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Shloka 8

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

मुमुचुर्मुनयो देवा: सुमनांसि मुदान्विता: । मन्दं मन्दं जलधरा जगर्जुरनुसागरम् ॥ ७ ॥ निशीथे तमउद्भ‍ूते जायमाने जनार्दने । देवक्यां देवरूपिण्यां विष्णु: सर्वगुहाशय: । आविरासीद् यथा प्राच्यां दिशीन्दुरिव पुष्कल: ॥ ८ ॥

mumucur munayo devāḥ sumanāṁsi mudānvitāḥ mandaṁ mandaṁ jaladharā jagarjur anusāgaram

In the dense darkness of midnight, as Janārdana was being born, Viṣṇu—who dwells in the innermost heart of all—manifested from the heart of Devakī, divine in nature, like the full moon rising in the East. Then the devas and sages showered flowers, and the clouds thundered softly like the ocean.

niśītheat midnight
niśīthe:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootniśītha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masc), सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (singular)
tama-udbhūtewhen darkness had arisen
tama-udbhūte:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roottamas (प्रातिपदिक) + udbhūta (कृदन्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masc), सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तमसः उद्भूतः = arisen darkness)
jāyamānewhile being born
jāyamāne:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Root√jan (धातु) + jāyamāna (कृदन्त)
Formवर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त (present participle, Ātmanepada sense), पुंलिङ्ग (masc), सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (singular)
janārdanein/when Janārdana (the Lord)
janārdane:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootjanārdana (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masc), सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (singular)
devakyāmin Devakī
devakyām:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootdevakī (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (singular)
devarūpiṇyāmof divine form
devarūpiṇyām:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdeva-rūpiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवस्य रूपं यस्याः = of divine form)
viṣṇuḥViṣṇu
viṣṇuḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootviṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन (singular)
sarva-guhāśayaḥdwelling in all hearts
sarva-guhāśayaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsarva (प्रातिपदिक) + guhā (प्रातिपदिक) + āśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन (singular); बहुव्रीहिः (सर्वासु गुहासु आशयः यस्य = whose abode is in all caves/hearts)
āvirāsītappeared
āvirāsīt:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootāvis (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + √as (धातु)
Formलङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); उपसर्ग-पूर्वकः (आविर् + आसीत्)
yathājust as
yathā:
Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyathā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (comparative particle)
prācyāmin the eastern (direction)
prācyām:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootprācī (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (singular)
diśiin the direction
diśi:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootdiś (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (singular)
induḥthe moon
induḥ:
Upamāna (उपमान)
TypeNoun
Rootindu (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन (singular)
ivalike
iva:
Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiva (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (upamā-vācaka particle)
puṣkalaḥfull, splendid
puṣkalaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpuṣkala (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन (singular)

As stated in the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.37) :

D
Devakī
J
Janārdana
V
Viṣṇu
D
Devas
M
Munis

FAQs

This verse says that at midnight, when darkness was at its peak, Lord Viṣṇu/Janārdana manifested from Devakī, compared to the full moon rising in the east—signifying a divine, luminous advent that dispels darkness.

The verse portrays cosmic celebration and auspicious omens: devas and sages rejoice and offer flowers, while nature itself responds—soft thunder over the ocean—marking the Lord’s descent as an event of universal significance.

It teaches that divine presence can arise even in the “darkest midnight” of life; remembering the Lord as sarva-guhāśaya (the indwelling guide) strengthens faith, steadies the mind, and inspires devotion amid hardship.