Shloka 18

शरद्वर्णनं, योगोपमा, तथा गोवर्धन-यज्ञप्रवर्तनम्

Devanagari script

को ऽयं शक्रमहो नाम येन वो हर्ष आगतः प्राह तं नन्दगोपश् च पृच्छन्तम् अतिसादरम्

Transliteration

ko 'yaṃ śakramaho nāma yena vo harṣa āgataḥ prāha taṃ nandagopaś ca pṛcchantam atisādaram

Translation

“Who is this one called ‘Śakra-maha’, by whom you have become so joyful?”—thus Nanda the cowherd spoke with great courtesy to the earnest inquirer.

Word by Word

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

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

• शक्रमहः: Indra-festival
• शक्रमहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + महस्/महः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शक्रस्य महः = Indra's festival)

• नाम: called, by name
• नाम: Sambandha (Appositional marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-प्रयोग (quotative/‘called’)

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; करण-भाव (by which/whereby)

• वः: your
• वः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; संबन्ध (your)

• हर्षः: joy
• हर्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• आगतः: has come, arisen
• आगतः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; √गम् (to come)

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु; परस्मैपद)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• नन्दगोपः: Nanda the cowherd
• नन्दगोपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (नन्दः एव गोपः/नन्दनामकः गोपः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पृच्छन्तम्: (him) asking
• पृच्छन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; परस्मैपद-भाव

• अतिसादरम्: very respectfully
• अतिसादरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + सादर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पृच्छन्तम्/तम्)

Speaker

Narrator (Sage Parāśara) reporting the exchange; the direct speaker within the verse is Nanda (Nandagopa)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Identification of Śakra/Indra and the basis of the cowherds’ festival.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: didactic-through-dialogue

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To draw out the rationale of Indra-worship from the elders and then redirect it toward a higher, Bhagavān-centered dharma.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Clarifying the hierarchy between devas and Bhagavān; correcting ritual motivation from fear/utility to right understanding.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Respectful questioning can expose the assumed supremacy of devas and prepare the mind to recognize Bhagavān as the true object of refuge.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Ask what you worship (status, systems, intermediaries) and why; retain courtesy while seeking a clearer hierarchy of values.

Vishishtadvaita: Subordinate devas function within the Lord’s order; devotion becomes properly ordered when directed to the Supreme who includes all as modes (śeṣa) of Himself.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Vatsalya

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Nanda (Nandagopa)

FAQs

What is the significance of Indra (Śakra) in this Vishnu Purana context?

Indra is presented as a powerful but limited celestial ruler whose authority operates under the higher sovereignty of the Supreme; the verse sets up inquiry into why people rejoice in relation to him.

How does the narrative frame the shift from deva-centered worship to devotion to the Supreme?

By questioning who ‘Śakra Mahā’ is and why he causes such joy, the text prepares a theological contrast: devas administer nature, but ultimate worship and refuge belong to the Supreme Reality (Vishnu/Krishna).

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here, even though he is not named in the verse?

The episode belongs to Krishna-Charita, where Krishna embodies Vishnu’s supreme status; Indra’s prominence is contextual and subordinate, highlighting that final sovereignty and protection rest with the Supreme Lord.