Shloka 43

मन्वन्तर-क्रमः (अतीत-सप्तमन्वन्तराः) तथा मन्वन्तरावताराः

Devanagari script

त्रिभिः क्रमैर् इमांल् लोकाञ् जित्वा येन महात्मना पुरंदराय त्रैलोक्यं दत्तं निहतकण्टकम्

Transliteration

tribhiḥ kramair imāṃl lokāñ jitvā yena mahātmanā puraṃdarāya trailokyaṃ dattaṃ nihatakaṇṭakam

Translation

With three strides that great-souled Lord conquered these worlds and then bestowed the threefold cosmos upon Purandara (Indra), cleared of every thorn of affliction and obstruction.

Word by Word

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• क्रमैः: steps/strides
• क्रमैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• इमान्: these
• इमान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् लोकान्

• लोकान्: worlds
• लोकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• जित्वा: having conquered
• जित्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ji (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• येन: by whom
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रयोग (relative)

• महात्मना: by the great-souled one
• महात्मना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (mahān ātmā yasya/mahān ātmā)

• पुरंदराय: to Purandara (Indra)
• पुरंदराय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puraṃdara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (recipient)

• त्रैलोक्यम्: the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (three worlds as a unit)

• दत्तम्: given
• दत्तम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (given)

• निहतकण्टकम्: with obstacles removed
• निहतकण्टकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nihata + kaṇṭaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (kaṇṭakāḥ nihataḥ yasmin) विशेषणम् त्रैलोक्यम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in an invocatory eulogy, within the Parāśara–Maitreya dialogue frame)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The Vāmana/Trivikrama act within the Vaivasvata Manvantara.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Manvantara

Manvantara: Vaivasvata

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Vamana

Purpose: As Trivikrama, the Lord measures the three worlds in three strides to reclaim cosmic space and return sovereignty to Indra.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Rightful cosmic governance (trai-lokya) and removal of obstructive ‘thorns’ (kaṇṭaka) to dharma.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine kingship restores order by removing ‘obstructions’ to dharma and re-establishing rightful stewardship rather than mere domination.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Exercise authority as stewardship—remove obstacles to others’ flourishing and return what is rightfully due.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s universal sovereignty (śeṣin) grounds all delegated powers (like Indra’s), illustrating dependent lordship (śeṣatva) of all beings.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vāmana/Trivikrama
• Indra (Purandara)
• Trailokya (three worlds)

FAQs

What is the significance of the ‘three strides’ in the Vishnu Purana?

They signify Vishnu’s total pervasion and rightful mastery of all realms, showing that cosmic space and authority ultimately belong to him.

How does Sage Parāśara frame Vishnu’s role in universal order here?

As the supreme bestower: Vishnu conquers the worlds effortlessly and then grants their governance to Indra, indicating that even divine rulership is delegated by Vishnu.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu in this verse’s context?

Vishnu appears as the Supreme Lord whose avatāra restores dharma—he removes obstacles and stabilizes the cosmos by empowering rightful guardians like Indra.