Vishnu Purana 5.13.50 — Krishna Avatara, Amsha 5, Adhyaya 13, Shloka 50

गोवर्धनोत्तरविस्मयः, रासलीलाप्रसङ्गः, तथा सर्वव्याप्तिवेदान्तोपदेशः

Devanagari script

ततः प्रववृते रासश् चलद्वलयनिस्वनैः अनुयातशरत्काव्यगेयगीतिर् अनुक्रमात्

Transliteration

tataḥ pravavṛte rāsaś caladvalayanisvanaiḥ anuyātaśaratkāvyageyagītir anukramāt

Translation

ثم ابتدأت رقصة الرّاسا، مع رنين الأساور المتحركة؛ وتتابعت معها، على نسقٍ منتظم، أناشيد عذبة كالشعر مُلحَّنة تليق بموسم الخريف.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/कालार्थ (thereupon, then)

• प्रववृते: began, proceeded
• प्रववृते: Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• रासः: the rāsa dance
• रासः: Karta (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चलद्वलयनिस्वनैः: with the jingling of moving bangles
• चलद्वलयनिस्वनैः: Karaṇa (instrument/manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चलत् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + वलय (प्रातिपदिक) + निस्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; (चलद्भिः वलयैः निस्वनैः) — 'with sounds of moving bangles'

• अनुयातशरत्काव्यगेयगीतिः: (accompanied by) autumnal poetic singable songs
• अनुयातशरत्काव्यगेयगीतिः: Karta/Apposition (describing रासः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुयात (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + शरत् (प्रातिपदिक) + काव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गेयं (प्रातिपदिक) + गीतिः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'a song/chant (गीतिः) accompanied (अनुयाता) by autumnal poetry and singable songs'

• अनुक्रमात्: in sequence, in due order
• अनुक्रमात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनुक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (ablative used adverbially: 'in due order/sequence')

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To unfold rāsa as a divinely ordered musical-dance offering, transforming autumn night into a liturgy of joy.

Leela: Bala

Dharma Restored: Sacralization of aesthetic harmony (gīta-nṛtya) as devotion when centered on Bhagavān.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ordered succession of song and movement shows devotion can be disciplined beauty—rhythm and harmony offered to the Lord.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Use structured devotional arts (kīrtana, dance, liturgical music) with mindfulness, making aesthetics a vehicle of remembrance.

Vishishtadvaita: Material sound and movement are not negated; they become meaningful as modes (prakāra) of service to the supreme Person.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Madhurya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna

FAQs

What is the significance of the Rāsa in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents the Rāsa as a divinely ordered, devotional celebration—where beauty, rhythm, and song become vehicles of remembrance of Krishna (Vishnu) as the Supreme.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of music and sequence (anukrama) here?

He emphasizes that the dance is not chaotic but proceeds in orderly succession, accompanied by singable poetic songs—suggesting a cosmic harmony reflected in devotional art.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu (as Krishna) in this context?

Krishna’s līlā is portrayed as sovereign and spiritually formative: the enchanting sound and structured song underscore his supreme, guiding presence that draws devotees into dharmic harmony.