Shloka 11

इन्द्र-प्रायश्चित्तं, कृष्णाभिषेकः, गोविन्द-नामप्राप्तिः

Devanagari script

गोभिश् च चोदितः कृष्ण त्वत्सकाशम् इहागतः त्वया त्राताभिर् अत्यर्थं युष्मत्सत्कारकारणात्

Transliteration

gobhiś ca coditaḥ kṛṣṇa tvatsakāśam ihāgataḥ tvayā trātābhir atyarthaṃ yuṣmatsatkārakāraṇāt

Translation

Urged on by the cows, O Kṛṣṇa, I have come here into your presence; for you have saved them exceedingly, and this coming is prompted by the honor and gratitude due to you for that gracious protection.

Word by Word

• गोभिः: by the cows
• गोभिः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural feminine)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• चोदितः: having been urged
• चोदितः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चुद् (धातु) → चोदित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; ‘urged/impelled’ (PPP; nominative sg masculine)

• कृष्ण: O Krishna
• कृष्ण: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन एकवचनम् (Vocative singular)

• त्वत्सकाशम्: to your presence, near you
• त्वत्सकाशम्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वत् + सकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘near you’ (Accusative sg neuter used adverbially)

• इह: here
• इह: Desha (Place/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of place)

• आगतः: has come
• आगतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√गम् (धातु) → आगत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; ‘come’ (PPP; nominative sg masculine)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया एकवचनम् (Instrumental singular)

• त्राताभिः: by those protected (by you)
• त्राताभिः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्रा (धातु) → त्रात (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त); पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; ‘by (those) saved/protected’ (PPP; instrumental plural masculine)

• अत्यर्थम्: exceedingly, greatly
• अत्यर्थम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यर्थम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-रूपेण)
• Form: परिमाण/तीव्रतावाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: exceedingly)

• युष्मत्सत्कारकारणात्: because of your honoring (of them)
• युष्मत्सत्कारकारणात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मत् + सत्कार + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे पञ्चमी एकवचनम् (Ablative singular neuter); हेत्वर्थः (expressing cause)

Speaker

A cowherd elder of Vraja (representing the Vraja community; addressed to Krishna within the Krishna narrative recounted by Parasara)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To receive the gratitude and submission of those protected, confirming his role as the cows’ and Vraja’s guardian.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Gratitude (kṛtajñatā) and rightful honoring of the protector

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Receiving protection should mature into humility, gratitude, and honoring the benefactor.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice kṛtajñatā—acknowledge help received and respond with service and integrity.

Vishishtadvaita: Devotion is relational: the jīva responds to the Lord’s grace with honoring service (śeṣatva/servitude ethos).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Cows (Go)

FAQs

What is the significance of the cows urging someone to approach Krishna in the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights Krishna’s role as the immediate protector of Vraja—so evident that even the cows become witnesses to his saving grace, prompting public acknowledgment and reverence.

How does the Vishnu Purana portray divine protection (raksha) through Krishna in this context?

Protection is not merely physical rescue; it establishes Krishna’s lordship and invites dharmic response—gratitude, honor, and surrender to the one who preserves order and wellbeing.

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

Krishna’s saving act functions as a revelation of the Supreme’s compassionate sovereignty—Vishnu present among beings, safeguarding them and drawing them toward devotion through grace.