24 - The Description of the Dynasty of Yadu —the Race of Kroshtu

For the description of the dynasty of Yadu vide Bh. P. IX. 23 ff; Pd. P.I. 13.1-66; VP. IV. 11 ff. KP. starts with the race of Kroshtu.

Suta said: 

1. "Kroshtu had an only son who was well-known as Vajravän. His son was Shanti whose son was Kushika, 

2. From Kushika was born the powerful son Chitraratha. The son of Chitraratha is known all over the world as Shashabindu. 

3. His son, Pruthuyashas was a pious and virtuous king. His son was Pruthukarman; from him was born Pruthujaya. 

4. From him was born Pruthukirti, whose son was Pruthudāna. His (Pruthudāna's) son was Pruthushravas and his son was Pruthusattama.²

2. According to VP. 4.12.4-6 Pruthuyashas, Pruthukarman, Pruthujaya, Pruthukirti, Pruthudāna and Pruthushravas are the sons of Shashabindu.

5. Ushanas was his son. His son was Shateshu. From him was born Rukmakavacha whose son was Parāvrutta. 

6. Yamagha (Jyamagha) well known all over the world was born as his son. From him was born Vidarbha. Kratha and Kaushika were born of Vidarbha. 

7. Lomapada was his third son. King Babhru was his (Lomapada's) son. His* son was Dhruti whose son was Shveta.

*v.l. His son was Prajavan whose son was Kaushika.

8. The powerful son of Sveta is called by the name Vishvasaha. His son Kaushika of great virility is known for his prowess. 

9. The intelligent Sumanta was his son. From him was born Anala. Anala's son was Shveni. Many sons were born to Shveni (or there were sons other than Shveni).³

3. For V. 9 (b) here of the Crt. edt. reads 

Kaishikasya sutash Chedis Chaidyās tasyābhavan sutah |

I have followed the Venkateshvara edt. for my translation.

10. The chief among them was Dyutiman. His son was Vapushmăn. Bruhanmedhas was Vapushman's son whose son was Shrideva.

11. O Brahmanas, his son was Vitaratha. He was powerful. He was a devotee of Rudra. Kratha's son was and Vrushni was his son. 

12-16. From him was born a very mighty person named Navaratha.¹ Once he had gone a-hunting. Seeing a very powerful Rakshasa, O leading sages, he was overwhelmed with great fright and he fled. The infuriated Rakshasa of extraordinary might who was invincible in fight and who resembled a blazing fire in brilliance clutched his spear in his mighty hand and pursued him. The terrified king Navaratha saw the great shrine of Sarasvati situated not far from there. The intelligent king reached that well-protected shrine with great speed. He bowed to goddess Sarasvati. With his palms joined in reverence, the conqueror of enemies eulogised her with pleasing words.

1. This genealogy viz. Kratha- Kunti- Vrushni- Navaratha represents the shorter version. The crt. edt. of the KP. (I.23.11-13) accepts the longer version adding a few more generations shown in the brackets as follows: Kratha- Kunti- Vrushni- (Nivrutti- Dasharha- Aroha- Jimuta- Vikruti- Bhimaratha)- Navaratha.

17-18. He prostrated himself on the ground like a straight staff, "I seek refuge in you. I bow down to the great deity, the gentle goddess Sarasvati herself, who is the presiding deity of speech, who is devoid of beginning and end, a celibate divinity. I bow down to the source of origin of all worlds, the Yogini, the highest digit or Art. 

19. I pay obeisance to the three-eyed, moon-crested goddess born of Hiranyagarbha (god Brahma) who is the Supreme Bliss, the digit of Chit (the consciousness aspect of the Brahman, nay) the very embodiment of the Brahman itself. 

20-22a. Protect me, O great Ishani, I am frightened and I have sought shelter in you."² In the meantime, the infuriated king of Rakshasas came to that place where goddess Sarasvati was enshrined, in order to kill the king. Proud of his strength, he lifted up his spear and entered the shrine of the mother of the three worlds, resembling the moon and the sun.

2. Apart from the uncomplimentary fight of the highly mighty (swnahabala) king Navaratha from a demon and seeking refuge in the temple of goddess Sarasvati, the concept of Sarasvati as delineated in these eulogistic verses shows a fusion of Parvati and Sarasvati. Though Sarasvati is called the daughter of Brahma, and is credited to have created a superior spirit to kill the demon She is described as possessing three eyes and being decorated with a crescent-moon on her head. 

The episode (a contribution of the KP.) testifies to the existence of the cult of Sarasvati-worship at that time.

22b-23a. In the meanwhile, a great spirit resembling the sun at the end of Yugas, pierced the Rakshasa in his heart with his spear and felled him on the ground. 

23b-24a. He then said "O great king, do you go now fearlessly. You need not stay in this place now as the Rakshasa has been killed. 

24b-25. O leading Brahmanas, thereafter, the delighted king Navaratha returned to his city which was comparable to the city of Purandara (the king of gods). Full of devotion, he installed the goddess of devas there. 

26. He worshipped goddess Sarasvati by means of different Yajnas and Homas (sacrificial offerings). His son was Dasharatha who was extremely virtuous. 

27. He was a devotee of the goddess Sarasvati and was endowed with great splendour. Shakuni was his son. From him was born Karambha. His son was Devarata. 

28. He performed a horse-sacrifice. Devakshatra was his son. His successor was Madhu and from him was born Kuru. 

29. He had two sons viz. Sutrāman and Anu. Anu's son was Priyagotra. The inheritor of his riches was Amshu. 

30. Amshu's son was a valorous devotee of Vishnu, Andhaka (v.l. satvata*) by name. He was a noble soul, engaged in charitable gifts. He was the foremost among those who know Dhanurveda (the science of Archery).

*(A better v.l. in view of the name Satvata Shastra in V. 32 below. Out of the two v.ls. ‘Satvata’ and 'Satvata', I prefer Satvata as the name of this king as his son is named 'Satvata' in V. 33.

31. At the instance of Narada, he, engaged in worship ping Vasudeva, composed the sacred scripture (usually) listened to by Kunda (son born of an adulterous woman), Gola (widow's son) and others.¹

1. This indicates the lower social status of the Satvata Shastra its early stage. 

32. A great scripture well known after his name, auspicious to Satvatas and conducive to the welfare of Kunda and others has been still current. 

33. Satvata was his son. He was expert in all scriptures (or branches of knowledge) and a great king of meritorious reputation. They say that sacred lore (viz. Satvata Shastra) was founded by him. 

34-35. Kausalya gave birth to these sons—the Satvatas endowed with Sattvaguna, viz. Andhaka, Mahabhoja, Vrushni, king Devavrudha and the eldest named Bhajamana who was the fore most among the knowers of Dhanurveda. Among them king Devavrudha performed austere penance. 

36. While performing penance he wished thus: May a son endowed with good qualities be born to me." A king of auspicious fame, and a sovereign ruler over all, well known as Babhru was his son. 

37. He was virtuous, endowed with beauty and always engaged in attaining the knowledge of Truth. From Bhajamana were born Bhajamānas who resorted to divine Shri (glory). *

*A better v.l. Samjnayām; from Bhajamana were born Bhajamānas, Queen Samjna.

38. Nimi and Krukaņa were the most well-known and the most important among them. Bhojas and Vaimātrukas were born in the family of Mahabhoja. 

39. From Vrushni were born Sumitra, the powerful, as well as Anamitra and Timi. From Anamitra was born Nighna. Nighna had two sons. 

40. They were the highly fortunate Prasena and the excellent one named Satrajit. From Anamitra, the son of Vrushņi, was born Sini (rather "Shini') as the youngest son. 

41. He was truthful in speech. He was richly endowed with fidelity. Satyaka was his son. Satyaka's son was Yuyudhana. His son was Asanga. 

42-43. Kuni was his intelligent son. His son was Yugand-dhara. A son called Vrushni II** was born of Madri from Vrushņi who became a scion of the Yadu race. Shvaphalka and Chitraka were the sons of Vrushņi. Shvaphalka married the daughter of the king of Kashi.

**Prushni in other Puranas.

44. He begot of her a virtuous son named Akrura. He had many other sons Upamangu, Mangu and others. 

45. Akrura's son was well known as Devavan and the divine-souled Upadeva who had sons called Vishva and Pramathin. 

46. Chitraka's sons were Pruthu, Vipruthu, Ashvagriva, Subahu, Sudhāshvaka (v.l. Suparshvaka) and Gavekshaka (v.l. Gaveshana). 

47. He begot of the daughter of Andhaka, four sons, viz. Kukura, Bhajamana, Samika and Balagarvita. 

48. Kukura's son was Vrushņi and Vrushni's son was Kapotaroman and his son was Vilomaka. 

49. The scholarly Tama (v.l. Nala) a friend of Tumburu was his son. The son of Tama was Anakadundubhi. 

50. He went to Govardhana and performed extensive penance. Lord Brahma, the supreme Ruler of the worlds, granted a boon to him. 

51-52. O Brahmana, he secured these boons viz. an everlasting family and reputation as well as proficiency in the excellent path of knowledge. He also secured the ability to assume any form as he pleased, even more than his preceptor. 

After securing boons from that excellent deity, he propitiated with music unagitatedly with a composed, concentrated mind the bull-vehicled deity, Lord Shiva, adored by Devas. 

53. To him who was engaged in music, Lord Shiva, the consort of Parvati, gave the jewel of a girl inaccessible even to Devas. 

54-55. United with her, the king, the destroyer of his enemies, taught his beloved wife of tremulous eye, the excellent art of music. In her he begot splendid son named Subhuja, and a daughter endowed with comely features and beauty, named Hrimati. 

56. Thereafter, the mother taught that beautiful son in his childhood as well as the daughter, the art of music systematically.

57. After the investiture with the sacred thread, he learned the Vedas from a preceptor. He married the mental daughter of the Gandharvas (or a Gandharva girl called Manasi). 

58. In her he begot five excellent sons, who knew the technique of playing on the Vina and were experts in the science of music. 

59. Accompanied by his sons, grandsons and wife, the king, a wise and expert musician, worshipped the lord (Shiva). destroyer of Tripuras, by means of music. 

60. A Gandharva named Subahu took Hrimati who was beautiful in all limbs, with large eyes like Shri, to his city. 

61. To that Gandharva of good refulgence, these sons were born of her-viz. Sushena, Dhira, Sugriva, Subhoja and Naravāhana. 

62. Abhijit was the son of Chandanodakadundubhi* (?) Punarvasu was born of Abhijit. Āhuka was born thereafter.

*This reading is unintelligible and the footnote records a better V.l. Viras tvanaka-dundubhih. It means, a valiant son called Abhijit was born Anaka-dundubhi."

63. O excellent Brahmanas, Ahuka had two sons, viz. Ugrasena and Devaka. Devaka's sons were born heroes com parable to Devas. 

64. They were Devavan, Upadeva, Sudeva and Devarakshita. They had seven sisters. He gave them to Vasudeva. 

65-66. They were Dhrutadeva, Upadeva, Devarakshita, Shrideva, Shantideva, Sahadeva of holy rites and Devaki. Devaki, of beautiful waist, was the most excellent among them. Ugrasena's sons were Nyagrodha and Kamsa. 

67. Subhumi, Rashtrapala, Tushtiman and Shanku (also were his sons). The well-known son Viduratha was born of Bhajamana. 

68. His son was Sūrasama (equal to the Sun) and from him was born Pratikshatra. From him was born Svayambhoja. From him was born Dhātrīka, the chastiser of his enemies. 

69. Krutavarma was his son. Shurasena was his son. Vasudeva was his son who was engaged in religious rites. 

70. From Vasudeva was born the powerful-armed Vasudeva, the preceptor of the universe. Hari (Vishnu), on being requested by Devas, became the son of Devaki.

71. The blessed lady Rohiņi, the splendid wife of Vasudeva, gave birth to Sankarshana, the eldest son known as Rama, with a plough as his special weapon.

72. Vasudeva, pervading the universe was the supreme Ātman himself. Lord Samkarshana, the wielder of the plough as his weapon was Shesha himself. 

73. Under the pretext of Bhrugu’s curse, he honoured a human body. Madhava was born of Devaki as well as of Rohiņi. 

74. Kaushiki, the Yogic-slumber born of Uma's body, became the daughter of Yashoda, at the behest of Vasudeva. 

75. O excellent sages, the sons born to Vasudeva as elder brothers of Vasudeva had been killed by Kamsa already before. 

76-77. They were Sushena, Dāyin, Madrasena (v.l. Bhadrasena), Mahabala, Vajradambha, Bhadrasena, and the honoured Kirtiman. When they had all been killed, Rohiņi bore to Vasudeva the son Rama, the lord of the worlds (also known as) Balabhadra, Halayudha. 

78. When Rama was born, Devaki gave birth to Krishna, Achyuta, the first among Devas, the Atman whose chest had been marked by the curl of golden hair called Shrivatsa. 

79. Rama's wife was Revati by name. She was endowed with good qualities. He begot of her two sons Nishita and Ulmuka. 

80. Shrikrishna, of indefatigable activities had sixteen thousand wives. The sons born to them were hundreds and thousands. 

81-82. Vasudeva begot of Rukmini, the following sons of great strength and exploits viz.: Charudeshna, Sucharu, Charuvesha, Yashodhara, Charushravas, Charuyashas, Pradyumna and Samba. They were the best among all sons. 

83. On seeing the heroic sons born to Rukmini from Janardana, Jambavati, his wife of pure smiles, said to Krishna. 

84. "O slayer of Danavas, O lotus-eyed one, please grant me a son of excellent qualities, who will be honoured by lord of Devas."

85. On hearing the words of Jambavati, Jagannatha, Hari, himself a store of penance, the suppressor of enemies. began to perform a penance. 

86. O excellent sages, listen how the son of Devaki performed a severe and great penance, saw Rudra and obtained a son.