Shloka 15

इन्द्र-प्रायश्चित्तं, कृष्णाभिषेकः, गोविन्द-नामप्राप्तिः

Devanagari script

अभिषिच्य गवां वाक्याद् देवेन्द्रो वै जनार्दनम् प्रीत्या सप्रश्रयं कृष्णं पुनर् आह शचीपतिः

Transliteration

abhiṣicya gavāṃ vākyād devendro vai janārdanam prītyā sapraśrayaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ punar āha śacīpatiḥ

Translation

Having consecrated Janārdana at the behest of the cattle, Devendra—Śacī’s lord—then, with joy and reverent humility, addressed Kṛṣṇa once again.

Word by Word

• abhiṣicya: having anointed
• abhiṣicya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhiṣicya (अभिषिच्य, कृदन्त) < abhi-√sic (सिच्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• gavām: of the cows
• gavām: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (गो, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• vākyāt: because of the statement
• vākyāt: Hetu (Cause/Reason/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (वाक्य, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी एकवचन (Ablative singular)

• devendraḥ: Indra, lord of the gods
• devendraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva-indra (देवेन्द्र, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (देवानाम् इन्द्रः)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (Emphasis particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/खलु (indeed)

• janārdanam: Janārdana (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
• janārdanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janārdana (जनार्दन, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• prītyā: with affection
• prītyā: Hetu (Cause/Means/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रीति, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• sa-praśrayam: humble/respectful
• sa-praśrayam: Karma (Object complement/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (स, अव्यय-उपसर्गसदृश) + praśraya (प्रश्रय, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः/उपपदसमासः ‘सप्रश्रयम्’ = ‘प्रश्रययुक्तम्’ (endowed with humility)

• kṛṣṇam: Kṛṣṇa
• kṛṣṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (कृष्ण, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• punar: again
• punar: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (पुनर्, अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक (again)

• āha: said
• āha: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह्/आह)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular, perfect)

• śacīpatiḥ: Śacī’s husband (Indra)
• śacīpatiḥ: Karta (Subject apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śacī-pati (शचीपति, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शच्याः पतिः)

Speaker

Sage Parashara (narrating to Maitreya); within the scene, Indra speaks to Krishna.

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He accepts Indra’s consecration to reorient divine and human hierarchies toward devotion and dharma.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Proper subordination of devas to Bhagavān; humility and devotion as true order

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even the highest devas attain propriety through humility before Janārdana, the true Lord.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice reverence (praṇipāta) and reduce ego in roles of authority; treat power as service under God.

Vishishtadvaita: Hierarchy is real and meaningful: devas are exalted yet dependent, while Bhagavān is the inner ruler and supreme person.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Janardana

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Devendra, Shachipati)
• Krishna
• Janardana
• Cows (Gavam)

FAQs

What is the significance of Indra consecrating Krishna (Janardana) in the Vishnu Purana?

It marks Indra’s acknowledgment that Krishna is the Supreme Lord (Janardana) and that even the king of the gods must submit to Vishnu’s higher sovereignty.

How does Sage Parashara frame Indra’s change in attitude here?

Through narrative emphasis on “prītyā” (joy) and “sapraśrayam” (humble reverence), Parashara shows the Deva’s pride giving way to devotion and rightful recognition of Krishna’s supremacy.

What is the theological importance of calling Krishna ‘Janardana’ in this context?

‘Janardana’ highlights Krishna as Vishnu—the remover of suffering and the ultimate ruler—reinforcing Vaishnava doctrine that the Supreme Reality stands above all celestial authorities.