Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 15

The Yadu–Vṛṣṇi–Andhaka Genealogies and the Purpose of Kṛṣṇa’s Advent

Devanagari script

श्वफल्कश्चित्ररथश्च गान्दिन्यां च श्वफल्कत: । अक्रूरप्रमुखा आसन् पुत्रा द्वादश विश्रुता: ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

śvaphalkaś citrarathaś ca gāndinyāṁ ca śvaphalkataḥ akrūra-pramukhā āsan putrā dvādaśa viśrutāḥ

Translation

From Vṛṣṇi came the sons named Śvaphalka and Citraratha. From Śvaphalka by his wife Gāndinī came Akrūra. Akrūra was the eldest, but there were twelve other sons, all of whom were most celebrated.

Synonyms

• श्वफल्कः: Śvaphalka
• श्वफल्कः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वफल्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• चित्ररथः: Citraratha
• चित्ररथः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्ररथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—चित्र + रथ

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• गान्दिन्याम्: in/through Gāndinī (Gāndinī’s line)
• गान्दिन्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्दिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• श्वफल्कतः: from Śvaphalka
• श्वफल्कतः: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वफल्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• अक्रूर-प्रमुखाः: headed by Akrūra
• अक्रूर-प्रमुखाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्रूर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—अक्रूरः प्रमुखः येषां ते (leader-headed)

• आसन्: were
• आसन्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), प्रथमा बहुवचनार्थे (agreeing with पुत्राः)

• विश्रुताः: well-known, renowned
• विश्रुताः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + श्रु (धातु) → विश्रुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying पुत्राः)

Characters & Entities

• Śvaphalka
• Citraratha
• Gāndinī
• Akrūra

FAQs

Who is Akrura in the Srimad Bhagavatam and what is his lineage?

This verse states that Akrūra is one of the twelve famous sons born from Śvaphalka, indicating his placement within the Yadu dynasty.

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 9.24.15 say about Śvaphalka and Gāndinī?

It says that through Gāndinī, Śvaphalka begot Citraratha, and that Śvaphalka also had twelve renowned sons led by Akrūra.

How is Bhagavatam genealogy useful for devotees studying Krishna Leela?

By mapping the Yadu dynasty, devotees understand the sacred family network surrounding Lord Krishna’s appearance and associates, strengthening contextual hearing (śravaṇam) of Krishna-kathā.