The sage from whose seed the twins Kripa and Kripi were born.
Accounts of this vary across texts and traditions. This entry primarily follows Mahabharata, with other tellings (Puranic traditions (Harivamsha, Bhagavata Purana), Regional retellings) noted where relevant.
Sharadvan is a sage of the Gautama family, skilled in archery. He is the father of the twins Kripa and Kripi.
When the apsara Janapadi tried to distract him, his seed fell on a clump of reeds (shara), from which twins were born. He left them, and King Shantanu found them.
This entry is independently written for myVamsam using the sources listed above. Where traditions differ, this entry identifies the relevant tradition rather than presenting one account as universally established fact.