4 Divine Siblings of Krishna You Didn’t Know Existed
Riya Kumari | Aug 21, 2025, 12:29 IST
Krishna siblings
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )
Krishna’s life is often told through tales of his divine play, miracles, and teachings, but behind every story lies a family whose presence shaped his destiny. Beyond the well-known Balarama and Subhadra, Krishna had siblings whose lives carry quiet but powerful lessons. Some were born only to return to the divine, others stood steadfast as companions, and some connected destinies across dynasties. Their stories are not just about birth or blood, they are about dharma, karma, sacrifice, and the subtle ways the universe teaches us through relationships.
Krishna is often seen as the playful, all-knowing figure of the Bhagavad Gita and the Puranas, but behind every story of his life is a constellation of divine relationships that shape his journey and ours. Among these, his siblings hold lessons that are subtle, profound, and transformative. Beyond Balarama and Subhadra, Krishna had brothers whose stories are seldom told, but whose lives illuminate dharma, karma, and the nature of existence.
1. The Shadgarbhas
Before Krishna’s birth, Devaki bore six sons who were killed by Kamsa. These were no ordinary children, they were the Shadgarbhas, souls cursed in a previous life due to past misdeeds (Puranas, Brahma Purana). Their repeated deaths were not tragedies but acts of liberation, freeing them from karmic chains.
Life’s suffering is often a necessary passage toward freedom. Pain can cleanse, not just punish, if we understand it with faith and patience.
Balarama, Krishna’s elder brother, was transferred from Devaki’s womb to Rohini’s to protect him from Kamsa’s wrath (Bhagavata Purana). Strong, calm, and unwavering, he supported Krishna in every trial without overshadowing him.
True strength lies in steady support and righteous companionship. Power without ego, guidance without domination, loyalty without expectation, these are the qualities that leave a lasting mark on the world.
3. Subhadra
Subhadra, Krishna’s sister, became Arjuna’s wife, creating a link between the Yadavas and the Pandavas (Mahabharata, Adi Parva). While she may not have wielded a mace or sung cosmic songs, her life reflects the power of choices, alliances, and strategic action that uphold dharma.
Influence often comes not from prominence, but from timing, decision, and vision. Subhadra teaches that every role, even seemingly secondary, is part of a larger cosmic purpose.
4. The Forgotten Sons
The six sons of Devaki, though killed, are remembered in scripture as returning to their divine origins. Their existence is a reminder that our physical lives are only part of the story; the soul’s journey is eternal. Liberation is possible even amid worldly cruelty and loss (Brahma Purana, Vishnu Purana).
Death is not annihilation. What is taken away in one form often returns in another. Karma and grace work together, teaching us patience, humility, and perspective.
These siblings are more than figures in a story, they are mirrors of our human experience. Balarama embodies the power of unwavering support. Subhadra teaches that influence can be quiet but decisive. The Shadgarbhas and the unborn sons remind us that suffering, loss, and death are not meaningless, they are threads in the greater tapestry of dharma.
By observing their lives, we are invited to reflect: How do we support others without seeking credit? How do we make choices aligned with higher purpose? How do we see beyond suffering, understanding it as a teacher rather than an enemy? Krishna’s siblings exist not just to accompany him, but to illuminate the path of dharma for all who choose to look closely. Their stories linger because they are lessons for the soul.
1. The Shadgarbhas
Life’s suffering is often a necessary passage toward freedom. Pain can cleanse, not just punish, if we understand it with faith and patience.
2. Balarama
True strength lies in steady support and righteous companionship. Power without ego, guidance without domination, loyalty without expectation, these are the qualities that leave a lasting mark on the world.
3. Subhadra
Influence often comes not from prominence, but from timing, decision, and vision. Subhadra teaches that every role, even seemingly secondary, is part of a larger cosmic purpose.
4. The Forgotten Sons
Death is not annihilation. What is taken away in one form often returns in another. Karma and grace work together, teaching us patience, humility, and perspective.
Reflections on Krishna’s Siblings
By observing their lives, we are invited to reflect: How do we support others without seeking credit? How do we make choices aligned with higher purpose? How do we see beyond suffering, understanding it as a teacher rather than an enemy? Krishna’s siblings exist not just to accompany him, but to illuminate the path of dharma for all who choose to look closely. Their stories linger because they are lessons for the soul.