Vishnu Purana — Amsha 5 - Krishna Avatara, Shloka 68

स्वर्गगमनम्, अदितिस्तुतिः-मायातत्त्वम्, तथा पारिजात-प्रसङ्गे इन्द्रयुद्धम्

Devanagari script

प्रणष्टवज्रं देवेन्द्रं गरुडक्षतवाहनम् सत्यभामाब्रवीद् वीरं पलायनपरायणम्

Transliteration

praṇaṣṭavajraṃ devendraṃ garuḍakṣatavāhanam satyabhāmābravīd vīraṃ palāyanaparāyaṇam

Translation

যাঁর বজ্র ব্যর্থ হয়েছে, গরুড়-যান আহত, এবং যিনি বীর হয়েও পলায়নে উদ্যত—সেই দেবেন্দ্রকে সত্যভামা সম্বোধন করলেন।

Word by Word

• प्रणष्टवज्रम्: (him) whose thunderbolt was lost
• प्रणष्टवज्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-नश् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) + वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (प्रणष्टं वज्रं यस्य सः)

• देवेन्द्रम्: Indra, lord of gods
• देवेन्द्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (देवानाम् इन्द्रः)

• गरुडक्षतवाहनम्: whose mount was wounded by Garuḍa
• गरुडक्षतवाहनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गरुडेन क्षतं वाहनं यस्य)

• सत्यभामा: Satyabhāmā
• सत्यभामा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यभामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said, spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतन-भूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वीरम्: the hero
• वीरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• पलायनपरायणम्: intent on fleeing
• पलायनपरायणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पलायन (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पलायने परायणः)

Speaker

Narrative voice (Sage Parāśara relating events to Maitreya); within the scene, Satyabhāmā speaks to Indra

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna asserts divine sovereignty by subduing Indra’s pride and securing the Pārijāta for Satyabhāmā, thereby reordering devas under dharma.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Proper hierarchy of devas under Bhagavān and rightful bestowal of celestial wealth

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Madhurya

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Devendra)
• Garuda
• Satyabhama
• Krishna (implied context: protector and supreme lord)

FAQs

What is the significance of Indra’s ‘lost vajra’ in the Vishnu Purana?

It symbolizes the limitation of deva-power when set against the Supreme Lord’s will; Indra’s famed weapon becomes ineffectual, underscoring Vishnu/Krishna as the true sovereign.

How does Sage Parāśara frame this episode for Maitreya?

As a narrative lesson in dharma and hierarchy: devas like Indra hold delegated authority, but when pride or opposition arises, the Supreme Reality reasserts cosmic order.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu in this context?

Even when not named in the verse, the scene presumes Krishna/Vishnu as the ultimate ground of power—before whom Indra retreats—supporting a Vaishnava view of supreme, personal sovereignty.