Shloka 2

इन्द्र-प्रायश्चित्तं, कृष्णाभिषेकः, गोविन्द-नामप्राप्तिः

Devanagari script

सो ऽधिरुह्य महानागम् ऐरावतम् अमित्रजित् गोवर्धनगिरौ कृष्णं ददर्श त्रिदशेश्वरः

Transliteration

so 'dhiruhya mahānāgam airāvatam amitrajit govardhanagirau kṛṣṇaṃ dadarśa tridaśeśvaraḥ

Translation

Mounting the mighty elephant Airāvata, the invincible subduer of foes, Indra—the lord of the gods—came to Govardhana hill and beheld Krishna there.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — सर्वनाम ‘he’

• adhiruhya: having mounted
• adhiruhya: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi (उपसर्ग) + √ruh (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/ल्यप्) — ‘having mounted’

• mahānāgam: the great elephant
• mahānāgam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + nāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — ‘the great elephant’

• airāvatam: Airavata
• airāvatam: Karma (Apposition/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: airāvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — ‘Airāvata’ (name)

• amitrajit: Indra, conqueror of enemies
• amitrajit: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amitra (प्रातिपदिक) + jit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — इन्द्रस्य विशेषण (conqueror of foes)

• govardhanagirau: on Govardhana mountain
• govardhanagirau: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: govardhana (प्रातिपदिक) + giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — ‘on Mount Govardhana’

• kṛṣṇam: Krishna
• kṛṣṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदी — ‘saw’

• tridaśeśvaraḥ: lord of the gods (Indra)
• tridaśeśvaraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tridaśa (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — ‘lord of the thirty (gods)’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To be directly beheld by Indra, enabling the reestablishment of proper deva-subordination and devotional order.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Recognition of Krishna’s supremacy by the celestial ruler; restoration of cosmic governance aligned to Hari’s will

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Darśana of the Supreme reorders the heart and hierarchy—Indra’s lordship is meaningful only as service under Krishna.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Seek transformative ‘darśana’—direct encounter through worship, study, and remembrance—to realign ego into service.

Vishishtadvaita: Personal encounter with the Supreme Person (puruṣottama) grounds liberation and right order; the Lord is knowable and approachable, not an abstract absolute.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Indra
• Airavata
• Govardhana

FAQs

What is the significance of Indra coming to Govardhana in the Vishnu Purana?

It marks the turning point where Indra’s pride is checked and he personally acknowledges Krishna’s superior sovereignty after witnessing Govardhana as a refuge for the devotees.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the relationship between Krishna and the devas here?

By calling Indra ‘lord of the gods’ yet showing him seeking Krishna, the narration implies that even the highest deva authority operates under the Supreme Lord’s dominion.

What is the theological importance of Krishna being seen at Govardhana in this context?

Govardhana becomes a sign of Bhagavan’s direct guardianship—Krishna is presented as the ultimate protector and ruler, with cosmic powers like Indra secondary to him.