# वसुदेव (vasudeva)

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

वसुदेव (vasudeva) is a Sanskrit word meaning the father of Krishna, of a king of the Kanva dynasty, an epithet of Krishna, of the grandfather of the poet Magha, of two authors, the daughter of Shva-phalka. Its 16 recorded definitions are grouped into 6 contexts, among them Father of Krishna, Other Individuals Named Vasudeva, A Kaṇva King.

- **Etymology:** E. वसु a Vasu, a deity, the incarnation of one of the Vasus; or वसु wealth दिव to shine, aff. अच् — E. vasu a Vasu, a deity, the incarnation of one of the Vasus; or vasu wealth diva to shine, aff. ac
- **SLP1:** `vasudeva`  **IAST:** vasudeva  **Devanagari:** वसुदेव
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasudeva
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/vasudeva/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** वासुदेव (vāsudeva), वसुदेवा (vasudevā)

## Meanings by context

### Father of Krishna (8 definitions)
- the father of Krishna  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H3) [Printed book page 931,1] वसु (vasu) — देव (—deva) m. N. of the father of Kṛṣṇa (he was the son of Śūra, a descendant of Yadu of the lunar line, and was also called Ānaka-dundubhi q.v., because at his birth the gods, foreseeing that Viṣṇu would take a human form in his family, sounded the drums of heaven for joy; he was a brother of Kuntī or Pṛthā, the mother of the Paṇḍu princes, who were thus cousins of Kṛṣṇa; see 1. कृष्ण (kṛṣṇa) ), MBh.; Hariv.; BhP. &c. [ ID=188780 ]
- the father of Krishna  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > वसु (vasu) देव (vasudeva) [Printed book page 744 ] वसु (vasu) देव (vasudeva) m. ( - वः (-vaḥ) ) VASUDEVA, the father of KṚṢṆA. E. वसु (vasu) a Vasu, a deity, the incarnation of one of the Vasus; or वसु (vasu) wealth दिव (diva) to shine, aff. अच् (ac). [ ID=34008 ]
- 1. Vasudeva, father of Krishna.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > वसुदेव (vasudeva) [Printed book page 666-a ] वसु - देव (vasu-deva) ( वः ) ((vaḥ)) 1. m. Vasudeva, father of Krishna. [ ID=33596 ]
- name of the father of Krishnadeva  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > वसुदेव (vasudeva) [Printed book page 647-09 ] वसु - देव (vasu-deva) m. name of the father of Kṛishṇa. [ ID=33998 ]
- the father of Krishna  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > वसु (vasu) देव (vasudeva) [Printed book page 637-b ] वसु (vasu) देव (vasudeva) m. ( - वः (-vaḥ) ) BASUDEVA, the father of KRISHṆA. E. वसु (vasu) a deity, the incarnation of one of the Vasus, or वसु (vasu) wealth, दिव् (div) to shine, aff. अच् । (ac.) [ ID=35550 ]
- the father of Krishna  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > वसुदेव (vasudeva) [Printed book page 480 ] वसुदेव (vasudeva) m. N. of Kṛṣṇa's father etc. [ ID=28540 ]
- son of Shura, husband of Devaki, and father of Krishna  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > वसुदेव (vasudeva) [Printed book page 718-2 ] Vasudeva, son of Śūra, husband of Devakī, etc., father of Kṛṣṇa, etc. § 82 (Kṛṣṇa Vāsudeva): I, 63, 2428 ( °āt tu Devakyāṃ prādurbhūtaḥ, sc. Viṣṇu born as Kṛṣṇa).—§ 213 (Jatugṛhap.): I, 151, 5905 ( svasāraṃ V°sya, i.e. Kuntī).— § 252 (Subhadrāharaṇap.): I, 219, 7923 ( duhitā V°sya, i.e. Subhadrā).—§ 289 (Arghāharaṇap.): II, 37, 1343 ( vṛddhe ).—§ 547 (Karṇa): III, 303, 17021 ( °sya bhaginī, i.e. Kuntī).—§ 599 e (Śini): VII, 144, 6031 ( Śauriḥ ), 6034 ( °ārthaṃ, at the svayaṃvara of Devakī, Śini won her in behalf of V.).—§ 637 (Rājadh.): XII, 47 θ, 1616 ( yaṃ devaṃ Devakī devī V°ād ajījanat, sc. Kṛṣṇa).—§ 768 b (Kṛṣṇa Vāsudeva): XIII, 147, 6837 ( Ānakadundubhiṃ, son of Śūra and father of Kṛṣṇa).—§ 785 (Anugītāp.): XIV, 60, (1773); 61, 1810, 1811, 1813, 1814 (Kṛṣṇa related to V. the events of the battle); 83, 2481 ( mātulena Kirīṭinaḥ, B. has by error Vāsudevena ).—§ 793 (Mausalap.): XVI, 6, (153); 7, 177, 191 ( Śauriḥ, died), 192 ( °niveśane, bewailed by his widows, Devakī, etc.).—§ 795 (Svargārohaṇap.): XVIII, 5 μ, 163 (among those who after death entered the deities). Cf. also the following synonyms:— Ānakadundubhi : II, 1215; III, 783; XIII, 6837 ( V° ); XVI, 148, 150. Śauri, Śūraputra, Śūrasūnu, Śūrasuta, Śūrātmaja, q.v. Yadūdvaha, q.v. [ ID=11687 ]
- Father of Krishna and husband of Devaki, known for his surname Anakadundubhi, who imprisoned by Kamsa, exchanged newborn Krishna with Yashoda's daughter, and ultimately entered the fire after Krishna's death.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > वसुदेव (vasudeva) [Printed book page 3-173 ] Vasudeva (I) — of the family of Yayāti; a son of Deva- mīḍha (also Śūra) and Māriṣā. He had a surname Ānaka- dundubhi because at his birth anakas and dundubhis were sounded as a sign of receiving Hari's grace. Married the seven daughters of Devaka; six other wives of: 1 Father of Kṛṣṇa by Devakī; when marrying her he promised Kamsa, who drove the chariot and who heard a voice Page3-174+ 48 from air that her eighth son would kill him, to give him all sons born of Devakī to be killed by him. Took her first son to Kamsa who spared him; was thrown in prison with Devakī by Kamsa. Vasudeva's prayer to the new born Kṛṣṇa; took the babe to Nandagopa's house and exchanged him for the daughter, born to Yaśoda at that time, without anybody knowing it. Released by Kamsa; 2 met Nanda who went to the capital for paying annual tribute and after enquiring of his welfare advised him to return home as he expected some trouble at the Vraja. Requested Garga to go to Vraja and perform samskāras to his sons. 3 Visited by Nārada. Vasu- deva enquired of Bhāgavata dharma; listened to the tradi- tional account of the talk between the nine sons of Ṛṣabha and Nimi and was pleased along with Devakī; 4 met by Kṛṣṇa at Sudharmā sabhā painted by Citralekhā; 5 joined the Yadus in defeating Pauṇḍraka Māyā. Vasudeva cut off Sālva before Kṛṣṇa in battle. Welcomed Kṛṣṇa after the Kuru- kṣetra war; went to Syamantapañcaka for the solar eclipse; here he met the sages and asked them how to get rid of karma by karma. Nārada's praise of. The sages induced him to undertake a sacrifice; requested by Vasudeva to be his Ṛtviks for the yajña they agreed. At the end of the sacrifice, he had his avabhṛta with all his eighteen wives to the great satisfaction of Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, when all castes and even animals were fed; others were honoured with presents. At leave-taking Vasudeva took hold of Nanda's hands and showed that the tie of friendship was the greatest of all ties and wept in joy. Gave Nanda presents; praise of Kṛṣṇa and Rāma and his joy. 6 Kamsa who heard from Nārada that Vasudeva had kept his sons Rāma and Kṛṣṇa under the safe custody of Nanda wanted to kill him. When he was persuaded not to do so, Kamsa imprisoned Vasudeva until Kṛṣṇa released him; celebrated his upanayana. 7 Stationed to defend the eastern gate of Mathurā; consulted by Kṛṣṇa on the eve of attack on Jarāsandha. His part in the third campaign of Jarā; came with Devakī and Kṛṣṇa Page3-175+ 33 to Rukmiṇī's residence where Pradyumna and Māyāvatī had already arrived. His concern at Kṛṣṇa not returning for a long time from the cave of Jāmbavatī. 8 In previous births Sutapa and Kaśyapa (see Devakī). Heard of Kṛṣṇa's decease and also of all the Vṛṣṇis 9 and wept; gave his sons Saumī and Kauśika in adoption to his brother, Vṛka; 10 nine brothers and four sisters; 11 chastised by Kamsa in the Yādava assembly; 12 praise of Kṛṣṇa by Vasudeva; 13 entered fire after Kṛṣṇa's death. 14 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. IX. 24., 23-45; Br. III. 61. 23; 71. 146, 160-1, 174; M. 44. 72; Vā. 86. 28; 96. 144, 159-161, 198; 98. 94; Vi. IV. 14. 19.] [ Footnote: 2) Bhā. I. 1. 12; 2. 7; 8. 33; III. 2. 25; X. 26. 17; 1. 23 to the end; ch. 3 (whole); 4. 14 and 24; Br. III. 71. 210-35; M. 46. 1-2; 47. 2-6; Vi. V. 1. 5; 3. 15-23.] [ Footnote: 3) Bhā. X. 5. 20-31; 8. 1.] [ Footnote: 4) Ib. XI. 2. 3; 31. 15-22.] [ Footnote: 5) Ib. X. [67 (v) 42, 47]; 62. 20.] [ Footnote: 6) Ib. X. 66. [2]; 77. 25-9; 80. [13]; 82. 5; chh. 84. and 85 (whole).] [ Footnote: 7) Ib. X. 36. 17-24, [29 and 31]; 44. 33 and 51; 45. 2-9, 26-9.] [ Footnote: 8) Ib. X. 50. 20 [2]; [50 (v) 8]; [51 (v) 26]; 55. 35; 56. 24.] [ Footnote: 9) Ib. XI. 31. 15 and 18.] [ Footnote: 10) Br. III. 71. 192, 73. 94.] [ Footnote: 11) Vi. IV. 14. 27-31.] [ Footnote: 12) Ib. V. 15. 4-5, 18.] [ Footnote: 13) Ib. V. 15. 20-28.] [ Footnote: 14) Ib. V. 38. 4.] [ ID=12393 ]

### Other Individuals Named Vasudeva (3 definitions)
- of the grandfather of the poet Magha  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of the grandfather of the poet Māgha, Cat. [ ID=188783 ]
- of two authors  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (also with ब्रह्म - प्रसाद (brahma-prasāda) ) of two authors, Cat. [ ID=188784 ]
- a son of Cancu  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Vasudeva (III) — a son of Cancu. Vi. IV. 3. 25. [ ID=12395 ]

### A Kaṇva King (2 definitions)
- of a king of the Kanva dynasty  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a king of the Kaṇva dynasty, Pur.; Vāsavadattā (Title), Introd. [ ID=188781 ]
- A Kanva minister of the Shunga king Devabhuti who killed his master, became king, ruled for five years, initiated the Kanvayana dynasty, and was the father of Bhumitra.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > [Printed book page 3-175 ] Vasudeva (II) — a Kaṇva and a minister of the Śunga king Devabhūti; ( M. and Br. P. -Devabhūmi); killed his master and became king. Father of Bhūmitra; ruled for five years; began the line of Kāṇvāyanas. Bhā. XII. 1. 19-20; Br. II. 74. 156; M. 272. 32; Vi. IV. 24. 39-40. [ ID=12394 ]

### A Lunar Mansion (Dhaniṣṭhā) (1 definition)
- the lunar mansion Dhanishtha  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > वसु (vasu) — देव (—deva) n. the lunar mansion Dhaniṣṭhā, VarBṛS. [ ID=188786 ]

### A Name of Krishna (1 definition)
- an epithet of Krishna  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of Kṛṣṇa, Pañcar. [ ID=188782 ]

### The Feminine Name Vasudevā (1 definition)
- the daughter of Shva-phalka  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H3B) [Printed book page 931,1] वसु (vasu) — देवा (—devā) f. N. of a daughter of Śva-phalka, VP. [ ID=188785 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Cappeller 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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