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Shloka 48

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

तया हृतप्रत्ययसर्ववृत्तिषु द्वा:स्थेषु पौरेष्वपि शायितेष्वथ । द्वारश्च सर्वा: पिहिता दुरत्यया बृहत्कपाटायसकीलश‍ृङ्खलै: ॥ ४८ ॥ ता: कृष्णवाहे वसुदेव आगते स्वयं व्यवर्यन्त यथा तमो रवे: । ववर्ष पर्जन्य उपांशुगर्जित: शेषोऽन्वगाद् वारि निवारयन्‌ फणै: ॥ ४९ ॥

tayā hṛta-pratyaya-sarva-vṛttiṣu dvāḥ-stheṣu paureṣv api śāyiteṣv atha dvāraś ca sarvāḥ pihitā duratyayā bṛhat-kapāṭāyasa-kīla-śṛṅkhalaiḥ

By the influence of Yoga-māyā, the doorkeepers’ senses were withdrawn and they fell into deep sleep, as did the other residents of the house. All the doors, tightly shut with heavy panels, iron bolts, and iron chains, opened of their own accord when Vasudeva came bearing Kṛṣṇa—just as darkness vanishes at sunrise.

tayāby her
tayā:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम: ‘by her’
hṛta-pratyaya-sarva-vṛttiṣuin those whose awareness and all activities were taken away
hṛta-pratyaya-sarva-vṛttiṣu:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Roothṛta (कृदन्त; √hṛ ‘हरति’) + pratyaya + sarva + vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘in (persons) whose all mental functions and awareness were taken away’; hṛta = भूतकृदन्त (PPP)
dvāḥ-stheṣuamong the gate-guards
dvāḥ-stheṣu:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootdvāḥ + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘in the door-keepers/guards at the gate’
paureṣuamong the townspeople
paureṣu:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootpaura (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन
apialso
api:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (particle): ‘also/even’
śāyiteṣu(while they were) asleep
śāyiteṣu:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Root√śī (धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (PPP): ‘having been made to lie/asleep’
athathen
atha:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootatha (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (discourse particle): ‘then/now’
dvāraḥdoors/gates
dvāraḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (conjunction): ‘and’
sarvāḥall
sarvāḥ:
Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsarva (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with implied ‘dvāraḥ’ as plural set)
pihitāḥwere shut
pihitāḥ:
Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Root√dhā (धातु)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) ‘covered/closed’ (pihita as irregular PPP)
duratyayāḥhard to pass
duratyayāḥ:
Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdur + atyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘hard-to-cross/impassable’
bṛhat-kapāṭa-āyasa-kīla-śṛṅkhalaiḥwith iron bolts and chains on huge doors
bṛhat-kapāṭa-āyasa-kīla-śṛṅkhalaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootbṛhat + kapāṭa + āyasa + kīla + śṛṅkhalā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘with chains (and bolts) of iron on huge doors’; तृतीया = instrumental means

Śeṣa-nāga is an expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead whose business is to serve the Lord with all necessary paraphernalia. When Vasudeva was carrying the child, Śeṣa-nāga came to serve the Lord and protect Him from the mild showers of rain.

Y
Yoga-māyā
V
Vasudeva
P
Prison guards (dvāḥstha)
M
Mathurā citizens (paura)

FAQs

This verse shows Yoga-māyā removing awareness and activity from guards and citizens, arranging sleep and sealed doors so Krishna’s pastime could unfold without obstruction.

So Vasudeva could carry the newborn Krishna safely; the Lord’s internal potency (Yoga-māyā) neutralized external danger and surveillance.

The verse teaches that when one serves the Lord sincerely, unseen support can arise—encouraging steadiness in devotion rather than fear-based living.