Shloka 17

इन्द्र-प्रायश्चित्तं, कृष्णाभिषेकः, गोविन्द-नामप्राप्तिः

Devanagari script

ममांशः पुरुषव्याघ्र पृथायां पृथिवीतले अवतीर्णो ऽर्जुनो नाम स रक्ष्यो भवता सदा

Transliteration

mamāṃśaḥ puruṣavyāghra pṛthāyāṃ pṛthivītale avatīrṇo 'rjuno nāma sa rakṣyo bhavatā sadā

Translation

O tiger among men, upon the earth—in Pṛthā (Kuntī)—a portion of Me has descended, named Arjuna; therefore, he must be protected by you at all times.

Word by Word

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (अस्मद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• aṃśaḥ: portion/part
• aṃśaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃśa (अंश, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• puruṣavyāghra: O tiger among men
• puruṣavyāghra: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (पुरुष, प्रातिपदिक) + vyāghra (व्याघ्र, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचन (Vocative singular); समासः—कर्मधारयः ‘पुरुषेषु व्याघ्रः’

• pṛthāyām: in Pṛthā (Kuntī)
• pṛthāyām: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthā (पृथा, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Locative singular)

• pṛthivī-tale: on the surface of the earth
• pṛthivī-tale: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī (पृथिवी, प्रातिपदिक) + tala (तल, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Locative singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः ‘पृथिव्याः तलम्’

• avatīrṇaḥ: descended/incarnated
• avatīrṇaḥ: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avatīrṇa (अवतीर्ण, कृदन्त) < ava-√tṝ (तॄ)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• arjunaḥ: Arjuna
• arjunaḥ: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arjuna (अर्जुन, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Sambandha (Naming particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (नाम, अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामनिर्देशार्थक (as named/called)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• rakṣyaḥ: must be protected
• rakṣyaḥ: Karya (Obligation predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakṣya (रक्ष्य, कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) < √rakṣ (रक्ष्)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थक (gerundive: to be protected); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• bhavatā: by you
• bhavatā: Kartr̥ (Agent in passive/करण-कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (भवत्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (सदा, अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नित्यकालवाचक (always)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; the verse itself voices a divine injunction within the narrative)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He guides the protection of his own aṃśa, Arjuna, to accomplish the dharmic removal of the earth’s burden.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of dharma through safeguarding the righteous instrument (Arjuna)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma’s triumph often depends on protecting the righteous, who may be instruments of the Lord’s will.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Stand by principled people and just causes; protect those committed to dharma in family, society, and institutions.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord works through real persons as empowered ‘parts’ (aṃśas) without diminishing his supremacy—coordinating history through intimate immanence.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Vamsha: Chandra

Dharma Exemplar: Kṣātra-dharma (heroic duty aligned with righteousness)

Key Kings: Arjuna, Pritha (Kunti)

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Sakhya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Arjuna
• Pritha (Kunti)

FAQs

What is the significance of Arjuna being called 'mamāṃśaḥ' in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents Arjuna as an aṃśa (divine portion) of Vishnu, framing his role in history as dharma-protecting and divinely purposed rather than merely heroic.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine involvement in human dynasties here?

Through genealogical narration, Parāśara shows that Vishnu’s sovereignty extends into royal lineages by the descent of His portions, ensuring the maintenance of order and righteous rule.

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

Vishnu is depicted as the Supreme guiding power who manifests (as aṃśa) within the world and directs protection of His instruments for sustaining dharma within the historical order.