Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

देवरक्षितया लब्धा नव चात्र गदादय: । वसुदेव: सुतानष्टावादधे सहदेवया ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

devarakṣitayā labdhā nava cātra gadādayaḥ vasudevaḥ sutān aṣṭāv ādadhe sahadevayā

Translation

By the semen of Vasudeva in the womb of Devarakṣitā, nine sons were born, headed by Gadā. Vasudeva, who was religion personified, also had a wife named Sahadevā, by whose womb he begot eight sons, headed by Śruta and Pravara.

Synonyms

• देवरक्षितया: by Devarakṣitā / by (the lady) Devarakṣitā
• देवरक्षितया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवरक्षिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); ‘देव-रक्षिता’ = तत्पुरुष (protected by the gods / Devarakṣitā as name)

• लब्धाः: were obtained/born
• लब्धाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु) + त (क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘obtained/born’ (context: sons)

• नव: nine
• नव: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective), प्रथमा-बहुवचनार्थे (agreeing with implied ‘सुताः’)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb of place: here)

• गदा: Gadā (name)
• गदा: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचनार्थे समासाङ्ग (as member in list)

• आदयः: and others
• आदयः: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘etc.’ (and others)

• वसुदेवः: Vasudeva
• वसुदेवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सुतान्: sons
• सुतान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन्/अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective), द्वितीया-बहुवचनार्थे (agreeing with सुतान्)

• आदधे: begot/produced
• आदधे: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/Parokṣa past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सहदेवया: with Sahadevā
• सहदेवया: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Associate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहदेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Devarakṣitā
• Gadā
• Sahadevā

FAQs

Who were the sons of Vasudeva mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam 9.24.52?

This verse states that Vasudeva had nine sons from Devarakṣitā (headed by Gadā) and eight sons from Sahadevā.

Why does the Bhagavatam list genealogies like the Yadu dynasty in Canto 9?

Canto 9 traces sacred dynasties to show how the Lord’s associates and the Lord’s own appearance are connected through time, establishing historical and devotional context for Krishna’s advent among the Yadus.

What is the practical takeaway from studying Bhagavatam genealogies?

They train the mind to see divine purpose in history—remembering that Krishna’s līlā unfolds through real persons and lineages—strengthening śraddhā (faith) and attentive hearing (śravaṇam).