Shloka 7

Matsya Purana — Yadu Lineage

Devanagari script

*ऋषय ऊचुः क एष वसुदेवस्तु देवकी च यशस्विनी नन्दगोपश्च कस्त्वेष यशोदा च महाव्रता //

Transliteration

*ṛṣaya ūcuḥ ka eṣa vasudevastu devakī ca yaśasvinī nandagopaśca kastveṣa yaśodā ca mahāvratā //

Translation

The sages said: “Who is this Vasudeva, and who is the illustrious Devakī? Who is Nandagopa, and who indeed is this Yaśodā, the woman of great vows?”

Word by Word

• ṛṣayaḥ: the sages

• ūcuḥ: said

• kaḥ: who

• eṣaḥ: this (person)

• vasudevaḥ: Vasudeva

• tu: and/indeed

• devakī: Devakī

• ca: and

• yaśasvinī: renowned, illustrious

• nandagopaḥ: Nandagopa (chief of cowherds)

• ca: and

• kaḥ: who

• tvā/te/tu (tveṣā as sandhi): indeed is this (feminine reference)

• yaśodā: Yaśodā

• ca: and

• mahā-vratā: great-vowed, devoted to strict observances

Speaker

• The sages (Ṛṣayaḥ), addressing the main narrator of the discourse (traditionally Sūta/teacher in Purāṇic dialogue frames).

Entities Mentioned

• Vasudeva
• Devakī
• Nandagopa
• Yaśodā

Tags

• Genealogy
• Krishna
• Vaishnava
• Purana-Dialogue
• Lineage

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is a genealogical and narrative inquiry, focusing on identifying key figures (Vasudeva, Devakī, Nanda, Yaśodā), not cosmology or Pralaya.

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

Indirectly, it highlights the Purāṇic method of grounding dharma in exemplary households and lineages—asking “who” these figures are prepares for teachings on righteous family life, vows (vrata), and social roles within a dharmic community.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the only ritual nuance is the epithet mahāvratā for Yaśodā, implying strict religious observance and vow-based piety.