Shloka 73

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

Devanagari script

हतेषु तेषु कंसेन शेषाख्यो ऽंशस् ततो मम अंशांशेनोदरे तस्याः सप्तमः संभविष्यति

Transliteration

hateṣu teṣu kaṃsena śeṣākhyo 'ṃśas tato mama aṃśāṃśenodare tasyāḥ saptamaḥ saṃbhaviṣyati

Translation

When those (earlier children) have been slain by Kaṃsa, then an emanated portion of Mine—known as Śeṣa—will, by a further fractional manifestation, become the seventh conception in her womb.

Word by Word

• हतेषु: when (they are) slain / among the slain
• हतेषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु) → हत (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन; तेषु इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तेषु: among them
• तेषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कंसेन: by Kaṃsa
• कंसेन: Kartr (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; कर्तृ-निर्देशे (agent in passive sense)

• शेषाख्यः: named Śeṣa
• शेषाख्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शेषाख्य (प्रातिपदिक; शेष + आख्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अंशः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अंशः: a portion/part
• अंशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), अनन्तर/तदनन्तर-अर्थे

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अंशांशेन: by a portion of a portion (a fractional part)
• अंशांशेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंशांश (प्रातिपदिक; अंश + अंश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; साधन-भावे

• उदरे: in the womb/belly
• उदरे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सप्तमः: the seventh
• सप्तमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक; क्रमवाचक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (गर्भः/पुत्रः) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• संभविष्यति: will come into being / will be born
• संभविष्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; conveying the divine/prophetic announcement regarding Devakī’s pregnancies)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To ensure the descent of Śeṣa (as Balarāma) as the seventh conception, strengthening the divine mission that will overthrow Kaṃsa and protect dharma.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Safeguarding the avatāra’s entourage and establishing the support for Krishna’s līlā and protection of devotees

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even amid apparent triumph of adharma (Kaṃsa’s killings), Bhagavān’s aṃśa-arrangement unfolds irresistibly through ordered manifestations.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: In adversity, sustain steady devotion and courage, trusting that dharma has deeper supports beyond immediate appearances.

Vishishtadvaita: Pancharātra-style gradation of manifestation (aṃśa/aṃśāṃśa) aligns with the Lord’s controlled plurality—real distinctions within divine unity.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Vasudeva

Vyuha Form: Sankarshana

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shesha (Ananta)
• Kamsa
• Devaki

FAQs

What is the significance of Śeṣa being called an aṃśa (portion) in this verse of the Vishnu Purana?

It frames Śeṣa as a divine manifestation proceeding from Vishnu, emphasizing Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty while explaining how supporting divine powers appear in the world to accomplish dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara present the unfolding of destiny against Kaṃsa’s actions here?

Parāśara depicts Kaṃsa’s killings as unable to halt the divine plan: after the slain children, the seventh conception will still arise through Vishnu’s emanational arrangement.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu in this context?

Vishnu is shown as the Supreme Reality whose will manifests through graded emanations (aṃśa/aṃśāṃśa), ensuring the restoration of cosmic order even amid violent political oppression.