Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 31
The Yadu–Vṛṣṇi–Andhaka Genealogies and the Purpose of Kṛṣṇa’s Advent
तस्यां स जनयामास दश पुत्रानकल्मषान् । वसुदेवं देवभागं देवश्रवसमानकम् ॥ २८ ॥ सृञ्जयं श्यामकं कङ्कं शमीकं वत्सकं वृकम् । देवदुन्दुभयो नेदुरानका यस्य जन्मनि ॥ २९ ॥ वसुदेवं हरे: स्थानं वदन्त्यानकदुन्दुभिम् । पृथा च श्रुतदेवा च श्रुतकीर्ति: श्रुतश्रवा: ॥ ३० ॥ राजाधिदेवी चैतेषां भगिन्य: पञ्च कन्यका: । कुन्ते: सख्यु: पिता शूरो ह्यपुत्रस्य पृथामदात् ॥ ३१ ॥
tasyāṁ sa janayām āsa daśa putrān akalmaṣān vasudevaṁ devabhāgaṁ devaśravasam ānakam
Through Māriṣā, King Śūra begot Vasudeva, Devabhāga, Devaśravā, Ānaka, Sṛñjaya, Śyāmaka, Kaṅka, Śamīka, Vatsaka and Vṛka. These ten sons were spotlessly pious personalities. When Vasudeva was born, the demigods from the heavenly kingdom sounded kettledrums. Therefore Vasudeva, who provided the proper place for the appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, was also known as Ānakadundubhi. The five daughters of King Śūra, named Pṛthā, Śrutadevā, Śrutakīrti, Śrutaśravā and Rājādhidevī, were Vasudeva’s sisters. Śūra gave Pṛthā to his friend Kunti, who had no issue, and therefore another name of Pṛthā was Kuntī.
FAQs
This verse states that saintly authorities regard Vasudeva as Hari’s ‘sthāna’ because the Supreme Lord later appears in his family—most notably as Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is born as Vasudeva’s son.
The verse explains that at Ānaka’s birth, dundubhi (kettledrums) resounded; therefore he became known as Ānakadundubhi—“he whose birth was marked by the sound of drums.”
It highlights honoring devotees and saintly families connected to the Lord’s service—cultivating purity (akalmaṣa), respecting sacred lineage and relationships, and seeing God’s arrangement working through family duties and responsibilities.