Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 31
Somavaṃśa-saṃkṣepaḥ
Conclusion of the Lunar Dynasty Description
तेषां स्वसारः सप्तासन् वसुदेवाय ता ददौ देवकी श्रुतदेवी च मित्रदेवी यथोधरा
teṣāṃ svasāraḥ saptāsan vasudevāya tā dadau devakī śrutadevī ca mitradevī yathodharā
Among them there were seven sisters; those sisters were given in marriage to Vasudeva—Devakī, Śrutadevī, Mitradevī, and likewise Yathodharā.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Clarifies marital alliances (vivāha-saṃbandha) connecting Devaka’s daughters to Vasudeva—crucial for identifying Devakī and related figures in Kṛṣṇa’s birth narrative.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Devaka’s Seven Sisters Given to Vasudeva (Partial List)","lookup_keywords":["Vasudeva","Devakī","Śrutadevī","Mitradevī","Yathodharā"],"quick_summary":"Notes that seven sisters were married to Vasudeva, naming Devakī, Śrutadevī, Mitradevī, and Yathodharā here. Establishes kinship links foundational to the Kṛṣṇa-cycle."}
Concept: Gṛhastha-dharma and alliance-building through marriage as a social order mechanism in Purāṇic polity.
Application: In narrative interpretation, track relational dharma (brother-in-law ties) to understand motives, protection duties, and conflicts (e.g., Kaṃsa’s fear).
Khanda Section: Vamsa-Charita / Genealogy and Dynastic Narratives (Vaishnava-Itihasa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A marriage-alliance scene: Vasudeva receiving Devaka’s sisters in marriage; Devakī foregrounded, with Śrutadevī, Mitradevī, and Yathodharā beside her.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ceremonial wedding procession in palace courtyard, Vasudeva in traditional attire, four named sisters with ornate jewelry, priests with lamps and conch, bold mural colors and stylized faces.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, wedding tableau under a golden arch, Vasudeva and Devakī central with gold halos, other sisters flanking, heavy gold embellishment on ornaments and textiles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined marriage rite depiction with clear ritual elements (fire altar, priest, garlands), labeled figures for the four sisters, soft gradients and delicate linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate palace wedding scene with musicians and attendants, detailed garments, Devakī and Vasudeva exchanging garlands, other sisters in a row, calligraphic captions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Khamas","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: saptāsan → sapta + āsan; yathodharā → yathā + udharā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 274.30 (Devaka line); Agni Purana 274.32 (Kaṃsa and sisters)
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; the verse records dynastic-marital details (who was given in marriage to Vasudeva) as part of genealogical narration.
It exemplifies the Purāṇa’s encyclopedic scope by preserving historical-genealogical data (vamsa and marital alliances) alongside its ritual, dharma, and śāstra materials.
Its significance is contextual: by documenting sacred lineages connected to Vaiṣṇava tradition (Vasudeva–Devakī), it supports śraddhā in the Purāṇic sacred history rather than prescribing a direct karmic practice.