Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

इत्य् आकर्ण्य धरावाक्यम् अशेषं त्रिदशैस् ततः भुवो भारावतारार्थं ब्रह्मा प्राह प्रचोदितः

Transliteration

ity ākarṇya dharāvākyam aśeṣaṃ tridaśais tataḥ bhuvo bhārāvatārārthaṃ brahmā prāha pracoditaḥ

Translation

Having fully heard the Earth’s words, Brahmā—urged by all the gods—spoke of the descent (avatāra) meant to remove the burden weighing upon the world.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Vakyopanyasa (Quotation marker/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणसमाप्तिसूचक (quotative)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + कर्ण् (धातु: कर्ण्/श्रु-अर्थे ‘to hear’), ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययः)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund): ‘having heard’

• धरा-वाक्यम्: the words of the Earth
• धरा-वाक्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरा (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘धरायाः वाक्यम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमासः

• अशेषम्: entirely, without remainder
• अशेषम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘वाक्यम्’): ‘entire, without remainder’

• त्रिदशैः: by the gods
• त्रिदशैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘देवैः’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदनन्तरं (then/thereupon)

• भुवः: of the earth
• भुवः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक: भुव्/भू)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘पृथिव्याः’

• भार-अवतार-अर्थम्: for the purpose of removing the burden
• भार-अवतार-अर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतार (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘भारस्य अवतारस्य अर्थम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमासः; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose of)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह् (धातु: अह् ‘to say’)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• प्रचोदितः: being urged
• प्रचोदितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + चुद् (धातु: चुद् ‘to impel’) + क्त
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘ब्रह्मा’): ‘impelled/urged’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even Brahmā acts ‘prompted’ within the Lord’s cosmic administration, indicating a hierarchy where all powers cooperate for the restoration of dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate humility in leadership—act as an instrument for the common good, responsive to genuine suffering.

Vishishtadvaita: All agents, from devas to Brahmā, function as dependent modes (śeṣa) within the Supreme’s governance.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Dharā (Earth)
• Tridaśa (the Devas)
• Brahmā

FAQs

What is the significance of Earth’s ‘burden’ (bhāra) in the Vishnu Purana?

Here, Earth’s burden signals a cosmic imbalance caused by oppressive forces, prompting a divinely purposed descent to restore dharma and stability.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the initiation of the avatāra narrative?

Parāśara frames it as a chain of sacred communication—Earth speaks, the gods collectively press the matter, and Brahmā responds by setting the descent into motion.

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

Even when not named in this verse, the ‘avatāra for removing the burden’ points to Vishnu’s sovereign role as the Supreme preserver who intervenes to re-establish cosmic order.