Shloka 4
हरेः पुत्रविस्तारः तथा ऊषानिरुद्धकथा-प्रारम्भः
Kṛṣṇa’s Progeny and the Beginning of the Uṣā–Aniruddha Episode
वृकाद्याश् च सुता माद्र्यां गात्रवत्प्रमुखान् सुतान् अवाप लक्ष्मणा पुत्राः कालिन्द्याश् च श्रुतादयः
vṛkādyāś ca sutā mādryāṃ gātravatpramukhān sutān avāpa lakṣmaṇā putrāḥ kālindyāś ca śrutādayaḥ
From Mādrī too were born sons beginning with Vṛka, with Gātravat foremost among them. By Lakṣmaṇā he likewise obtained sons; and from Kāliṇdī were born sons beginning with Śruta and others.
Sage Parāśara (narrating) to Maitreya
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Completion of the enumeration of Krishna’s offspring by his principal queens.
Teaching: Historical
Quality: authoritative
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: Krishna’s earthly manifestation includes establishing a righteous royal household whose continuity supports the protection of the world.
Leela: Loka-rakshana
Dharma Restored: Householder-dharma and royal continuity within the Yādava polity.
Vamsha: Chandra
Key Kings: Mādrī, Vṛka, Gātravat, Lakṣmaṇā, Kāliṇdī, Śruta
Vishnu Form: Krishna
FAQs
It preserves dynastic legitimacy and maps how multiple marital lineages branch into distinct royal houses, showing continuity of dharma and social order across generations.
Parāśara proceeds systematically—naming queens/consorts and then enumerating their sons—so Maitreya can trace the branching lines that later produce notable rulers and events.
Even when the verse is purely genealogical, the Purāṇa frames royal succession as operating within Vishnu’s cosmic sovereignty—lineage and kingship unfold as part of the ordered world sustained by the Supreme.