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Shloka 5

Harivaṁśa-saṅkṣepa: Kṛṣṇa’s Avatāra Deeds, Dynastic Continuity, and Post-departure Succession

Devanagari script

रक्षणायार्जुनादेश्च ह्यरिष्टादिर्निपातितः / केशी विनिहतो दैत्यो गोपाद्याः परितोषिताः

Transliteration

rakṣaṇāyārjunādeśca hyariṣṭādirnipātitaḥ / keśī vinihato daityo gopādyāḥ paritoṣitāḥ

Translation

For protection, and at Arjuna’s request, Ariṣṭa and the others were struck down; the asura Keśī too was slain, and the gopas—the cowherds—and all the rest rejoiced.

Word by Word
रक्षणायfor protection
रक्षणाय:
Sampradana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
TypeNoun
Rootरक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; √रक्ष् (धातु) + ल्युट्)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; ‘रक्षण’ (protection) + -आय (for the sake of)
अर्जुनादेशात्from/at Arjuna’s command
अर्जुनादेशात्:
Apadana (Cause/Source)
TypeNoun
Rootअर्जुन-आदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: अर्जुनस्य आदेशः (Arjuna's command)
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
हिindeed
हि:
Sambandha (Emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (emphatic particle)
अरिष्टादिःAriṣṭa and others
अरिष्टादिः:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootअरिष्ट-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: अरिष्टः आदिः यस्य/यत्र (Arishta and others)
निपातितःwas felled/slain
निपातितः:
Karma (Predicate of object)
TypeVerb
Root√पत् (धातु) + नि + णिच् + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (was made to fall/was slain)
केशीKeśī
केशी:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootकेशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
विनिहतःwas slain
विनिहतः:
Karma (Predicate of object)
TypeVerb
Root√हन् (धातु) + वि + नि + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘slain’
दैत्यःthe demon
दैत्यः:
Karma (Apposition)
TypeNoun
Rootदैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; केशी-विशेषणम् (apposition)
गोपाद्याःthe cowherds and others
गोपाद्याः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootगोप-आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: गोपाः आद्याः येषाम् (the cowherds and others)
परितोषिताःwere delighted
परितोषिताः:
Karta (Predicate of subject)
TypeVerb
Root√तुष् (धातु) + परि + णिच् + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘were pleased/satisfied’
Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (narrating to Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhagavān protects devotees and restores dharma by removing hostile forces.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha (divine grace) and līlā as the mode of cosmic governance.

Application: Cultivate refuge in Hari during adversity; support and protect the vulnerable (community, dependents) as a dharmic reflection of divine protection.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: pastoral settlement/forest-grazing lands

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.144 (Krishna’s exploits and lineage context)

Characters & Entities
A
Arjuna
A
Ariṣṭa
K
Keśī
D
Daitya
G
Gopas

FAQs

This verse highlights that when protection of the righteous is required, divine power removes hostile forces (Ariṣṭa, Keśī), restoring safety and confidence to the community (the gopas).

Indirectly, it reinforces the Purana’s moral frame: dharma is safeguarded and adharma is checked; this ethical order is the foundation for the later teachings on karma and post-death consequences.

Align actions with dharma and protect the vulnerable; the verse encourages courage, community welfare, and faith that destructive tendencies (inner or outer) can be overcome through righteous effort and devotion.

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