Shloka 13

Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 69: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Reverential Address to Sañjaya on Vāsudeva

Devanagari script

विष्णुविक्रमणाद्‌ देवो जयनाज्जिष्णुरुच्यते

Transliteration

viṣṇu-vikramaṇād devo jayanāj jiṣṇur ucyate

Translation

Sañjaya said: Because he took the mighty strides of Viṣṇu, he is called ‘Deva’; and because he is victorious in battle, he is called ‘Jiṣṇu’—names that praise divine power expressed through righteous triumph.

Word by Word

• विष्णु-विक्रमणात्: from (his) stride/stepping as Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-विक्रमणात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु-विक्रमण
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जयनात्: from victory
• जयनात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• जिष्णुः: Jishnu (the victorious one)
• जिष्णुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिष्णु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उच्यते: is called / is said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Passive (Ātmanepada-form)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Viṣṇu
• Deva
• Jiṣṇu

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse links names to qualities: divine radiance and authority are associated with Viṣṇu-like heroic action, while ‘Jiṣṇu’ highlights the ethical ideal of victory grounded in rightful strength and purpose rather than mere aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya explains the significance of epithets by giving etymological reasons: ‘Deva’ is connected with Viṣṇu’s famed strides (symbolizing overwhelming, world-ordering power), and ‘Jiṣṇu’ is connected with victory—clarifying why a celebrated warrior or deity bears these titles.