1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 9 · Liberation · 24 chapters

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 9.24.21-23

Who is speaking and story frame

तस्याहुकश्चाहुकी च कन्या चैवाहुकात्मजौ । देवकश्चोग्रसेनश्च चत्वारो देवकात्मजा: ॥ २१ ॥ देववानुपदेवश्च सुदेवो देववर्धन: । तेषां स्वसार: सप्तासन् धृतदेवादयो नृप ॥ २२ ॥ शान्तिदेवोपदेवा च श्रीदेवा देवरक्षिता । सहदेवा देवकी च वसुदेव उवाह ता: ॥ २३ ॥

tasyāhukaś cāhukī ca

kanyā caivāhukātmajau

devakaś cograsenaś ca

catvāro devakātmajāḥ

devavān upadevaś ca

sudevo devavardhanaḥ

teṣāṁ svasāraḥ saptāsan

dhṛtadevādayo nṛpa

śāntidevopadevā ca

śrīdevā devarakṣitā

sahadevā devakī ca

vasudeva uvāha tāḥ

Translation

Punarvasu had a son and a daughter, named Āhuka and Āhukī respectively, and Āhuka had two sons, named Devaka and Ugrasena. Devaka had four sons, named Devavān, Upadeva, Sudeva and Devavardhana, and he also had seven daughters, named Śāntidevā, Upadevā, Śrīdevā, Devarakṣitā, Sahadevā, Devakī and Dhṛtadevā. Dhṛtadevā was the eldest. Vasudeva, the father of Kṛṣṇa, married all these sisters.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devaka’s Daughters Marry Vasudeva

  1. 1

    Punarvasu had a son named Āhuka and a daughter named Āhukī. Āhuka’s sons were Devaka and Ugrasena.

  2. 2

    Devaka had four sons: Devavān, Upadeva, Sudeva and Devavardhana. He also had seven daughters: Śāntidevā, Upadevā, Śrīdevā, Devarakṣitā, Sahadevā, Devakī and Dhṛtadevā.

  3. 3

    Dhṛtadevā was the eldest daughter. Vasudeva, the father of Kṛṣṇa, married all seven sisters.

Connected verses· 1

Quoted in the purport ofSB 10.84.47

Vasudeva, the father of Kṛṣṇa, married all these sisters.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Historical movement → Anticipation. The narrative narrows toward its divine center.

Chapters 20–24 of Canto 9: Lineages leading to the appearance of Kṛṣṇa. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 24: Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The four sons of Devaka were known as Devavān, Upadeva, Sudeva and Devavardhana, and his seven daughters were Dhṛtadevā, Śāntidevā, Upadevā, Śrīdevā, Devarakṣitā, Sahadevā and Devakī. Vasudeva married all seven daughters of Devaka.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasyafrom him (Punarvasu)
  2. āhukaḥĀhuka
  3. caand
  4. āhukīĀhukī
  5. caalso
  6. kanyāa daughter
  7. caalso
  8. evaindeed
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 9.24

    In this verse: “father”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this verse help me understand Vasudeva’s connection with Devaka’s family?

Practice

Write one sentence identifying Devaka’s seven daughters and their relationship to Vasudeva.

Live this todayDevaka’s Daughters Marry VasudevaThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 9.24.21-23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.