations caused by Jarasandha and his army on the Vrishni race then living in Mathura. Hence to prevent further harm, they escaped to the seashore where they built Dwaraka. Krishna mentions this in detail to Yudhishtira when the latter expresses his desire to conduct the Rajasooya yajna.
5) Krishna and Rukmini had great reverence for the Rishis. Once Durvasa himself tested both of them severely including yoking Rukmini to a chariot with himself in it and then making her draw it like a horse. He also lashed her repeatedly. Despite all the pain and humiliation, they successfully overcame all tests posed by the irate Rishi.
5) Krishna, despite his great strategic acumen, was once so depressed and helplessly led by the manipulations going on between the Vrishnis and Bhojas and Andhaka princes. He sought advice from Narada, who in turn politely blamed Krishna himself for ceding the royal power to Ugrasena, instead of taking it himself, which was the root cause of the machinations.