# यशोदा (yaśodā)

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

यशोदा (yaśodā) is a Sanskrit word meaning conferring fame or renown, quicksilver, foster-mother of Krishna, the name of the daughter of a class of deceased ancestors, the wife of Mahavira and daughter of Samaravira, bestowing fame or honour. Its 14 recorded definitions are grouped into 5 contexts, among them Other women named Yaśodā, Yaśodā, Kṛṣṇa's foster-mother, Adjective: fame-bestowing.

- **SLP1:** `yaSodA`  **IAST:** yaśodā  **Devanagari:** यशोदा
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yashoda
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/yashoda/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** यशोद (yaśoda)

## Meanings by context

### Other women named Yaśodā (4 definitions)
- the name of the daughter of a class of deceased ancestors  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H3) [Printed book page 848,3] 1. यशो (yaśo) — दा (—dā) f. (of यशो (yaśo) द (yaśoda) ) N. of the daughter of a class of deceased ancestors, Hariv. [ ID=170900 ]
- the wife of Mahavira and daughter of Samaravira  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of the wife of Mahā-vīra (and daughter of Samaravīra), W. [ ID=170902 ]
- 1. The mind-born daughter of the Upahuta Pitris. 2. The wife of Vishvamahat and mother of Khatvanga.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > [Printed book page 3-023 ] Yaśodā (II) — the mind-born daughter of Upahūta Pitṛs; wife of Viśvamahat; mother of Khaṭvānga. Br. III. 10. 90; Vā. 73. 40-41. [ ID=11250 ]
- A daughter of the Havishmanta pitrs, wife of Amshuman, mother of Dilipa, and grandmother of Bhagiratha.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Yaśodā (III) — a mind-born daughter of the Haviṣmanta- pitṛs, wife of Amśumān, daughter-in-law of Pañcajana, mother of Dilīpa, and grandmother of Bhagīratha. M. 15. 18-19. [ ID=11251 ]

### Yaśodā, Kṛṣṇa's foster-mother (4 definitions)
- the foster-mother of Krishna who nursed him immediately after his birth  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of the wife of the cowherd Nanda (Kṛṣṇa's foster-mother who nursed him immediately after his birth, cf. Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams (Title) 332 ), Hariv.; Pur. &c. [ ID=170901 ]
- The foster-mother of Krishna and wife of Nanda.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > 2 यशोदा (yaśodā) f. N. of Nanda's wife, Kṛṣṇa's foster-mother. [ ID=25915 ]
- the wife of the cowherd Nanda  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > यशोदा (yaśodā) [Printed book page 761-1 ] Yaśodā, wife of the cowherd Nanda. § 549 f (Durgā): IV, 6, 179 ( °garbhasambhūtāṃ, sc. Durgā; cf. Harivaṃśa v. 3313 foll.). [ ID=12436 ]
- The wife of Nanda who raised Krishna as her own child  
  *The Purana Index*
  > यशोदा (yaśodā) [Printed book page 3-022 ] Yaśodā (I) — the wife of Nanda (gopa); 1 gave birth to a female child who was Yogamāyā incarnate. Without her knowledge, Vasudeva placed Kṛṣṇa born on the same day in her bed and removed the girl to his residence. This was known to Nārada. 2 Regarded Kṛṣṇa as her own child; per- formed rakṣā to Kṛṣṇa after his killing Pūtanā; her concern at Kṛṣṇa's kicking the cart (Śakaṭāsura) upside down, and śānti arranged; distressed at Kṛṣṇa being carried away by the whirlwind (Tṛṇāvarta); glad to see him alive; her con- cern at Kṛṣṇa's eating mud, and wonder when he revealed his true form and the whole universe in his mouth; binding of Kṛṣṇa with a rope for breaking the pot and stealing butter; took home Kṛṣṇa playing on the river-bank; intense love to Kṛṣṇa; joy at his escape from Kālīya; surprise at Kṛṣṇa holding Govardhana; recalled his exploits at Uddhava's visit, and gave him a hearty welcome. 3 Went to Syamanta- pañcaka and was embraced with affection by Rohiṇī and Devakī; 4 represents the Mother Earth; 5 remedy of, against bāladoṣa; 6 prayer of, to Śakaṭa; 7 rope round the belly of Kṛṣṇa for mischief. 8 Page3-023+ 24 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. I. 8. 31; X. 2. 9; M. 47. 7; Vi. IV. 15. 31.] [ Footnote: 2) Bha. X. 3. 47-53; 36. 17; Vā. 96. 206-9.] [ Footnote: 3) Bhā. X. 6. 19-29; Chh. 7-9 (whole); 11. 14-20; 15. 44; 17. 15; 25. 30; 46. 28-9.] [ Footnote: 4) Ib. X. 82. 36-9.] [ Footnote: 5) Br. III. 71. 212-3, 236 and 239.] [ Footnote: 6) Vi. V. 1. 77; 2, 3; 3. 20.] [ Footnote: 7) Ib. V. 5. 12.] [ Footnote: 8) Ib. V. 6. 7, 14; 7. 20.] [ ID=11249 ]

### Adjective: fame-bestowing (3 definitions)
- conferring fame or renown  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H3) [Printed book page 848,2] यशो (yaśo) — द (—da) mfn. conferring fame or renown, L. [ ID=170895 ]
- bestowing fame or honour  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H3) [Printed book page 848,3] 2. यशो (yaśo) — दा (—dā) mfn. bestowing fame or honour, TS. [ ID=170905 ]
- causing renown or splendor  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > यशोदा (yaśodā) [Printed book page 430 ] 1 यशोदा (yaśodā) a. causing renown or splendour. [ ID=25914 ]

### Other meanings (quicksilver, bricks) (2 definitions)
- quicksilver  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > यशो (yaśo) — द (—da) m. quicksilver, L. ( cf. यशो (yaśo)- धा (yaśo-dhā) ) [ ID=170896 ]
- particular bricks  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > यशो (yaśo) — दा (—dā) f. N. of partic. bricks, ib.; ĀpŚr. [ ID=170906 ]

### Yaśodā (feminine form and cross-reference) (1 definition)
- foster-mother of Krishna  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H3B) [Printed book page 848,2] यशो (yaśo) — दा (—dā) a f. See 1. यशो (yaśo)- दा (yaśo-dā). [ ID=170897 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); The Purana Index.
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