Krishna's Lineage

by Simon Brodbeck

  you must all move happily through the world,

  recalling it in gatherings of brahmins

  and thinking about it again in more depth.

  51 This tale that the seer made,

  telling of great characters and miraculous manly deeds,

  has been narrated in full and in detail.

  What else would you like? What shall I tell for you?

  * * *

  * The great departure is a rite of walking until one dies. The Pāndavas and Draupadī ended their lives this way: see Mbh 17.

  * For Yayāti and his old age, see Mbh 1.70.31–46; Mbh 1.78–80; and Hv 22 above. For other pronouncements of his on the occasion of his taking back his old age, see Hv 22.35–40.

  * Varuna’s rājasūya rite and the war that followed it are mentioned at Mbh 9.48.11–14.

  † The story of the fight between Ādi and Baka is told in the Mārkandeya Purāna.

  * This brahmin has been identified historically as Pushyamitra Shunga, who assassinated the last Mauryan king in 185 bce, inaugurated the rule of the Shunga dynasty, and performed the horse sacrifice.

  * Virtue is said to be a bull that has four legs in the krita age but loses one in each successive age. See Mbh 3.188.10–12.

  * Janamejaya’s snake sacrifice took place at Takshashilā (Taxila, near present-day Islamabad in Pakistan): see Mbh 18.5.29.

  † For Āstīka’s intervention at Janamejaya’s snake sacrifice, see Mbh 1.49–53.

  ‡ This is a standard part of the rite: see the footnote to Hv 10.46 above.

  Genealogical Appendix

  FROM THE SEVEN SEERS TO DAKSHA’S DAUGHTERS (Hv 1–3)

  DHARMA’S WIVES (Hv 3)

  KASHYAPA’S WIVES (Hv 3)

  SOLAR LINEAGE (Hv 8–10)

  LUNAR LINEAGES: YAYĀTI AND SONS (Hv 20–23)

  JANAMEJAYA’S ANCESTRY FROM PŪRU TO AJAMĪDHA (Hv 23)

  JANAMEJAYA’S LINEAGE FROM AJAMĪDHA (Hv 23, 114)

  BRAHMADATTA’S LINEAGE (Hv 11–19)

  KRISHNA’S PATERNAL ANCESTRY (Hv 23–25)

  KRISHNA’S MATERNAL ANCESTRY (Hv 26–28)

  KRISHNA AND SONS (Hv 88, 98)

  Index of Names

  Abhayada 23.4–5

  Abhijit the constellation 47.35, 48.13

  Abhijit son of Vasu 27.17–18

  Abhimanyu son of Arjuna 23.121, 25.5

  Abhimanyu son of Manu Chākshusha 2.17

  Abhūtarajas gods 7.23

  Achhodā (acchodā) 13.25

  Achhoda (acchoda) 13.25

  Adhidānta 28.6

   Adhokshaja (adhokṣaja) 95.11, 96.30–32;

  see Krishna Vāsudeva

  Ādhya (āḍhya) 7.45

  Ādi (āḍi) 115.18

  Aditi: and Ādityas 3.45–52, 62.35, 96.10;

  and Kashyapa 45.21–36, 45;

  and Vishnu 30.19, 33, 32.5–6, 38.20;

  and Vivasvat 8.1, 6, 16, 28;

  and earrings 91.16, 34, 92.53–61, 97.29

  Āditya gods: and Manu eras 3.46–52, 7.32;

  and end of cosmic cycle 7.53–54;

  and Vishnu 4.3, 31.58, 109.3, 113.46, 58, 77;

  and Brahmā 31.36;

  in battle 34.2;

  and divine plan 43.4, 68;

  and Shonitapura 107.52;

  see also Vivasvat

  Adrikā 13.39

  Ādya gods 7.28

  Agādha 110.25

  Agastya 62.48, 87.12

  Agāvaha (agāvaha, āgāvaha) 81.99;

  son of Vasudeva 25.7–8;

  son of Gada 98.16

  Agni the god: as poet 13.50, 61;

  as Vasu god 3.32, 4.3;

  as digestion 30.44;

  birth of 13.57;

  son of 3.36, 51.8;

  daughters of 2.18, 28;

  and divine plan 43.68, 44.4;

  in battle 36.32–47, 37.18, 105.13, 110.11–33;

  and Arjuna Kārtavīrya 23.151;

  and Gāndīva 105.17;

  and Kālanemi 37.54;

  and Manu era 7.18;

  and Vishnu 32.38

  Agni the seer 7.18

  Agnibāhu 7.9

  Agnīdhra 7.9

  Agnishtut (agniṣṭut) 2.17

  Agnishvāttas (agniṣvātta) 13.24

  Agridhnu (agṛdhnu) 24.20

  Ahichhatra (ahicchatra) 15.61–64

  Ahīnagu 10.77

  Ahirbudhnya 3.42

  Āhriti (āhvṛti) 96.52;

  in battle 80.10, 81.81–84, 82.2, 97.5

  Āhuka 27.18–25;

  son of, see Ugrasena

  Āhukī 27.18, 24

  Ailāpatra 3.88

  Airāvata the elephant 4.8;

  and Dvārakā 91.28–30, 41;

  and Govardhana 61.5, 62.2, 8;

  and Haryanga 23.39;

  and Pārijāta 109.43;

  in war over Tārakā 34.7, 37.47

  Airāvata the snake 3.87, 97.25;

  see also Dhritarāshtra the snake

  Aja 10.74

  Ājagava 5.22, 20.32

  Ajaikapād 3.42

  Ajaka 23.81

  Ajamīdha (ajamīḍha) 23.73–74;

  and Keshinī 23.75;

  and Nīlī 23.94–95;

  and Dhūminī 103–06;

  as ancestor 15.31

  Ajapārshva (ajapārśva) 114.6–16

  Ajātashatru (ajātaśatru) 24.33

  Ajina 2.28

  Ājjika 3.78

  Akalmāsha (akalmāṣa) 7.20

  Akapīvat 7.18

  Ākrīda (ākrīḍa) 23.128

  Akrishāshva (akṛśāśva) 9.80

  Akrūra 24.8–10, 28.37–41;

  sons of 24.11, 25.5, 28.42;

  and Syamantaka 29.1–5, 12–13, 24–40;

  sent to fetch cowherds 65.83–101, 66.35;

  trip to Vrindāvana 67.1, 68.1–71.5;

  in combat 81.96, 82.2, 87.45, 53;

  in company 65.10, 94.18, 109.51–54;

  as witness 70.16–38, 96.36;

  and daughter of Sauvīra king 97.19

  Aksha (akṣa) 89.17

  Akshaya (akṣaya) 93.15

  Akūpāra 65.42;

  see also Vishnu

  Alakā 21.6, 91.14, 51

  Alarka 23.62–69

  Amarāvatī 86.6–7, 29, 93.4, 7, 26

  Amāvasu 21.10

  Ambarīsha (ambarīṣa) grandson of Manu 9.21

  Ambarīsha grandson of Shruta 10.67–68

  Ambashthas (ambaṣṭha) 23.25

  Amsha (aṃśa) 3.51

  Amshumat (aṃśumat) descendant of Kratha 87.6, 11, 88.4, 89.17;

  at Mathurā 80.12, 82.2;

  and Krishna 88.11–12, 97.5;

  son of 81.44

  Amshumat son of Panchajana 10.64

  Anādhrishti (anādhṛṣṭi) 81.96, 86.76, 109.38–50;

  as son of Shūra 24.18, 24.26;

  as son of Ugrasena 27.28

  Anagha 23.47

  Ānakadundubhi (ānakaduṃdubhi), see Vasudeva

  Anala, see Agni

  Anamitra son of Kroshtu 24.1, 24, 28.10–11, 98.25

  Anamitra son of Nighna 10.72–73

  Ananta, see Shesha

  Anaranya (anaraṇya) 10.71–72

  Ānarta country 9.23

  Ānarta son of Sharyāti 9.22–23

  Ānarta son of Vibhu 23.70

  Andhaka (andha, andhaka) 66.2–39, 113.63–64;

  son of Devamīdhusha 24.3;

  son of Satvat 27.2;

  sons of 27.16

  Andhakas (andhaka) 27.16–28.8;

  Shaunaka asks about 1.5;

  and Bhārata story 1.8–10, 13.49;

  and Akrūra 29.30–33;

  and Arjuna 101.6, 17, 102.6, 18;

  and Baladeva 29.29;

  and Gārgya 85.7;

  visited by Indra 91.24–29;

  and Kālayavana 25.13–16, 85.11, 16, 24–25;

  and Kamsa 78.46, 96.27;

  and Krishna’s return 94.10–13, 95.6�
�7;

  and Naraka’s treasure 92.10–16, 96.1–6, 97.43;

  and Raivata 9.26;

  and Syamantaka 28.13–17;

  and Ugrasena 80.6;

  in Vidarbha 87.48, 89.51

  Andhras 75.15–17, 76.5–9, 96.63;

  see also Chānūra, Mushtika

  Anenas son of Āyus 21.11

  Anenas son of Kakutstha 9.44

  Anga (aṅga) Ātreya 5.1–2

  Anga son of Bali 23.29, 32–33, 41

  Anga son of Ūru 2.18–19

  Angas 23.32, 40, 80.12, 87.27, 50, 67, 117.29

  Angada (aṅgada) 98.15

  Angārasetu (aṅgāra, aṅgārasetu) 23.130–32

  Angiras (aṅgiras) 3.25, 54, 110.26–32;

  in lists 1.29, 7.7, 12.14;

  missile of 112.24;

  sons of, see Āngirasas

  Āngirasa (āṅgirasa) son of Ūru 2.18

  Āngirasas (aṅgiras, āṅgiras, aṅgirasa, āṅgirasa): as ancestors 13.54;

  and Kamsa’s advisors 65.18;

  and Manu era 7.28–29;

  and Prithu 5.26;

  and Soma 20.12, 29;

  and Vatsa 23.71–72;

  see also Bharadvāja, Brihaspati, Kacha

  Anila, see Vāyu

  Aniruddha 89.8, 98.19;

  and Rukmavatī 89.10–16;

  and Ushā 107.71–109.80, 112.113, 113.1–5;

  son of 98.24

  Anjika (añjika) 23.134

  Antaka 24.10

  Antara 26.5–6

  Antardhāna (antardhāna, antardhi) 2.27

  Anu mother of Vajra 98.24

  Anu son of Yayāti 22.4, 16, 29;

  lineage of 23.1–3, 122, 133

  Anuha (aṇuha) 15.5–10, 18.4–8, 15, 19–21;

  family details 13.47, 15.4, 23–24

  Anuhrāda 3.59, 31.72

  Anuvinda 81.41

  Āpa son of Manu Svārochisha 7.12

  Āpa the Vasu 3.32–33

  Aparnā (aparṇā), see Umā

  Āpava 1.36–38, 2.1–2, 23.151;

  see also Vasishtha

  Apratiratha 23.44

  Aranya (araṇya) 7.25

  Ārdra 9.45

  Arikshepa (arikṣepa) 24.9

  Arimardana 24.9, 28.39

  Arimejaya 24.9, 28.39

  Arishta (ariṣṭa, ariṣṭaka) 33.20, 37.7;

  reborn as bull 44.69, 45.5;

  and Kamsa 46.25–28, 62.69;

  fights Krishna 64.1–23;

  death mentioned 31.144, 65.4, 31, 69.20, 96.38

  Arishtā (ariṣṭā) 3.45, 93

  Arishtanemi (ariṣṭanemi) son of Chitraka 24.13, 28.44

  Arishtanemi the seer 3.24, 54

  Arivarman 28.40

  Arjuna son of Kritavīrya 23.137–57, 163, 31.97–103, 112.91

  Arjuna son of Pāndu: and Krishna 62.70–98, 97.17, 101.4–104.24, 105.17;

  birth and lineage of 23.121, 24.23, 25.5;

  and demons 3.74;

  and Drona 15.63;

  and Arjuna Kārtavīrya 23.152;

  and Rukmin 80.11

  Arkanayana 31.73

  Arneyu (arṇeyu) 23.6

  Aruna (aruṇa) 3.84, 34.46

  Arundhatī 3.26, 29, 73.32

  Aryaman 3.50

  Asamaujas 28.7–8

  Asanga (asaṅga) 98.27

  Ashmakas (aśmaka) 89.17

  Ashmakī (aśmakī) 24.14, 26

  Ashruta (aśruta) 98.13–14

  Ashtaka (aṣṭaka) 23.93–94

  Ashtāratha (aṣṭāratha), see Pratardana

  Ashva (aśva) 24.13, 28.44

  Ashvabāhu (aśvabāhu) 24.12, 28.43

  Ashvagrīva (aśvagrīva) 24.12

  Ashvahanu (aśvahanu) 24.32

  Ashvapati (aśvapati) 31.71

  Ashvasena (aśvasena) 28.43

  Ashvashakrit (aśvaśakṛt) 85.23

  Ashvashiras (aśvaśiras) 31.70–71

  Ashvatara (aśvatara) 3.87, 70.23

  Ashvatthāman (aśvatthāman) 7.43, 43.57–59, 97.18

  Ashvins (aśvin): birth of 8.37–39;

  and Manu eras 7.32;

  and war over Tārakā 34.2;

  homes of 92.48;

  and Shonitapura 107.52;

  and divine plan 43.5, 68, 44.2, 62.93;

  and Krishna 113.46, 58, 77

  Asiknī 3.5–6, 9

  Asiloman the demon 31.76, 109.40

  Asiloman son of Pītha 97.24

  Asita, see Devala

  Asti 80.3–7

  Āstīka 118.9

  Atidānta (anirdānta, atidānta) 87.47, 55

  Atidatta 28.2

  Atināman 7.27

  Atirātra 2.17

  Atithi 10.75

  Ātreya, see Datta

  Atri: and Uttānapāda 2.7;

  and Anga 5.1;

  and Vena 5.17;

  and Satyanetra 7.22;

  and Soma 20.1–5, 11, 23, 45–46;

  and Prabhākara 23.9, 12–14;

  and Datta 23.139, 31.93–97;

  in lists of seers 1.29, 7.7, 11, 30, 12.14

  Aurva Bhārgava 10.25–26, 34–37, 55–57

  Aurva fire 30.14, 35.18–74

  Aurva spell 35.18–36.17

  Aurva son of Vasishtha 7.11

  Aushīnara (auśīnara), see Shibi Aushīnara

  Aushtra (auṣṭra) 37.7

  Auttama, see Manu Auttama

  Āvāha 24.10, 28.40

  Āvanta 26.21

  Avanti(s) 15.17, 23.157–59, 27.24, 81.41: and Sāndīpani 79.3

  Avarīvat 7.45

  Avijnyātagati (avijñātagati) 3.35

  Avikshit (avikṣit) 23.124

  Avyaya 7.24

  Ayahshanku (ayaḥśaṅku) 31.70

  Ayahshiras (ayaḥśiras) 31.70

  Ayasmat 2.9

  Ayasmaya 7.12

  Ayaspati 2.9

  Āyāti 22.1

  Ayodhyā 9.39, 10.4;

  and Rāma 31.138, 141, 44.25

  Ayomukha 3.66

  Āyu 13.26

  Āyus son of Hrada 3.60

  Āyus son of Purūravas 21.10–11

  Ayutājit son of Bhajamāna 27.5

  Ayutājit son of Sindhudvīpa 10.68–69

  Bābhravyas 18.16, 19.16;

  see also Pānchāla, Babhrus

  Babhru son of Devāvridha 27.11–15

  Babhru son of Shvaphalka, see Akrūra

  Babhrus 23.89;

  see also Bābhravyas

  Babhrusena 23.130

  Bāhlika 23.114–16, 81.38;

  daughter of 25.1

  Bāhlīkas 100.9

  Bāhu 10.23–34

  Bahubāhu 24.13, 28.44

  Bāhudā 9.82

  Bahuputra 3.25, 54

  Bahurūpa 3.43

  Bāhyakā 27.3–4

  Bāhyāshva (bāhyāśva) 23.95–96

  Baibhrāja heavens 13.41

  Baka 115.18

  Bala the demon 3.77, 62.8, 67.56

  Bala son of Vasudeva, see Baladeva

  Balā 23.8

  Baladeva (balabhadra, baladeva) 58.57;

  as son of Rohinī 25.1–3;

  wife and sons of 9.27–28, 25.4, 86.80, 98.20;

  and Syamantaka 29.9–29;

  as mace tutor 29.28, 90.13;

  transferred to Rohinī 47.30–31, 48.2–7;

  Sleep likened to 47.39;

  fostered to cowherd Nanda 49.1–12;

  as child with Krishna 50.2, 51.1, 52.1;

  and move to Vrindāvana 52.8–28, 53.35;

  roaming forest 54.21–42, 55.1, 59.1;

  at Kāliya’s pool 56.18, 26–29;

  kills Dhenuka 57.1–26, 90.15–16;

  kills Pralamba 58.16–58, 90.15–16;

  discussed in Mathurā 65.75, 85–95, 66.21;

  Akrūra comes for 68.14, 69.2, 31;

  travels to Mathurā 70.7–33, 71.2;

  day out in Mathurā 71.3–53;

  and elephant 73.3–7, 74.21–23, 36;

  an
d wrestlers 72.18–24, 76.1–9;

  kills Sunāman 76.45–46;

  living in Mathurā 79.1, 25–40, 80.6;

  at Sāndīpani’s school 79.3–24;

  at siege of Mathurā 81.2–7, 81.53–82.22, 90.5–6;

  visits cowherds 83.1–57, 90.17;

  at Rukminī’s abduction 87.29–30, 40–44, 51, 69–72, 88.29, 34;

  at Aniruddha’s wedding 89.13, 20–53;

  greatness of 90.1–19;

  hosting Indra 91.25–31;

  after Krishna returns 94.18, 95.5, 10, 17;

  and women of Dvārakā 96.7–19;

  in Nārada’s summary of the story 96.41–63, 97.40;

  and Bhīma 90.7;

  and Sāmba 90.8–15, 100.1–2;

  stays in Dvārakā 101.17;

  flight to Shonitapura 109.88, 110.6–21;

  in battle 110.41–66, 112.1–2;

  against Skanda 112.33–36;

  return to Dvārakā 113.6, 58

  Balāhaka the horse 102.21

  Balāhaka the snake 3.88

  Balākāshva (balākāśva) 23.81–82

  Bali the demon 3.60–62;

  and King Bali 23.27;

  and war over Tārakā 38.67;

  and wealth 96.65;

  and Indra 109.73;

  and Vishnu 31.69, 42.35, 62.82, 97.21, 106.26–27, 63;

  descendants of, see Arishta, Bāna, Pūtanā, Ushā

  Bali son of Sutapas 23.27–32

  Balin 87.21, 62–64

  Bāna (bāṇa) the demon 3.61–63, 106.2–61;

  town of 107.80, 86, 109.80, 110.33–35;

  spy of 110.22–23;

  cows of 113.8–9, 42;

  and Ushā 107.9, 24–28, 44;

  and Aniruddha 107.53, 108.12–98, 109.71–74;

  and Shiva 3.62–63, 105.13, 106.5–19, 59–61, 112.13, 82–84, 106–29;

  and Varuna 113.42–43;

  and army 108.14–17, 28–36, 112.6–13;

  battle with Krishna 109.89, 110.4, 112.50–113, 113.79–80;

  defeat of 31.146, 97.23, 105.12, 106.2–5, 113.6, 51–54, 65

  Bāna the king 81.42

  Bārhadratha 10.50

  Barhaketu 10.50

  Barhishads (barhiṣad) 13.41–43

  Bāshkala (bāṣkala) 31.76

  Bhadrachāru (bhadracāru) 88.38, 98.6

  Bhadrakāra 98.9

  Bhadrashrenya (bhadraśreṇya) 23.61, 64

  Bhadravatī daughter of Krishna 98.9

  Bhadravatī of Vidarbha 26.26

  Bhadravinda 98.9

  Bhaga 3.51

  Bhagadatta 80.15

  Bhagīratha 10.66–67

  Bhajamāna son of Andhaka 27.16, 28.1

  Bhajamāna son of Satvat 27.1–5

  Bhājin, see Bhajamāna son of Satvat