Shloka 31

Kāṣṭhīla-Upākhyāna: Rākṣasī, Spear-Śakti, and Kāśī as Śakti-kṣetra

Devanagari script

क्व देवदेवो वसुदेवसूनुर्विज्ञानरूपो निखलप्रपंची । हा कष्टमित्यस्रदृगादिचेष्टः पार्थोग्रसनादिकभृत्यकृत्यः ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

kva devadevo vasudevasūnurvijñānarūpo nikhalaprapaṃcī | hā kaṣṭamityasradṛgādiceṣṭaḥ pārthograsanādikabhṛtyakṛtyaḥ || 31 ||

Translation

Wo ist der Gott der Götter—der Sohn Vasudevas—dessen Wesen reines Bewusstsein ist und der das ganze All durchdringt? Ach, wie unerquicklich! Nun lässt man Ihn Dienerwerke verrichten: mit tränengefüllten Augen weinen und Aufgaben wie Erdklumpen verschlingen und andere niedere Dienste tun.

Word by Word

• क्व: where?
• क्व: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• देवदेवः: God of gods
• देवदेवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समास: देवानां देवः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• वसुदेवसूनुः: son of Vasudeva
• वसुदेवसूनुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुदेव + सूनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समास: वसुदेवस्य सूनुः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• विज्ञानरूपः: whose form is knowledge
• विज्ञानरूपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विज्ञान + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समास: विज्ञानं रूपं यस्य/विज्ञानरूपः (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्राय)

• निखलप्रपञ्ची: manifesting the entire cosmos
• निखलप्रपञ्ची: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निखल + प्रपञ्चिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘प्रपञ्ची’ = प्रपञ्चिन् (possessing/manifesting the world); समास: निखलः प्रपञ्चः यस्य/निखलप्रपञ्ची

• हा: alas!
• हा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Interjection)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हा (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मय/शोकबोधक निपात (interjection)

• कष्टम्: misery!
• कष्टम्: Karma (कर्म/Exclamandum)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उद्गारवाक्ये

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• अस्रदृगादिचेष्टः: one with actions like tearful eyes, etc.
• अस्रदृगादिचेष्टः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्र + दृग् + आदि + चेष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: अस्रदृगादयः चेष्टाः यस्य (one whose actions include tearful eyes etc.)

• पार्थोग्रसनादिकभृत्यकृत्यः: one whose servant-tasks include acts like swallowing Arjuna, etc.
• पार्थोग्रसनादिकभृत्यकृत्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थ + ग्रसन + आदि + भृत्य + कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: पार्थोग्रसनादिकं भृत्यकृत्यं यस्य (one whose servant-duties include swallowing Pārtha etc.); ‘पार्थ’ = अर्जुन

Speaker

Narada (lamenting / describing the Lord’s apparent humility in līlā)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Krishna (Vasudevasūnu)
• Devadeva (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It contrasts the Lord’s absolute nature—pure consciousness pervading all—with his voluntary humility in līlā, teaching that divine compassion can appear as ordinary weakness without diminishing divinity.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By portraying the Supreme as emotionally accessible and willing to take on lowly roles, it deepens bhakti through awe (aiśvarya) blended with intimacy (mādhurya), encouraging surrender and loving remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga procedure is taught in this verse; the key takeaway is philosophical discernment (jñāna) supporting devotion—recognizing the Lord as vijñānarūpa even when his līlā appears ordinary.