# यदु (yadu) Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/yadu यदु (yadu) is a Sanskrit word meaning an ancient country west of the Jamuna river, the people of Yadu or the descendants of king Yadu, an ancient hero, a son of Yayati, a son of Vasu, a son of Haryaśva. Its 18 recorded definitions are grouped into 7 contexts, among them Yadu, the Ancestral King and Hero, Yadu: Multiple Senses (Lexicographical), The Yadu People/Dynasty (Yādavas). - **SLP1:** `yadu` **IAST:** yadu **Devanagari:** यदु - **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yadu_%28legendary_king%29 - **Declensions:** 72 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/yadu/declensions.md - **Other headwords romanised the same way:** यादु (yādu) ## Meanings by context ### Yadu, the Ancestral King and Hero (6 definitions) - The name of an ancient hero, son of Yayati in epic poetry and ancestor of Krishna *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)* > (H1) [Printed book page 845,1] यदु (yadu) m. N. of an ancient hero (in the Veda often mentioned together with Turvaśa [or Turvasu] q.v., and described as preserved by Indra during an inundation; in epic poetry he is a son of Yayāti and brother of Puru and Turvasu, Kṛṣṇa being descended from Yadu, and Bharata and Kuru from Puru; Yadu is also called a son of Vasu, king of Cedi, or a son of Hary-aśva), RV.; MBh.; Hariv.; Pur. [ ID=170225 ] - Name of a Vedic tribe and its chief, and in later mythology, the son of Yayati and ancestor of the Yadava race *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > यदु (yadu) [Printed book page 241-1 ] यदु (yadu) yádu, m. N. of a Vedic trie and its chief ( gnly. mentioned with Turvaśa ). In E. he is described as a son of Yayāti, of Vasu, prince of Cedi, and of Haryaśva; he is the ancestor of the Yādava race in which Kṛṣṇa was born. [ ID=14700 ] - Name of an ancient king *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > यदु (yadu) [Printed book page 593-03 ] यदु (yadu) m. Name of an ancient king. (See App. II.) [ ID=31287 ] - An ancient hero and his race *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > यदु (yadu) [Printed book page 428 ] यदु (yadu) m. N. of an ancient hero & his race; cf. तुर्वश (turvaśa). [ ID=25809 ] - son of Yayati and ancestor of the Yadavas *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata* > यदु (yadu) [Printed book page 761-2 ] Yadu 1, son of Yayāti and ancestor of the Yadus (Yādavas). § 6 (Anukram.): I, 1 α, 225 (in Sañjaya's enumeration).— § 143 (Nahuṣa): I, 75, 3159 (his genealogy).—§ 144 (Yayāti): I, 75, 3162, 3167 ( °prabhṛtayaḥ, Y., etc., would not take the decrepitude of Yayāti, cf. § 148).—§ 147 (Devayānī): I, 83, 3432 (son of Yayāti and Devayānī).— § 148 (Yayāti): I, 84, 3466 ( putraṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ ), 3468 Page762-a+ 63 (3470) ( b : As Y. would not take the decrepitude of Yayāti, the latter cursed him, saying that his children should never be kings); 85, 3519 ( jyeṣṭhaṃ ), 3520 ( jyeṣṭhaḥ ), 3523 ( jyeṣṭhena ), 3525 (excluded from the throne), 3533 ( b : The Yādavas are the descendants of Y.).—§ 149 (do.): I, 86, 3545 ( °purogamān ).—§ 156 (Pūruvaṃś.): I, 95, 3762 (his genealogy), ††3763 (his descendants were the Yādavas).— § 565 (Gālavacarita): V, 120, 4027, 4038.—§ 569 b (Yayāti): V, 149, 5043 ( jyeṣṭhaḥ ), 5045 [5046 ( Yādavānāṃ kulakaraḥ )], 5048 ( Y. resided in Hāstinapura; because he disregarded his father and brothers, he was cursed by Yayāti and expelled from the kingdom, cf. § 148).—§ 599 e (Śini): VII, 144, 6030 (in his race Devamīḍha was born).—§ 632 (Ṣoḍaśarāj., v. Yayāti): XII, 29, 991 ( antyeṣu putrān nikṣipya Y°-Druhyupurogamān, sc. Yayāti, cf. § 148).— § 768 b (Kṛṣṇa Vāsudeva): XIII, 147, 6833 (father of Kroṣṭṛ).—§ 775 (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 166 η, 7674. Cf. Daivayāneya. [ ID=12459 ] - The eldest son of Yayati and Devayani, and originator of the Yadava race *The Purana Index* > यदु (yadu) [Printed book page 3-010 ] Yadu (I) — originator of the Yādava race; the eldest son of Yayāti and Devayānī. Father of Sahasrajit and other sons. 1 His line glorified by the birth of Kṛṣṇa, as the Malaya hill by the sandal tree; became overlord of the southern part of the kingdom. Refused to part with his youth to his father and hence was cursed to become the father of refractory sons and was also refused a share in the kingdom; father of five sons; debarred by his father to succeed him; was placed in charge of the southern territory; 2 his descendants; 3 had a discourse on detachment and reali- sation of Ātman from an Avadhūta sannyasin, when the ascetic spoke of his twenty-four gurus; earth, air, sky, waters, fire, moon, sun, kapota (pigeon), boaconstrictor, sea, moth, bee, elephant, honey-gatherer, deer, fish, Piṅgala, Kurara, child, girl, blacksmith, serpent, spider and wasp. From the exemplary ways of each of them, the ascetic learnt his lessons which are elaborated. Hearing this Yadu became free from all attachments and looked on all things as equal; 4 equal to Indra. 5 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. IX. 18. 33; 23. 20-1; M. 4. 22; 24. 53; Vā. 1. 155; Vi. IV. 11. 1-5.] [ Footnote: 2) Bhā. I. 8. 32; IX. 19. 22; 18. 34-40; chh. 23 and 24 (whole); M. 33. 1-8; 34. 16-20, 30; 43. 6; Vā. 93. 16, 30-40; Vi. IV. 10. 12.] [ Footnote: 3) Br. I. 1. 166; III. 68. (whole); 69. 1-5; 73. 125; Vā. 93. 89; Vi. IV. 10. 31.] [ Footnote: 4) Bhā. XI. 7. 9; X. 1. 2.] [ Footnote: 5) M. 32. 9.] [ ID=11180 ] ### Yadu: Multiple Senses (Lexicographical) (5 definitions) - 1. The name of an ancient king and ancestor of Krishna. 2. A region west of the Jumna river. 3. The people or descendants of king Yadu. *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > यदु (yadu) [Printed book page 680 ] यदु (yadu) m. ( - टुः (-ṭuḥ) ) 1 The name of a king, the ancestor of KṚṢṆA, and the eldest son of YAYĀTI, the fifth monarch of the lunar dynasty. 2 A country on the west of the Jumna river about Mathurā and Vṛndāvana, over which YADU ruled, and named after him: according to some authorities, however, the kingdom of YADU, is the Dekshin or Peninsula of India. m. plu. ( - वाः (-vāḥ) ) 1 The Yādavas, the people of YADU. 2 Descendants of king YADU: more usually however यादवा (yādavā). [ ID=31266 ] - 1. A king and ancestor of Krishna. 2. A country. *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > यदु (yadu) [Printed book page 609-b ] यदु (yadu) ( दुः ) ((duḥ)) 1. m. A king, ancestor of Krishna; a country. [ ID=30827 ] - 1. The name of a king, eldest son of Yayati and Devayani, and ancestor of Krishna. 2. A country west of the Yamuna river near Mathura and Brindaban, or according to some, the peninsula of India. 3. The Yadavas, the people and descendants of king Yadu. *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > यदु (yadu) [Printed book page 584-a ] यदु (yadu) m. ( - दुः (-duḥ) ) 1. The name of a king, the ancestor of KRISHṆA, and the eldest son of YAYĀTĪ and DEVAYĀNĪ, the sixth monarch of the lunar dynasty. 2. A country on the west of the Jamunā river about Mathurā and Brindābana, over which YADU ruled, and named after him: according to some authorities, however, the kingdom of YADU, is the Dakshin or Peninsula of India. m. Plu. ( - वाः (-vāḥ) ) I. The Yādavas, the people of YADU. 2. Descendants of king YADU: more usually however यादवाः । (yādavāḥ.) [ ID=32491 ] - 1. The name of a king. 2. The name of a country. 3. A people and the descendants of Yadu. *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > यदु (yadu) [Printed book page 0734-a ] यदु (yadu) yadu, m. 1. The name of a king, Śiś. 9, 38. 2. The name of a country. 3. pl. a. The name of a people. b. The descendants of Yadu, Johns. Sel. 46, 73. [ ID=11702 ] - 1. An ancient hero. 2. A son of Yayati. 3. A son of Vasu. 4. A son of Haryaśva. 5. A country west of the Jumna river. 6. The family and descendants of Yadu. *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)* > यदु (yadu) [Printed book page 0808-c ] यदु (yadu) yadu, us, m., N. of an ancient hero (often mentioned in the Veda together with Turvaśa or Turvasu, and described as preserved by Indra during an inundation, see Ṛg-veda I. 174, 9); N. of a son of Yayāti, (in the later mythology Yadu and Puru are both sons of Yayāti, the fifth monarch of the lunar dynasty, Kṛṣṇa being descended from Yadu [cf. yadu-nātha below], and both Bharata and Kuru, the ancestor of the Pāṇḍu princes, being descended from Puru; Yadu is also described as a brother of Turvasu); N. of a son of Vasu (king of Cedi); of a son of Hary-aśva; (according to some) N. of a country on the west of the Jumna river, about Mathurā and Vṛndā-vana, over which Yadu ruled, (according to other authorities the kingdom of Yadu is the Dakṣiṇa or peninsula of India); (avas), m. pl. the family and descendants of Yadu [cf. yādava ]; = daśārhāḥ, q. v. —Yadu-kulodvaha (°la-ud°) or yadūdvaha, as, m. ‘supporter of the family of Yadu,’ N. of Kṛṣṇa. —Yadu-dhra, as, m., N. of a Ṛṣi. —Yadu-nātha, as, or yadu- pati, is, m. ‘lord of the Yadus,’ N. of Kṛṣṇa. —Yadu-puṅgava, as, m. a chief of the Yadus. —Yadu-vaṃśa, as, m. the family of Yadu. —Ya- du-vīra-mukhya, as, m. ‘leader of the heroes of Yadu,’ N. of Kṛṣṇa. —Yadu-śreṣṭha, as, m. ‘best of the Yadus,’ N. of Kṛṣṇa. [ ID=38370 ] ### The Yadu People/Dynasty (Yādavas) (3 definitions) - the people of Yadu or the descendants of king Yadu *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)* > pl. the people of Yadu or the descendants of king Yadu ( cf. यादव (yādava) ), ib. [ ID=170227 ] - an ancient people and their descendants *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata* > Yadu, pl. ( °avaḥ ) (“the descendants of Yadu 1 ”), a people = Yādava, pl., commonly synonymous with Vṛṣṇi, pl. § 3 (Anukram.): I, 1, 46 ( °ūnāṃ, sc. vaṃśaḥ ).—§ 11 (Parvasaṅgr.): I, 2, 623 ( °vīrāṇām āpāne vaiśasaṃ, cf. § 793).—§ 132 (Aṃśāvat.): I, 67, 2796 ( °ūnāṃ kule, Kṛṣṇa was born in the race of the Y.).—§ 233 (Svayaṃvarap.): I, 187, †7012 ( °puṅgavāḥ ).—§ 238 (Pañcendrop.): I, 197, †7308 ( °ūnāṃ kule, the black hair of Nārāyaṇa was born as Kṛṣṇa in the race of the Y.).—§ 262 (Bhagavadyāna): II, 2, 54 ( °śreṣṭhair Ugrasenamukhaiḥ ).—§ 286 (Arghāharaṇap.): II, 26, 1321 ( Nārāyaṇaḥ…ajāyata Y°kṣaye, sc. as Kṛṣṇa). —§ 402 (Tīrthayātrāp.): III, 120, †10288 ( °pravīrāḥ ).— § 510 (Draupadī-Satyabhāmāsaṃv.): III, 233, 14651 ( kathāḥ Kuru-Y°ūtthitāḥ ).—§ 524 d (Viṣṇu): III, 272, 15848 ( ajāyata Y°kṣaye, sc. Viṣṇu as Kṛṣṇa).—§ 562 (Bhagavadyānap.): V, 83, 2937 ( °ūnāṃ nandivardhanaṃ, sc. the chariot of Kṛṣṇa).—§ 580 (Bhīṣmavadhap.): VI, 59, †2609 (had abandoned Kaṃsa).—§ 581 (do.): VI, 60, †2659 ( °ūnām ṛṣabheṇa, i.e. Kṛṣṇa).—§ 599 (Jayadratha- vadhap.): VII, 118, †4699 ( °ūnām ṛṣabhaḥ, i.e. Sātyaki); 140, †5835 (do., do.).—§ 607 (Karṇap.): VIII, 37, †1740 ( °sadanam Upendrapālitaṃ ).—§ 608 (do.): VIII, 76, †3853 ( cakraṃ…sadārcitaṃ Y°bhiḥ ).—§ 615 (Baladevatīrtha- yātrā): IX, 49, 2831 ( °ūnāṃ pravaraḥ, i.e. Balarāma).— § 617 (Aiṣīkap.): X, 12, 606 ( °ūnām ṛṣabhaḥ, i.e. Kṛṣṇa); 13, 655 ( °ūnām ṛṣabheṇa, i.e. Kṛṣṇa).—§ 639 (Rājadh.): XII, 50 β, 1816 ( °-Kauravāḥ ).—§ 656 (Khaḍgotpattik.): XII, 166 δ, 6199.—§ 785 (Anugītāp.): XIV, 88, 2606 ( °striyaḥ ).—§ 793 (Mausalap.): XVI, 4, †106, †113; 6, 168; 8, 266.—§ 794 (Mahāprasthānikap.): XVII, 1, 8 ( °ūnāṃ pariśeṣaś ca Vajraḥ ). [ ID=12461 ] - An ancient lineage of kings and their descendants whose members eventually destroyed each other. *The Purana Index* > Yadus — (also Yadu kula and Yadu vamśa); members and descendants innumerable; one hundred and one families recognised. 1 Their king was Ugrasena. Ill-treated by Kamsa, they migrated to different countries like Kuru and Pāñcāla, and became delighted at Kamsa's death. Their Purohita was Garga. 2 Krsna born among them; 3 cursed by Page3-011+ 31 Yayāti, his successors could not be kings; unacceptable to good men according to Śiśupāla; 4 took part in the marriage festivities of Kṛṣṇa and Rukminī, and attended the Rājasūya of Yudhiṣṭhira; turned into a caste by Purañjaya; 5 destroyed by Kṛṣṇa before he left the earth, under the pretext of the Brahmanas' curse; the rest lost their reason after Kṛṣṇa's departure to Heaven, drank wine and killed one another. Four or five alone left alive. Attained yoga through the grace of Datta; became defunct after the Mahābhārata war. 6 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. X. 90. 40-4.] [ Footnote: 2) Ib. X. 1. 69; 2. 2-3; 45. 15; 8. 1.] [ Footnote: 3) M. 246, 90.] [ Footnote: 4) Bhā. X. 45. 13; 74. 36.] [ Footnote: 5) Ib. X. 54. 58; 75. 12; XII. 1. 36.] [ Footnote: 6) Ib. XI. 1. 4-5; 31. 16; I. 15. 22-6; II. 7. 4; M. 70. 12.] [ ID=11182 ] ### Other Individuals Named Yadu (1 definition) - a prince *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata* > [Printed book page 762-1 ] Yadu 2, a prince. § 74 (Vasu): I, 63, 2364 (son of Vasu Uparicara). [ ID=12460 ] ### Yadu as a Country/Region (1 definition) - An ancient country west of the Jamuna river. *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)* > N. of a country on the west of the Jumnā river (about Mathurā and Vṛndā-vana, over which Yadu ruled; according to others the Deccan or Southern peninsula of India), W. [ ID=170226 ] ### Yadu as a Yāma Deva (1 definition) - a Yama deva *The Purana Index* > Yadu (II) — a Yāma deva. Br. II. 13. 92; Vā. 31. 6. [ ID=11181 ] ### Yadu in Vedic Texts (Tribe/Chief) (1 definition) - 1. An ancient tribe. 2. The king of that tribe. *The Vedic Index of Names and Subjects* > यदु (yadu) [Printed book page 2-185 ] Yadu is the name of a tribe and of the king of the tribe. They are mentioned repeatedly in the Rigveda, 1 normally in conjunction with Turvaśa. They seem to have taken part in the great battle against Sudās: 2 the Yadu and the Turvaśa kings seem to have escaped with their lives, while the Anu and the Druhyu kings perished. This is at least the most natural explanation of several passages, 3 though these passages possibly refer to a successful raid across the Sarayu, and a defeat of two princes, Arṇa and Citraratha. 4 That Turvaśa was the Yadu king, as Hopkins 5 holds, is most improbable. [ Footnote: 1) i. 36, 18; 54, 6; 174, 9; iv. 30, 17; v. 31, 8; vi. 45, 1; viii. 4, 7; 7, 18; 9, 14; 10, 5; 45, 27; ix. 61, 2; x. 49, 8; plural, i. 108, 8. See Turvaśa, and Hopkins, Journal of the American Oriental Society, 15, 258 et seq. ] [ Footnote: 2) Whether Yadu should be read in Rv. vii. 18, 6, or not, the Yadus seem to be meant. Cf. Yakṣu. ] [ Footnote: 3) Rv. i. 174, 9; iv. 30, 17; v. 31, 3; vi. 20, 12.] [ Footnote: 4) Rv. iv. 30, 18.] [ Footnote: 5) Loc. cit. Cf. Zimmer, Altindisches Leben, 122, 124; Ludwig, Translation of the Rig- veda, 3, 205; 5, 142; Weber, Episches im vedischen Ritual, 37.] [ ID=2559 ] ## Sources Definitions from Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872); Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; The Vedic Index of Names and Subjects; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne. The Sanskrit Lexicon app for iPhone, iPad and Mac: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sanskrit-lexicon-dictionary/id6746787546