Shloka 24

इन्द्रक्रोधः, संवर्तक-वर्षणम्, गोवर्धनधारण-लीला

Devanagari script

व्यभ्रे नभसि देवेन्द्रे वितथात्मवचस्य् अथ निष्क्रम्य गोकुलं हृष्टं स्वस्थानं पुनर् आगमत्

Transliteration

vyabhre nabhasi devendre vitathātmavacasy atha niṣkramya gokulaṃ hṛṣṭaṃ svasthānaṃ punar āgamat

Translation

When the sky cleared and Indra, lord of the gods, found his proud resolve made futile, the Supreme Protector led the joyful people of Gokula out, and they returned again to their own dwelling-place.

Word by Word

• vyabhre: when (it was) cloudless
• vyabhre: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi (उपसर्ग) + abhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — ‘when the sky was free of clouds’ (locative absolute sense)

• nabhasi: in the sky
• nabhasi: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — ‘in the sky’

• devendre: (with) Indra
• devendre: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devendra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — ‘in/with Devendra (Indra)’ (locative absolute with participial sense implied)

• vitathātmavacasī: (when) his own words were falsified
• vitathātmavacasī: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vitatha (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — बहुपद-तत्पुरुष; ‘whose own words proved false’

• atha: then
• atha: Adhikarana (Discourse marker/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereupon)

• niṣkramya: having departed
• niṣkramya: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nis (उपसर्ग) + √kram (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/ल्यप्), ‘having gone out’

• gokulam: Gokula
• gokulam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gokula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — ‘Gokula’

• hṛṣṭam: delighted
• hṛṣṭam: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; क्त from √hṛṣ)
• Form: कृदन्त/विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘delighted’ (qualifying implied subject)

• svasthānam: to his own abode
• svasthānam: Karma (Goal as object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — ‘to his own place’

• punar: again, back
• punar: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक (again/back)

• āgamat: returned
• āgamat: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā (उपसर्ग) + √gam (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदी — ‘returned/came’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To demonstrate supreme guardianship (rakṣakatva) by safely restoring Vraja to normal life after subduing Indra’s aggression.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Security of the devotee-community and the right order wherein devas do not tyrannize those devoted to Hari

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When pride-driven power is rendered futile, peace returns through the Lord’s protective presence and guidance.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: After crises, re-establish daily dharma calmly, remembering the source of protection rather than the threat.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s accessible nearness (saulabhya) to His devotees—He leads them personally, not merely by remote decree.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Vatsalya

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Gokula
• Krishna (implied as the protector and agent of return)

FAQs

What is the significance of Indra’s failure in this Vishnu Purana verse?

It shows that even the king of the gods cannot override the Lord’s will; divine protection of devotees makes arrogant power and threats ineffective.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine protection in this episode?

By narrating that once the danger passes and Indra’s intent is nullified, the Lord brings the people of Gokula out safely and restores them to normal life—protection followed by restoration.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu (as Krishna) here?

Krishna is implied as the Supreme Reality governing devas and nature, affirming Vaishnava doctrine that Vishnu’s sovereignty surpasses all celestial authorities.