Shloka 42

The Appearance of Lord Viṣṇu (Kṛṣṇa) and the Divine Exchange with Yoga-māyā

Devanagari script

तयोवान पुनरेवाहमदित्यामास कश्यपात् । उपेन्द्र इति विख्यातो वामनत्वाच्च वामन: ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

tayor vāṁ punar evāham adityām āsa kaśyapāt upendra iti vikhyāto vāmanatvāc ca vāmanaḥ

Translation

In the next age I again appeared from you two—Aditi as My mother and Kaśyapa as My father. I was renowned as Upendra, and because I assumed a dwarf form I was also called Vāmana.

Synonyms

• tayoḥ: of those two (of you two)
• tayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन (Dual), सर्वनाम

• vām: to you two / for you two
• vām: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-एकवचनरूपवत् द्विवचन-प्रयोग (Dative/Genitive dual enclitic), सर्वनाम

• punar: again
• punar: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम

• adityām: in/into Aditi (as mother)
• adityām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aditi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• āsa: was/became
• āsa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; अर्थे ‘अभवत्/आसीत्’

• kaśyapāt: from Kaśyapa
• kaśyapāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaśyapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• upendraḥ: Upendra
• upendraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upendra (प्रातिपदिक: upa+indra)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (उप + इन्द्र)

• iti: thus/“as”
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle)

• vikhyātaḥ: was renowned/known
• vikhyātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-khyā (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vāmanatvāt: because of (my) dwarfhood
• vāmanatvāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāmanatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/हेतु), एकवचन; कारणार्थे

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• vāmanaḥ: Vāmana (the dwarf)
• vāmanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāmana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Aditi
• Kaśyapa
• Upendra
• Vāmana
• Indra

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Vāmana (dwarf) incarnation of Viṣṇu?

This verse states that the Lord previously appeared from Aditi and Kaśyapa, becoming known as Upendra, and took the dwarf form called Vāmana.

Why does Kṛṣṇa mention Upendra and Vāmana while speaking to Vasudeva and Devakī?

He is revealing His divine identity by recounting earlier incarnations—showing that the same Supreme Lord who is now their son previously appeared as Upendra/Vāmana.

How can devotees apply the teaching of this verse in modern life?

Remembering the Lord’s past incarnations strengthens faith that He protects devotees across time and circumstances, encouraging steady devotion and surrender.