Shloka 64

Devanagari script

प्रणामप्रवणा नाथ दैत्यसैन्यपराजिताः शरणं त्वाम् अनुप्राप्ताः समस्ता देवतागणाः

Transliteration

praṇāmapravaṇā nātha daityasainyaparājitāḥ śaraṇaṃ tvām anuprāptāḥ samastā devatāgaṇāḥ

Translation

O Lord, bowed down in reverence, all the hosts of gods—defeated by the armies of the Daityas—have now come to You alone for refuge.

Word by Word

• प्रणामप्रवणाः: inclined to prostration
• प्रणामप्रवणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणाम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘प्रणामे प्रवणाः’ = prone to bowing)

• नाथ: O protector
• नाथ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• दैत्यसैन्यपराजिताः: defeated by the Daitya army
• दैत्यसैन्यपराजिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पराजित (प्रातिपदिक; √जि (धातु) ‘जय’ उपसर्ग-परि-आ से क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘दैत्यानां सैन्येन पराजिताः’/‘दैत्यसैन्येन पराजिताः’—अर्थतः तृतीया-सम्बन्धः) + क्त-प्रत्यय भूतकृदन्त

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (गत्यर्थे: ‘as refuge’)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अनुप्राप्ताः: having approached; having come to
• अनुप्राप्ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-√प्राप् (धातु) ‘प्राप्तौ’ से क्त-प्रत्यय (अनुप्राप्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP)

• समस्ताः: all together; entire
• समस्ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक; √अस् (धातु) उपसर्ग-सम् से क्त/निष्ठा-रूप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• देवतागणाः: the hosts of deities
• देवतागणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘देवतानां गणाः’)

Speaker

The assembled Devas (gods), addressing Lord Vishnu (as narrated by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The devas, defeated by Daityas, take exclusive refuge in the Lord—setting up divine intervention

Teaching: Historical

Quality: dramatic

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In crisis, even the gods abandon self-reliance and seek śaraṇāgati in the Lord alone as the final refuge.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When overwhelmed, practice focused surrender—prayer, ethical steadiness, and reliance on divine guidance rather than panic or pride.

Vishishtadvaita: Emphasizes prapatti (exclusive refuge) and the Lord’s role as protector of all dependents (śeṣin-śeṣa relation), central to Vishishtadvaita devotion.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devas
• Daityas

FAQs

What is the significance of śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse portrays the Devas themselves seeking protection in Vishnu, highlighting that ultimate refuge and authority rest in the Supreme Lord, not merely in celestial power.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the Deva–Daitya conflict in the narrative?

Through episodes like this, the dialogue emphasizes that cosmic imbalance (Devas defeated by Daityas) is resolved by turning to Vishnu, the regulator of universal order across cycles.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Vishnu is presented as the transcendent sovereign and protector: when even the gods are overpowered, they acknowledge Vishnu as the final shelter and source of restoration.