Shloka 1

इन्द्रक्रोधः, संवर्तक-वर्षणम्, गोवर्धनधारण-लीला

Devanagari script

महे प्रतिहते शक्रो मैत्रेयातिरुषान्वितः संवर्तकं नाम गणं तोयदानाम् अथाब्रवीत्

Transliteration

mahe pratihate śakro maitreyātiruṣānvitaḥ saṃvartakaṃ nāma gaṇaṃ toyadānām athābravīt

Translation

When the great one (Indra) had been checked and thwarted, O Maitreya, Śakra—his heart inflamed with anger—addressed the rain-bearing host named Saṃvartaka.

Word by Word

• महे: in/at the great (sacrifice)
• महे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मह्/मघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (when the sacrifice was...)

• प्रतिहते: when (it) was obstructed
• प्रतिहते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति-हन् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (checked/obstructed)

• शक्रः: Indra (Śakra)
• शक्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• मैत्रेय: O Maitreya
• मैत्रेय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• अतिरुषान्वितः: filled with great anger
• अतिरुषान्वितः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + रुषा (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक/क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (रुषया अन्वितः = endowed with anger), अति-उपपदपूर्वक (excessively)

• संवर्तकम्: Saṃvartaka
• संवर्तकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवर्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• नाम: named
• नाम: Sambandha (Naming/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: नाम-शब्दः (indeclinable used to indicate appellation)

• गणम्: group, host
• गणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• तोयदानाम्: of the rain-clouds
• तोयदानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोयद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; तोयद = मेघ (cloud)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• अब्रवीत्: said, spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To defend Vraja against Indra’s retaliatory deluge and humble deva-pride by showing that the Supreme alone governs rain and refuge.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Proper cosmic subordination of devatās to Bhagavān and protection of devotees from unjust celestial punishment

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even exalted powers become destructive when driven by ego; dharma requires humility and alignment with the Supreme will.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Watch for pride when authority is challenged; respond with discernment rather than retaliation, especially when responsible for others’ welfare.

Vishishtadvaita: Devatās are real but dependent authorities; their powers function under the Lord’s overarching sovereignty.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Maitreya
• Saṃvartaka-gaṇa (rain-bearing host/clouds)

FAQs

What is the significance of Saṃvartaka in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse, Saṃvartaka is identified as a named host among the rain-bearers, indicating Indra’s attempt to wield the forces of rainfall as an instrument of power within the cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara frame Indra’s reaction here?

Parāśara emphasizes Indra’s 'excessive anger' after being thwarted, setting a moral-cosmic contrast between impulsive divine wrath and the broader regulation of the world’s balance described throughout the Purāṇa.

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

Even when lesser deities like Indra act forcefully, the Vishnu Purana’s worldview ultimately places enduring sovereignty and cosmic stability under Vishnu as the Supreme Reality, before whom all delegated powers remain limited.