Shloka 6

Devanagari script

प्रद्युम्नः प्रथमस् तेषां सर्वेषां रुक्मिणीसुतः प्रद्युम्नाद् अनिरुद्धो ऽभूद् वज्रस् तस्माद् अजायत

Transliteration

pradyumnaḥ prathamas teṣāṃ sarveṣāṃ rukmiṇīsutaḥ pradyumnād aniruddho 'bhūd vajras tasmād ajāyata

Translation

Foremost among them all was Pradyumna, the son of Rukmiṇī. From Pradyumna was born Aniruddha; and from him, Vajra came into being.

Word by Word

• pradyumnaḥ: Pradyumna
• pradyumnaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradyumna (प्रातिपदिक: प्रद्युम्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• prathamaḥ: the first
• prathamaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक: प्रथम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying Pradyumna)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक: तद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘of them’

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक: सर्व)
• Form: पुं/नपुंस, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying teṣām)

• rukmiṇīsutaḥ: son of Rukmiṇī
• rukmiṇīsutaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rukmiṇī + suta (प्रातिपदिक; रुक्मिणी + सुत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘son of Rukmiṇī’

• pradyumnāt: from Pradyumna
• pradyumnāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradyumna (प्रातिपदिक: प्रद्युम्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• aniruddhaḥ: Aniruddha
• aniruddhaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aniruddha (प्रातिपदिक: अनिरुद्ध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• abhūt: was/became
• abhūt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/Past), परस्मैपद, तृतीय-पुरुष, एकवचन

• vajraḥ: Vajra
• vajraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक: वज्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tasmāt: from him
• tasmāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक: तद्)
• Form: पुं/नपुंस, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘from him/therefrom’

• ajāyata: was born
• ajāyata: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु: जन् ‘to be born’)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), आत्मनेपद, तृतीय-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating) to Maitreya

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Key dynastic line through Pradyumna → Aniruddha → Vajra within Krishna’s progeny.

Teaching: Genealogical

Quality: revealing

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna’s descent includes manifesting the divine line in which Pradyumna and Aniruddha appear, sustaining dharma and divine presence among beings.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Continuity of divine kingship and protection of the Yādava community.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme as Krishna manifests differentiated divine powers and persons (e.g., Pradyumna, Aniruddha) while remaining one Lord, allowing devotees to relate through specific forms.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Contemplate and worship the Lord through a chosen form while recognizing all divine manifestations as harmonized in the one Narayana/Krishna.

Vishishtadvaita: Unity-with-differentiation: the one Supreme possesses real attributes and modes, allowing plurality of divine manifestations without compromising oneness.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Vamsha: Chandra

Key Kings: Pradyumna, Rukmiṇī, Aniruddha, Vajra

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Vyuha Form: Pradyumna

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Characters & Entities

• Pradyumna
• Rukmiṇī
• Aniruddha
• Vajra

FAQs

What is the significance of Pradyumna, Aniruddha, and Vajra in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse records a key segment of Kṛṣṇa’s dynastic succession—Pradyumna → Aniruddha → Vajra—preserving the Yādava/Vṛṣṇi genealogy central to Ansha 4’s historical framework.

How does Sage Parāśara explain lineage in this section of the Vishnu Purana?

Parāśara presents lineage as an ordered transmission—naming principal heirs in sequence—so Maitreya can understand how dharma, kingship, and sacred history continue through recognized descendants.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this genealogical context?

Even in genealogy, the Purāṇa implies divine sovereignty: the Lord’s order (dharma) is mirrored in structured succession, and the narrative situates Kṛṣṇa’s line within the wider cosmic governance attributed to Viṣṇu.