Shloka 2

देवकी-विवाहः, आकाशवाणी, भूरभारावतरण-याचना, क्षीराब्धि-स्तुति, केशावतार-नियोजनम्

Devanagari script

अंशावतारो ब्रह्मर्षे यो ऽयं यदुकुलोद्भवः विष्णोस् तं विस्तरेणाहं श्रोतुम् इच्छाम्य् अशेषतः

Transliteration

aṃśāvatāro brahmarṣe yo 'yaṃ yadukulodbhavaḥ viṣṇos taṃ vistareṇāhaṃ śrotum icchāmy aśeṣataḥ

Translation

O Brahmarṣi, this one who has arisen in the Yadu lineage is a partial descent of Lord Viṣṇu. I desire to hear of him in full—expanded in detail, leaving nothing unspoken.

Word by Word

• अंशावतारः: a partial incarnation
• अंशावतारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (अंशस्य अवतारः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मर्षे: O brahmarṣi (sage)
• ब्रह्मर्षे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यदुकुलोद्भवः: born in the Yadu lineage
• यदुकुलोद्भवः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यदु (प्रातिपदिक) + कुल (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (यदुकुलात् उद्भवः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• तम्: him/that (incarnation)
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विस्तरेण: in detail
• विस्तरेण: Kriya-visheshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (instrumental of manner)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (Infinitive), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग

• इच्छामि: I desire
• इच्छामि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अशेषतः: completely, without remainder
• अशेषतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Maitreya (addressing Sage Parāśara)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Maitreya

Topic: Request for a complete, detailed narration of the aṃśāvatāra of Viṣṇu born in the Yadu lineage (Kṛṣṇa).

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: eager, inquiry-driven

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Viṣṇu descends as a partial manifestation in the Yadu lineage to protect the world and re-establish dharma through His līlā and the removal of oppressive forces.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of the sādhus and the restoration of righteous rule and dharmic order.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: To seek the Lord’s avatāra-carita in fullness is itself a devotional act that opens the listener to grace and dharmic understanding.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Approach sacred narratives with śraddhā and completeness—study systematically rather than selectively, letting the tradition shape one’s values.

Vishishtadvaita: The Supreme Lord freely manifests in history (avatāra) while remaining the transcendent Brahman—immanence without loss of supremacy.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Vamsha: Chandra

Key Kings: Yadu

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Vasudeva

Bhakti Type: shanta

Vyuha Form: Vasudeva

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Yadu dynasty (Yadukula)
• Brahmarshi (sage addressed)

FAQs

What is the significance of aṃśāvatāra (partial incarnation) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Krishna as Viṣṇu’s aṃśāvatāra, emphasizing that the Supreme Lord manifests a portion of His power within history to restore order and reveal dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Krishna’s appearance in the Yadu dynasty?

Maitreya’s request sets up Parāśara’s detailed narration: Krishna’s birth in the Yadu line is presented as a purposeful divine descent, linking genealogy with cosmic intention.

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

Vishnu remains the transcendent Supreme Reality, while Krishna is presented as His manifest descent; the avatāra story communicates divine sovereignty acting within time for the welfare of the world.