# देवकी (devakī)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/devaki

देवकी (devakī) is a Sanskrit word meaning who or what sports or plays, divine, celestial, a god or deity, a proper name, the son of Yudhishthira and Yaudheyi or Pauravi, an epithet of Devadattaka. Its 28 recorded definitions are grouped into 13 contexts, among them Devakī, mother of Kṛṣṇa, Epithets of Kṛṣṇa (son of Devakī), Devakī/Yaudheyī, wife of Yudhiṣṭhira.

- **Etymology:** E. देवक, अञ् patronymick affix, fem. affix ङीष्; also with the vowel changed by the affix, दैवकी — E. devaka, añ patronymick affix, fem. affix ṅīṣ; also with the vowel changed by the affix, daivakī
- **SLP1:** `devakI`  **IAST:** devakī  **Devanagari:** देवकी
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devaki
- **Declensions:** 72 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/devaki/declensions.md

## Meanings by context

### Devakī, mother of Kṛṣṇa (9 definitions)
- See below.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2B) [Printed book page 495,3] देवकी (devakī) a f. See below. [ ID=96324 ]
- The daughter of Devaka, wife of Vasudeva, and mother of Krishna  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 495,3] देवकी (devakī) b f. N. of a daughter of Devaka (see above) who was wife of Vasu-deva and mother of Kṛṣṇa, Mahābhārata (Title); Harivaṃśa (Title); Purāṇas (Literary category) (identified with अ - दिति (a-diti), Harivaṃśa (Title); with दाक्षायणी (dākṣāyaṇī), Matsya-purāṇa (Title) ) [ ID=96327 ]
- daughter of Devaka, wife of Vasudeva, and mother of Krishna  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > देवकी (devakī) [Printed book page 0579-c ] देवकी (devakī) N. of a daughter of Devaka and wife of Vasudeva and mother of Kṛṣṇa
- the daughter of Devaka, wife of Vasudeva, and mother of Krishna  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > देवकी (devakī) [Printed book page 422 ] देवकी (devakī) f. ( - की (-kī) ) DEVAKĪ, the daughter of DEVAKA, wife of VASUDEVA, and mother of KṚṢṆA. E. देवक, अञ् (devaka, añ) patronymick affix, fem. affix ङीष् (ṅīṣ); also with the vowel changed by the affix, दैवकी (daivakī). [ ID=19586 ]
- the mother of Krishna  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > देवकी (devakī) [Printed book page 375-b ] देवकी (devakī) ( की ) ((kī)) 3. f. Devakī, daughter of Devaka and mother of Krishna. [ ID=19063 ]
- Name of the daughter of Devaka, wife of Vasudeva, and mother of Krishna.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > देवकी (devakī) [Printed book page 343-01 ] देवकी (devakī) f. Name of a daughter of Devaka, wife of Vasudeva and mother of Kṛishṇa. [ ID=17545 ]
- the daughter of Devaka, wife of Vasudeva, and mother of Krishna  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > देवकी (devakī) [Printed book page 351-a ] देवकी (devakī) f. ( - की (-kī) ) DEVAKĪ, the daughter of DEVAKA, wife of VĀSUDEVA, and mother of KṚṢṆA. E. देवक, अञ् (devaka, añ) patronymic affix, fem. affix ङीष्; (ṅīṣ;) also with the vowel changed by the affix, दैवकी (daivakī). [ ID=19572 ]
- daughter of Devaka, wife of Vasudeva, and mother of Krishna  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > देवकी (devakī) [Printed book page 237-1 ] Devakī, daughter of Devaka, wife of Vasudeva, and mother of Kṛṣṇa. § 82 (Kṛṣṇa Vāsudeva): I, 63, 2428 ( Viṣṇuḥ …Vasudevāt tu D°yāṃ prādurbhūtaḥ ).—§ 238 (Pañ- cendrop.): I, 197, †7308 (the black hair of Viṣṇu entered D. and was born as Kṛṣṇa).—§ 599 e (Śini): VII, 144, 6034 ( Devakasya…duhituḥ ), 6035 (won at a svayaṃvara by Śini for Vasudeva).—§ 637 (Rājadh.): XII, 47 θ, 1616 ( yaṃ devaṃ D°ī ajījanat, i.e. Kṛṣṇa).—§ 746 (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 64, 3253 ( °yāś caiva saṃvādaṃ maharṣer Nāradasya ca ), 3254.—§ 783 (Anugītāp.): XIV, 52 δ, 1522.—§ 785 (do.): XIV, 66, 1950; 71, 2074.—§ 793 (Mausalap.): XVI, 7, 194 (among the widows of Vasudeva). [ ID=3242 ]
- A Bhoja princess, daughter of Devaka, wife of Vasudeva, and mother of Krishna.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > देवकी (devakī) [Printed book page 2-113 ] Devakī (I) — (Devakabhojaputrī Sunāmā) a Bhoja princess; a daughter of Devaka, one of the wives of Vasu- deva and mother of eight sons of whom Kṛṣṇa was one, all of them comparable to the eight Vasus; 1 oppressed by Kamsa and relieved by Kṛṣṇa; was about to be murdered by Kamsa who heard a divine voice that her eighth child would be the cause of his end; on Vasudeva's assurance to give up the babies as they were born she was allowed to go. Her first child Kīrtimat was taken to Kamsa who returned the baby. She was imprisoned with Vasudeva to watch over the birth of her sons. During her seventh pregnancy the Dhāma of Hari in her womb was transferred by Yogamāyā to that of Rohiṇī and it was said that Devakī aborted. Then the amśa of Hari entered her womb and she grew beautiful every day. Brahmā, Śiva and other Gods waited on her on the eve of Kṛṣṇa's birth and said that her son was to kill Page2-114+ 38 Kamsa: addressed the new-born Kṛṣṇa. In the Svāyam- bhuva epoch she was Pṛśni and Vasudeva was Sutapa. In another epoch she was Aditi and Vasudeva was Kaśyapa. Yaśodā's daughter exchanged for Devakī's son and Kamsa was told of the birth of a girl; was released from prison along with Vasudeva; forgave and advised Kamsa; was saluted by Kṛṣṇa and Rāma. 2 Yudhiṣṭhira asked Arjuna about her welfare. 3 Kṛṣṇa's respects to, after his return from Indra's abode. 4 Devakī came to Rukmiṇī's palace with Vasudeva and Kṛṣṇa; 5 felt concerned at Kṛṣṇa not returning from the cave of Jāmba- vān and aided by others prayed to Durgā for Kṛṣṇa's return; 6 wondered at the discourses between Nimi and the sages, sons of Ṛṣabha; 7 embraced Yaśodā at Syamantapañcaka and enquired after her welfare; 8 praised Kṛṣṇa and Rāma and desired to see her sons who had been killed by Kamsa; saw them with joy when taken back from Sutala by Kṛṣṇa; in her presence they left for heaven. 9 Her grief at the decease of Rāma, Kṛṣṇa and others; entered fire. 10 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. I. 1. 12; III. 1. 33; 2. 25; IX. 24. 23, 45, 53; X. 1. 8 and 29; 36. 17; Br. I. 1. 125; M. 44. 73; 46. 13-15; 47. 2; Vā. 1. 148; 96. 163, 172-4; Vi. IV. 14. 18; 15. 18. 26-30.] [ Footnote: 2) Bhā. X. Chh. 1-4; 44. 50-51; 45. 1-12; Bhā. I. 8. 23. 33; 11. 28; X. 36. 20; 43. 24. Vi. V. 2. 2; 4. 14; 18. 7-8.] [ Footnote: 3) Bhā. I. 14. 27.] [ Footnote: 4) Ib. X. [67 (V) 48].] [ Footnote: 5) Ib. X. 55. 35.] [ Footnote: 6) Ib. X. 56. 34-5.] [ Footnote: 7) Ib. XI. 5. 51.] [ Footnote: 8) Ib. X. 82. 37.] [ Footnote: 9) Ib. X. 85. 27-33, 52, 56-70.] [ Footnote: 10) Ib. XI. 31. 18; Vi. V. 38. 4.] [ ID=6178 ]

### Epithets of Kṛṣṇa (son of Devakī) (3 definitions)
- pleasing  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नंदनः (naṃdanaḥ)
- a mother of a son  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — पुत्रः, - मातृ (putraḥ, -mātṛ) m
- Krishna  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > देवकी, (devakī,) सूनु ( नुः ) (sūnu (nuḥ)) 2. m. Krishna. [ ID=19066 ]

### Devakī/Yaudheyī, wife of Yudhiṣṭhira (2 definitions)
- wife of Yudhishthira and mother of Yaudheya  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of the wife of Yudhiṣṭhira and mother of Yaudheya, Mahābhārata (Title) i, 3828 [ ID=96320 ]
- the mother of Yaudheya by Yudhishthira  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Devakī (III) — the mother of Yaudheya by Yudhiṣṭhira. M. 50. 56. [ ID=6180 ]

### Divine, celestial, or a god/deity (2 definitions)
- divine, celestial  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > divine, celestial id. [ ID=96311 ]
- a god or deity  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > देवक (devaka) m. ( दिव् (div) ° (°) ) a god, deity (at the end of an adj. comp. ), Mahābhārata (Title) ii, 1396 &c. ( cf. दैवक (daivaka) ) [ ID=96312 ]

### Familiar name/nickname (for Deva-dattaka/Deva-dattikā) (2 definitions)
- an epithet of Devadattaka  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > familiar N. for देव - दत्तक (deva-dattaka), Pāṇini (Author) v, 3, 83; Patañjali (Author) [ ID=96316 ]
- a familiar form of devadattika  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2B) [Printed book page 495,3] देवका (devakā) f. fam. for देव - दत्तिका (deva-dattikā), Pāṇini (Author) vii, 3, 45, Vārtt. 4, Patañjali (Author) [ ID=96318 ]

### Geographical names (country or river) (2 definitions)
- of a river  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a river, Mahābhārata (Title) iii, 5044 ( cf. दाविक (dāvika) ) [ ID=96321 ]
- of a country  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a country, Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā (Title) xi, 35 [ ID=96322 ]

### Other individuals/groups named Devaka (2 definitions)
- a proper name  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a man (?), Ṛg-veda (Title) vii, 18, 20; Sāyaṇa (Author) [ ID=96313 ]
- a class of Shudras in Krauncha-dvipa  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > देवक (devaka) m. pl. N. of the Śūdras in Krauñca-dvīpa, Bhāgavata-purāṇa (Title) v, 20, 22 [ ID=96317 ]

### Botanical name (thorn-apple) (1 definition)
- the thorn-apple  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the thorn-apple, Bhāvaprakāśa (Title) [ ID=96323 ]

### Class of minor goddesses (Devikā) or oblations (1 definition)
- A class of minor goddesses.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > देविका (devikā) a f. N. of a class of goddesses of an inferior order, Brāhmaṇa (Literary category) ( pl. the oblations made to them, viz. to Anu-matī, Rākā, Sinīvālī, Kuhū, and to Dhātṛ, Taittirīya-saṃhitā (Title); cf. - हविस् (-havis), Aitareya-brāhmaṇa (Title); Vaitāna-sūtra (Title) ) [ ID=96319 ]

### Devaka, father of Kṛṣṇa's mother (1 definition)
- a Gandharva, a prince, the son of Ahuka and father of Devaki  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a Gandharva (at once a prince, son of Āhuka and father of Devakī [below] Mahābhārata (Title) i, 4480; v, 80 &c. Harivaṃśa (Title); Purāṇas (Literary category) ) [ ID=96314 ]

### Goddess Devakī enshrined at Mathurā (1 definition)
- a goddess enshrined at Mathura  
  *The Purana Index*
  > [Printed book page 2-114 ] Devakī (II) — a goddess enshrined at Mathurā. M. 13. 39. [ ID=6179 ]

### One who sports or plays (1 definition)
- who or what sports or plays  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 495,2] देवक (devaka) mf( इका (ikā) )n. who or what sports or plays, Horace H. Wilson, author of first Sanskrit-English dictionary in 1819 (Author) [ ID=96310 ]

### Yaudheya, son of Yudhiṣṭhira (1 definition)
- the son of Yudhishthira and Yaudheyi or Pauravi  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > [Printed book page 495,3] of a son of Yudhi-ṣṭhira and Yaudheyī or Pauravī ( cf. ° विका (°vikā) below), Purāṇas (Literary category) [ ID=96315 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

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