• Vasudevas (Narayana/Vasudeva)

- What they are: In Jain cosmology, there are nine Vasudevas in each half-cycle. They are powerful, dharma-promoting heroes who rule part of the earth and often fight the Prativasudevas with their Baladeva brothers. Sometimes the name Narayana is used for a Vasudeva, and Krishna is counted as one of the nine Vasudevas in the current cycle. ( jainknowledge.com) - Who they were (examples from the current cycle): Triprishtha, Dviprishtha, Svayambhu, Purushottama, Purushasimha, Purushapundarika, Purushadatta (Datta), Lakshmana, and Krishna/Narayana. These are the six or more names you’ll see in Jain lists; some texts vary slightly in spelling. ( jainknowledge.com) - Simple takeaway: Vasudevas are the warrior-heroes among the threefold set (Vasudeva, Baladeva, Prativasudeva) who stand for dharma and often battle the anti-heroes.

• Baladevas (Balabhadra)

- What they are: The nine Baladevas are the gentler, non-violent brothers who accompany each Vasudeva. They uphold Jain values, strength without violence, and often renounce the world to seek liberation. They are the other half of the common Vasudeva–Baladeva pair. ( wisdomlib.org) - Who they were (examples from the current cycle): Vijaya, Achala, Saudharm, Suprabha, Sudarśana, Nandi, Nandimitra, Rama (the Balarama figure), and Swayambhu (some lists differ slightly in order or names). They are paired with their Vasudeva brothers. ( jainknowledge.com) - Simple takeaway: Baladevas are the virtuous, strong yet non-violent elder brothers who support dharma.

• Prativasudevas (Prativāsudevas)

- What they are: The anti-heroes or antagonists in each pair. They oppose the Vasudeva–Baladeva duo and represent the forces of adharma in the stories. They are defeated by the Vasudeva–Baladeva combination. ( wisdomlib.org) - Examples in cycles: Ravana, Jarasandha, and other names appear as Prativasudevas in different texts; in Hemachandra’s Ramayana-like narratives, they are shown opposing the virtuous duo. ( shrimad.com) - Simple takeaway: Prativasudevas symbolize unrighteous rule that is overcome by dharma.

• A note on tradition differences

- Digambara vs. Śvetāmbara texts sometimes differ in exact spellings or pairings, but both traditions affirm the basic threefold group of Baladeva (gentle elder), Vasudeva (fighter elder), and Prativasudeva (antagonist) appearing nine times in each half-cycle. The general roles and the idea of a dharma–adharma struggle remain consistent. ( jainknowledge.com)

You can read more here:

• About the nine Vasudevas and their roles
• About Baladevas and their characteristics
• General explanation of the Vasudeva–Baladeva–Prativasudeva trio