Shloka 7

इन्द्र-प्रायश्चित्तं, कृष्णाभिषेकः, गोविन्द-नामप्राप्तिः

Devanagari script

भारावतारणार्थाय पृथिव्याः पृथिवीतलम् अवतीर्णो ऽखिलाधार त्वम् एव परमेश्वरः

Transliteration

bhārāvatāraṇārthāya pṛthivyāḥ pṛthivītalam avatīrṇo 'khilādhāra tvam eva parameśvaraḥ

Translation

To lift the burden of the earth you have descended upon the earth’s very surface; O support of all that exists, you alone are the Supreme Lord.

Word by Word

• भारावतारणार्थाय: for the purpose of removing the burden
• भारावतारणार्थाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान-प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार-अवतारण-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; भार + अवतारण + अर्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; ‘भारस्य अवतारणस्य अर्थः’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष), प्रयोजनार्थे चतुर्थी

• पृथिव्याः: of the earth
• पृथिव्याः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• पृथिवीतलम्: the surface of the earth
• पृथिवीतलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी-तल (प्रातिपदिक; पृथिवी + तल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/गत्यर्थ), एकवचन; ‘पृथिव्याः तलम्’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अवतीर्णः: (you) have descended
• अवतीर्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√तॄ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle) प्रयुक्तः विधेयवत्—‘अवतीर्णः असि’ (elliptic)

• अखिलाधार: O support of all
• अखिलाधार: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल-आधार (प्रातिपदिक; अखिल + आधार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन; विशेषणवत् संबोधन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• एव: indeed / alone
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• परमेश्वरः: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; परम + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

A devotee/praiser addressing Lord Vishnu (as the avatāra who descends to relieve Earth’s burden), within Parāśara’s narration to Maitreya

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The doctrinal reason for Krishna’s descent: bhārāvatāraṇa and his identity as Parameśvara.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Manvantara

Manvantara: Vaivasvata

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He descends to lighten the earth’s burden by removing oppressive forces and reestablishing dharma.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Restoration of righteous rule and cosmic balance on earth (bhū-bhāra-śamana).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme Lord, support of all, incarnates on earth to remove its burden and reestablish dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Read history and personal struggle through the lens of dharma-restoration: align actions with justice, compassion, and devotion to the Supreme.

Vishishtadvaita: Explicit identification of the incarnate Krishna with Parameśvara and akhilādhāra supports the Viśiṣṭādvaita claim that Brahman is a personal Lord who enters the world while sustaining it.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Lakshmi Presence: Bhumi

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Earth (Prithivi/Bhumi)

FAQs

What is the significance of ‘removing the burden of the Earth’ in the Vishnu Purana?

It expresses the avatāra principle: when adharma and oppressive forces weigh down the world, Vishnu descends to restore balance and protect cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the purpose of Vishnu’s descent?

In the Parāśara–Maitreya dialogue, the descent is framed as a deliberate act of the Supreme Lord—who sustains all—entering history to uphold dharma and relieve the Earth’s distress.

What is the theological importance of calling Vishnu ‘akhilādhāra’ and ‘parameśvara’ here?

The verse identifies Vishnu not merely as a heroic incarnation but as the supreme, all-supporting reality—so the avatāra is the Supreme Lord acting within the world, not a separate or lesser power.