Shloka 87

दुर्वासाशापः, क्षीरसागरमन्थनम्, श्रीः (लक्ष्मी) उद्भवः तथा श्रीस्तुतिः

Devanagari script

रूपेणान्येन देवानां मध्ये चक्रगदाधरः चकर्ष नागराजानं दैत्यमध्ये ऽपरेण च

Transliteration

rūpeṇānyena devānāṃ madhye cakragadādharaḥ cakarṣa nāgarājānaṃ daityamadhye 'pareṇa ca

Translation

Assuming one form amid the hosts of the gods, the Bearer of the discus and mace seized the serpent-king; and, taking yet another form among the Daityas, He drew him there as well—thus revealing the Lord’s sovereign power to act in many places at once.

Word by Word

• रूपेण: by/with a form
• रूपेण: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचनम्

• अन्येन: by another
• अन्येन: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (रूपेण)

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचनम्

• मध्ये: in the midst
• मध्ये: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• चक्र-गदा-धरः: the bearer of discus and mace
• चक्र-गदा-धरः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचनम्; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (चक्रं गदां च धरतीति)

• चकर्ष: drew/pulled
• चकर्ष: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• नाग-राजानम्: the king of serpents (Vāsuki)
• नाग-राजानम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नागानां राजा)

• दैत्यमध्ये: in the midst of the demons
• दैत्यमध्ये: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दैत्यानां मध्ये)

• अपरेण: by another (form)
• अपरेण: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (रूपेण—अनुक्तम्)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the Lord managed both sides in the churning (devas and daityas)

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Avatara Context

Avatara: Kurma

Purpose: He manifests simultaneously among devas and daityas to coordinate the churning by drawing Vāsuki in both camps.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Orderly cooperation/controlled contest enabling the emergence of amṛta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The one Lord, by manifold manifestations, governs opposing forces without losing unity of will.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: In conflict, seek the ‘higher coordination’—act without partisanship, aiming at balance and the common good.

Vishishtadvaita: Unity-with-manifoldness: a single supreme person can relate distinctly to different beings while remaining one, aligning with Viśiṣṭādvaita’s unity of the whole with real plurality.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Antaryamin: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devas
• Daityas
• Nāgarāja (serpent-king)

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu taking different forms in this verse of the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty: he can manifest distinct forms in different assemblies at once, directing events to restore dharma without being limited like embodied beings.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine action during Deva–Daitya conflicts?

Parāśara narrates that the Lord’s interventions are deliberate acts of cosmic governance—appearing where needed, shaping outcomes, and maintaining universal order through transcendent power.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is shown as the controlling Supreme Reality—wielding divine weapons and transcending singular embodiment—affirming core Vaishnava doctrines foundational to later Vishishtadvaita and Dvaita readings.