Shloka 21

यदुवंश-प्रवचनम्: हैहय-क्रोष्टु-वंशविस्तारः (कृतवीर्यार्जुनादि, ज्यामघ-विदर्भ-शात्वत-पर्यन्तम्)

Devanagari script

क्रोष्टुश् च शृणु राजर्षेर् वंशमुत्तमपौरुषम् यस्यान्वये तु सम्भूतो विष्णुर् वृष्णिकुलोद्वहः

Transliteration

kroṣṭuś ca śṛṇu rājarṣer vaṃśamuttamapauruṣam yasyānvaye tu sambhūto viṣṇur vṛṣṇikulodvahaḥ

Translation

ఇప్పుడు క్రోష్టుని విషయమును వినుము—ఆ రాజర్షి యొక్క ఉత్తమమైన, శ్రేష్ఠమైన వంశము. ఆ వంశములోనే విష్ణువు జన్మించి, వృష్ణికులమునకు శిరోమణిగా నిలిచెను.

Word by Word

• क्रोष्टुश् (kroṣṭuḥ): Kroṣṭu

• च (ca): and/also

• शृणु (śṛṇu): listen, hear

• राजर्षेः (rājarṣeḥ): of the royal seer (king-sage)

• वंशम् (vaṃśam): lineage, dynasty

• उत्तमपौरुषम् (uttama-pauruṣam): supremely noble/manly excellence, illustrious

• यस्य (yasya): whose

• अन्वये (anvaye): in the lineage/descendant-line

• तु (tu): indeed

• सम्भूतः (sambhūtaḥ): was born/arose

• विष्णुः (viṣṇuḥ): Vishnu

• वृष्णिकुलोद्वहः (vṛṣṇi-kulodvahaḥ): the upholder/glory of the Vrishni clan

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Kroṣṭu
• Vrishni clan

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

By situating Viṣṇu’s appearance within a sanctified royal lineage, the text frames Purāṇic history as part of the same dharmic order upheld by Pati (Śiva), preparing the listener for Linga-centered teachings grounded in cosmic and dynastic continuity.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Implicitly, it supports Śaiva Siddhānta’s view that Pati (Śiva) governs the entire field of manifestation—so even celebrated descents like Viṣṇu’s arise within the ordered tapestry of karma, dharma, and lineage under Śiva’s overarching sovereignty.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific pūjā-vidhi or Pāśupata-yoga technique is stated; the takeaway is śravaṇa (reverent listening) to Purāṇic lineage and dharma as a preparatory discipline that steadies the paśu (individual soul) toward devotion and right orientation to Pati.