Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 21

Chapter 12 — श्रीहरिवंशवर्णनं (Śrī-Harivaṃśa-varṇana) | The Description of the Sacred Harivaṃśa

Devanagari script

पर्वतं धारयित्वा च शक्राद्वृष्टिर् निवारिता नमस्कृतो महेन्द्रेण गोविन्दो ऽथार्जुनोर्पितः

Transliteration

parvataṃ dhārayitvā ca śakrādvṛṣṭir nivāritā namaskṛto mahendreṇa govindo 'thārjunorpitaḥ

Translation

وبحمله الجبل مرفوعًا انقطع المطر الذي أرسله شَكرا (إندرا)؛ ثم انحنى مَهِندرا إجلالًا لغوفيندا، وبعد ذلك قُدِّم أرجونا إليه قربانَ تكريم.

Word by Word

• parvatam: the mountain
• parvatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana

• dhārayitvā: having held (it) up
• dhārayitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त, -itvā), avyaya-kṛdanta; ‘having held up’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction)

• śakrāt: from Śakra/Indra
• śakrāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī (Abl. 5), Ekavacana

• vṛṣṭiḥ: rain
• vṛṣṭiḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / subject (of nivāritā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (fem.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana

• nivāritā: was checked/warded off
• nivāritā: Karmaṇi-prayoga predicate (कर्मणि; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-vṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त, PPP), Strīliṅga, Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; agrees with vṛṣṭiḥ

• namaskṛtaḥ: was saluted
• namaskṛtaḥ: Karmaṇi-prayoga predicate (कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: namas-kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त, PPP), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; ‘saluted/honoured’

• mahendreṇa: by Mahendra (Indra)
• mahendreṇa: Kartṛ (कर्ता) in passive / Agent-instrument (कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahendra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3), Ekavacana

• govindaḥ: Govinda (Kṛṣṇa)
• govindaḥ: Karma (कर्म) of namaskṛtaḥ (one saluted)
• Type: Noun
• Root: govinda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (particle/adverb) indicating sequence

• arjuna-arpitaḥ: was offered/dedicated by Arjuna
• arjuna-arpitaḥ: Karmaṇi-prayoga predicate (कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arjuna (प्रातिपदिक) + arpita (कृदन्त from √arp/√ṛp?; here ‘to offer/dedicate’)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त, PPP), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; समासः—तत्पुरुष (तृतीया/कर्तृ: ‘offered by Arjuna’); sandhi: atha + arjuna-arpitaḥ

Speaker

Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: Mountain

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: śakrādvṛṣṭiḥ = śakrāt vṛṣṭiḥ; govindo 'tha = govindaḥ atha; athārjunorpitaḥ = atha arjuna-arpitaḥ.

Characters & Entities

• Govinda (Krishna)
• Śakra (Indra)
• Mahendra (Indra)
• Govardhana (mountain)
• Arjuna

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It conveys the dharmic principle of taking refuge in the Supreme (Govinda) rather than relying on fear of celestial powers; the practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (devotional surrender) as protection.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Alongside rituals, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves core Vaishnava avatara narratives—here, the Govardhana episode—integrating theology and exemplars of devotion into its multi-disciplinary scope.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

It highlights that humility and devotion overcome pride: Indra’s submission signifies the fruit of recognizing divine supremacy, and the devotee gains protection and merit through steadfast refuge in Govinda.