Shloka 55
The Yadu–Vṛṣṇi–Andhaka Genealogies and the Purpose of Kṛṣṇa’s Advent
प्रवरश्रुतमुख्यांश्च साक्षाद् धर्मो वसूनिव । वसुदेवस्तु देवक्यामष्ट पुत्रानजीजनत् ॥ ५३ ॥ कीर्तिमन्तं सुषेणं च भद्रसेनमुदारधी: । ऋजुं सम्मर्दनं भद्रं सङ्कर्षणमहीश्वरम् ॥ ५४ ॥ अष्टमस्तु तयोरासीत् स्वयमेव हरि: किल । सुभद्रा च महाभागा तव राजन् पितामही ॥ ५५ ॥
pravara-śruta-mukhyāṁś ca sākṣād dharmo vasūn iva vasudevas tu devakyām aṣṭa putrān ajījanat
The eight sons of Sahadevā—Pravara, Śruta and the rest—were in the heavenly realms direct incarnations of the eight Vasus. Vasudeva too, through the womb of Devakī, begot eight sons endowed with rare virtues: Kīrtimān, Suṣeṇa, Bhadrasena, Udāradhī, Ṛju, Sammardana, Bhadra, and Saṅkarṣaṇa, the great Lord, the incarnation of Śeṣa. Their eighth son was indeed Śrī Hari Himself—Kṛṣṇa; and the single daughter, the most fortunate Subhadrā, O King, was your grandmother.
The fifty-fifth verse says, svayam eva hariḥ kila, indicating that Kṛṣṇa, the eighth son of Devakī, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Kṛṣṇa is not an incarnation. Although there is no difference between the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari and His incarnation, Kṛṣṇa is the original Supreme Person, the complete Godhead. Incarnations exhibit only a certain percentage of the potencies of Godhead; the complete Godhead is Kṛṣṇa Himself, who appeared as the eighth son of Devakī.
FAQs
This verse states that Vasudeva begot eight sons in Devakī, described as foremost and renowned—setting the stage for the divine appearance among them.
To highlight the extraordinary, godlike stature of Vasudeva’s sons and to indicate that divine principles and celestial qualities were manifest in this lineage.
It strengthens faith that the Lord’s descent is purposeful and historically situated, helping devotees remember God’s presence within dharmic family lines and human history.