Shloka 13

Devanagari script

अथोपवाह्याद् आदाय घण्टाम् ऐरावताद् गजात् अभिषेकं तया चक्रे पवित्रजलपूर्णया

Transliteration

athopavāhyād ādāya ghaṇṭām airāvatād gajāt abhiṣekaṃ tayā cakre pavitrajalapūrṇayā

Translation

Then, taking up the consecration-bell brought from Airāvata, the celestial elephant, he performed the anointing rite with it, using that vessel filled with sanctified, purifying water.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (sequence/then)

• upavāhyāt: having brought (near)
• upavāhyāt: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upavāhya (उपवाह्य, कृदन्त) < upa-√vah (वह्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘उपवाह्य’ = उपवहित्वा (having brought/led near); पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण ‘-āt’ इति पाठभेद-सदृशं (textual form)

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādāya (आदाय, कृदन्त) < ā-√dā (दा/दद्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• ghaṇṭām: a bell
• ghaṇṭām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghaṇṭā (घण्टा, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• airāvatāt: from Airāvata
• airāvatāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: airāvata (ऐरावत, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (अपादान) एकवचन (Ablative singular)

• gajāt: from the elephant
• gajāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (गज, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (अपादान) एकवचन (Ablative singular)

• abhiṣekam: an anointing (consecration)
• abhiṣekam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhiṣeka (अभिषेक, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• tayā: with it/with her (with that)
• tayā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (करण) एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• cakre: performed/made
• cakre: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular, perfect, parasmaipada)

• pavitra-jala-pūrṇayā: with (the bell) filled with holy water
• pavitra-jala-pūrṇayā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pavitra (पवित्र, प्रातिपदिक) + jala (जल, प्रातिपदिक) + pūrṇa (पूर्ण, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (करण) एकवचन (Instrumental singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पवित्रं जलं यस्यां सा/पवित्रजलेन पूर्णा)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He descends to relieve the earth’s burden and re-establish dharma through royal-sacral sovereignty.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Rāja-dharma aligned with cosmic order and divine kingship

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Airāvata
• Indra (implied by Airāvata)
• Devas (implied)
• Abhiṣeka (royal consecration rite)

FAQs

What is the significance of abhiṣeka (consecration) in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse, abhiṣeka functions as a ritual confirmation of legitimate authority—purified water and sacred regalia signify that rulership is not merely political but aligned with cosmic order and dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of sacred objects like Airāvata’s regalia in royal rites?

Through narrative detail, Parāśara frames celestial associations (like Airāvata) as markers of divine sanction: the rite becomes a bridge between heavenly order and earthly governance.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named directly, the Vishnu Purana’s theology treats rightful sovereignty and purification as ultimately grounded in the Supreme Reality—Vishnu—who upholds dharma and the structure of the cosmos.