Shloka 12

इन्द्रक्रोधः, संवर्तक-वर्षणम्, गोवर्धनधारण-लीला

Devanagari script

वत्साश् च दीनवदना पवनाकम्पिकन्धराः त्राहि त्राहीत्य् अल्पशब्दाः कृष्णम् ऊचुर् इवार्तकाः

Transliteration

vatsāś ca dīnavadanā pavanākampikandharāḥ trāhi trāhīty alpaśabdāḥ kṛṣṇam ūcur ivārtakāḥ

Translation

Even the calves—faces fallen in distress, their throats trembling as the wind shook them—cried in faint voices, “Save us, save us!”, as though stricken and seeking refuge in Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Word by Word

• वत्साः: calves
• वत्साः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दीन-वदनाः: with miserable faces
• दीन-वदनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; विशेषण—वत्साः

• पवन-आकम्पि-कन्धराः: whose necks trembled from the wind
• पवन-आकम्पि-कन्धराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पवन (प्रातिपदिक) + आकम्पि (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √कम्प् धातु, णिनि/इन्-प्रत्यय, ‘trembling’) + कन्धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; विशेषण—वत्साः

• त्राहि: protect (me/us)!
• त्राहि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्रा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्राहि: protect!
• त्राहि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्रा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (पुनरुक्ति)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यपरिसमाप्ति-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• अल्प-शब्दाः: with faint voices
• अल्प-शब्दाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; विशेषण—वत्साः

• कृष्णम्: Krishna
• कृष्णम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• आर्तकाः: distressed ones
• आर्तकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sage Parashara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: compassionate

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To receive the helpless cries of Vraja’s calves and grant refuge, demonstrating that surrender to him is never fruitless.

Leela: Moksha-dana

Dharma Restored: Śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) and the Lord’s protective covenant with devotees.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even the weakest voice that calls ‘trāhi’ to Krishna is an act of śaraṇāgati, invoking divine protection and grace.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: In fear or hardship, simplify practice to sincere calling and remembrance; pair it with trust and ethical steadiness.

Vishishtadvaita: Grace (śeṣa-śeṣi relation) is personal and responsive: the dependent soul’s surrender is met by the Lord’s protecting will within the real world.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Calves (vatsas)

FAQs

What is the significance of calling “trāhi trāhi” in the Vishnu Purana?

It exemplifies śaraṇāgati—instinctive surrender to the Supreme Protector—showing that Krishna’s saving grace extends to all beings, not only humans.

How does Sage Parashara frame Krishna’s role in moments of fear?

By narrating that even calves cry to Krishna for rescue, Parashara presents him as the immediate, compassionate sovereign whose protection operates within everyday life in Vraja.

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

Krishna is portrayed as the Supreme Reality acting as guardian of the world—accessible, responsive, and the natural refuge for the distressed, aligning with Vaishnava devotion and divine lordship.