Shloka 12

भाण्डीरवट-क्रीडा: प्रलम्बासुरवधः, मानुष्यलीला, एक-कारण-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

हरिणाक्रीडनं नाम बालक्रीडनकं ततः प्रकुर्वन्तो हि ते सर्वे द्वौ द्वौ युगपद् उत्पतन्

Transliteration

hariṇākrīḍanaṃ nāma bālakrīḍanakaṃ tataḥ prakurvanto hi te sarve dvau dvau yugapad utpatan

Translation

তাৰ পাছত তেওঁলোকে ‘হৰিণাক্ৰীড়ন’ নামৰ শিশুৰ খেল আৰম্ভ কৰিলে; সকলোৱে দুজন দুজনকৈ জুটি বেঁধি একেলগে জঁপিয়াই উঠিল।

Word by Word

• हरिणाक्रीडनम्: the game called ‘hariṇākrīḍana’
• हरिणाक्रीडनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिण + आ + क्रीडन (प्रातिपदिक); समास: हरिण-आक्रीडन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (हरिणेन/हरिणस्य आक्रीडनम् = ‘deer-play’ game)

• नाम: named/called
• नाम: Sambandha (Apposition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; संज्ञासूचक निपात (particle indicating name)

• बालक्रीडनकम्: a children’s play/game
• बालक्रीडनकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल + क्रीडनक (प्रातिपदिक); समास: बाल-क्रीडनक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (बालानां क्रीडनकम्)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Hetu/Anantarya (Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (thereupon/then)

• प्रकुर्वन्तः: doing/engaging in
• प्रकुर्वन्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √कृ (धातु) शतृ (वर्तमानकाले)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले परस्मैपदी-शतृ (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), द्विवचन

• द्वौ: two (each)
• द्वौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), द्विवचन; पुनरुक्ति (distributive: two and two)

• युगपद्: simultaneously
• युगपद्: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: युगपद् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (simultaneously)

• उत्पतन्: leaping up
• उत्पतन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + √पत् (धातु) शतृ
• Form: वर्तमानकाले परस्मैपदी-शतृ; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (छन्दसि/प्रयोगे ‘उत्पतन्तः’ अर्थे)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating) to Maitreya

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To delight His companions through bāla-līlā while remaining the protector who will soon remove the asura threat within the same play-context.

Leela: Bala

Dharma Restored: Preservation of innocent communal joy and safety in Vraja.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine līlā reveals that the Supreme can be approached through simple, joyful companionship rather than only through awe.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Integrate devotion into ordinary life—sanctify play, friendship, and community by remembrance of the Lord.

Vishishtadvaita: Accessibility of the transcendent Lord through intimate relations (sakhya) within the real world of names and forms.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Sakhya

FAQs

What is the significance of children’s games like hariṇa-krīḍā in the Vishnu Purana?

They ground the royal-genealogical narrative in lived culture, showing how refinement and community bonds are formed even in childhood through orderly, shared play.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the scene structurally in the dialogue with Maitreya?

Parāśara briefly names the game, defines it as a children’s sport, and depicts its key action—pairs leaping simultaneously—using concise narrative description typical of Purāṇic storytelling.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even in seemingly ordinary scenes, the Purana’s larger frame remains Vishnu-centered: human life, lineage, and culture unfold within the cosmic order sustained by Vishnu as the supreme regulator.