Shloka 25

इन्द्र-प्रायश्चित्तं, कृष्णाभिषेकः, गोविन्द-नामप्राप्तिः

Devanagari script

इत्य् उक्तः संपरिष्वज्य देवराजो जनार्दनम् आरुह्यैरावतं नागं पुनर् एव दिवं ययौ

Transliteration

ity uktaḥ saṃpariṣvajya devarājo janārdanam āruhyairāvataṃ nāgaṃ punar eva divaṃ yayau

Translation

Thus addressed, the king of the gods embraced Janārdana; then, mounting the elephant Airāvata, he departed once more for heaven.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्तः: having spoken / being addressed
• उक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘said/spoken’

• संपरिष्वज्य: having embraced
• संपरिष्वज्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + परि + स्वज् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having embraced’

• देवराजः: the king of the gods (Indra)
• देवराजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + राज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानां राजा)

• जनार्दनम्: Janārdana (Vishnu/Krishna)
• जनार्दनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आरुह्य: having mounted
• आरुह्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + रुह् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having mounted’

• ऐरावतम्: Airāvata
• ऐरावतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐरावत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• नागम्: elephant
• नागम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ऐरावतस्य विशेषणार्थे (appositional)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Verb modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक-अव्यय (again)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphasis)

• दिवम्: to heaven
• दिवम्: Gati-karma (Destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्यौः) / प्रचलित-रूपे नपुंसकवत्, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; गन्तव्य (goal)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To receive Indra’s submission and conclude the Govardhana episode by reaffirming divine supremacy over the devas.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Proper hierarchy of devotion: devas acknowledge Hari’s lordship; protection of Vraja

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even the king of gods honors Janārdana, illustrating that all power is subordinate to the Supreme Lord.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Temper pride with reverence; recognize higher sovereignty beyond institutional or worldly authority.

Vishishtadvaita: Hierarchy within the real cosmos: devas are finite selves sustained by the Supreme Person, worthy of respect yet not ultimate.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Devaraja)
• Janardana (Vishnu/Krishna)
• Airavata

FAQs

What is the significance of Indra embracing Janardana in the Vishnu Purana?

It underscores that even the ruler of the devas acknowledges Janārdana’s supreme status, expressing devotion and submission to the higher divine sovereignty of Vishnu.

How does Sage Parashara explain divine hierarchy in this context?

Through narrative action rather than abstract doctrine: Indra’s gesture and departure show that celestial authority functions under the supremacy of Janārdana, aligning the cosmos with Vishnu’s higher order.

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

Janārdana is presented as the ultimate refuge and ruler beyond Svarga—one whom even Indra honors—reflecting the Vishnu Purana’s Vaishnava vision of Vishnu as Supreme Reality.