Shloka 16

Matsya Purana — Genealogy of the Śūra–Vasudeva

Devanagari script

सहदेवस्तु ताम्रायां जज्ञे शौरिः कुलोद्वहः उपासङ्गधरं लेभे तनयं देवरक्षिता एकां कन्यां च सुभगां कंसस्ताम् अभ्यघातयत् //

Transliteration

sahadevastu tāmrāyāṃ jajñe śauriḥ kulodvahaḥ upāsaṅgadharaṃ lebhe tanayaṃ devarakṣitā ekāṃ kanyāṃ ca subhagāṃ kaṃsastām abhyaghātayat //

Translation

From Tāmrā was born Sahadeva—Śauri, the illustrious upholder of his lineage. Devarakṣitā bore a son named Upāsaṅgadhara, and also a beautiful daughter; her, Kaṃsa struck down.

Word by Word

• सहदेवः (sahadevaḥ): Sahadeva

• तु (tu): indeed/and

• ताम्रायाम् (tāmrāyām): in/through Tāmrā (the mother)

• जज्ञे (jajñe): was born

• शौरिः (śauriḥ): Śauri (a Yādava/Vṛṣṇi epithet/person)

• कुलोद्वहः (kulodvahaḥ): bearer/upholder of the family line

• उपासङ्गधरम् (upāsaṅgadharam): Upāsaṅgadhara (name of the son)

• लेभे (lebhe): obtained/bore (gave birth to)

• तनयम् (tanayam): a son

• देवरक्षिता (devarakṣitā): Devarakṣitā (the mother)

• एकाम् (ekām): one

• कन्याम् (kanyām): daughter

• च (ca): and

• सुभगाम् (subhagām): beautiful/fortunate

• कंसः (kaṃsaḥ): Kaṃsa

• ताम् (tām): her

• अभ्यघातयत् (abhyaghātayat): struck down/killed.

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) recounting lineage to the listening sages (frame narration); ultimately within the Matsya Purāṇa’s discourse tradition

Entities Mentioned

• Sahadeva
• Tāmrā
• Śauri
• Upāsaṅgadhara
• Devarakṣitā
• Kaṃsa

Tags

• Ancient Indian genealogy
• Yādava lineage
• Dynasties
• Puranic history
• Kaṃsa narrative

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

Nothing directly—this śloka is genealogical (vaṃśa) and records births and a killing, not cosmic creation or pralaya doctrine.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

By implication, it contrasts dharmic protection of dependents with adharma: Kaṃsa’s killing of a daughter signals tyrannical conduct condemned in Purāṇic ethics, while lineage-bearing (kulodvaha) reflects the householder ideal of sustaining family continuity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

None is stated; the verse is a dynastic record without Vāstu, temple-building, iconography, or ritual procedure terminology.