Shloka 14

गोवर्धनोत्तरविस्मयः, रासलीलाप्रसङ्गः, तथा सर्वव्याप्तिवेदान्तोपदेशः

Devanagari script

कृष्णस् तु विमलं व्योम शरच्चन्द्रस्य चन्द्रिकाम् तथा कुमुदिनीं फुल्लाम् आमोदितदिगन्तराम्

Transliteration

kṛṣṇas tu vimalaṃ vyoma śaraccandrasya candrikām tathā kumudinīṃ phullām āmoditadigantarām

Translation

But Krishna was like the stainless sky itself—like the cool radiance of the autumn moon; like a lotus-pond in full bloom, whose fragrance seems to gladden and pervade the farthest quarters.

Word by Word

• kṛṣṇaḥ: Krishna
• kṛṣṇaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• vimalam: clear, pure
• vimalam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vimala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘निर्मलम्’

• vyoma: sky
• vyoma: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyoman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• śarat-candrasya: of the autumn moon
• śarat-candrasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarat (प्रातिपदिक) + candra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी); पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘शरदि स्थितस्य चन्द्रस्य’ (of the autumn moon)

• candrikām: moonlight
• candrikām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candrikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tathā: and also
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

• kumudinīm: the lotus-pond / water-lily (kumudinī)
• kumudinīm: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumudinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• phullām: blooming
• phullām: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: phulla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘विकसिताम्’

• āmodita-digantarām: perfuming the horizons
• āmodita-digantarām: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of ‘kumudinīm’/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āmodita (ā√mud धातु-निष्पन्न कृदन्त) + digantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘आमोदितानि दिगन्तराणि यस्याः/यया’ (fragrant up to the horizons)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Poetic description of Krishna’s beauty through natural/cosmic similes (sky, autumn moon, blooming kumudinī).

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: aesthetic, elevating

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To enchant Vraja through beauty that mirrors cosmic purity and thereby draw all beings into loving remembrance.

Leela: Bala

Dharma Restored: Harmonizing the world through auspicious presence (saubhāgya) that pacifies hearts and nature alike.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Madhurya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna

FAQs

What is the significance of comparing Krishna to the autumn moon and a blossoming lotus-pond in the Vishnu Purana?

The verse uses classical purity-and-calm symbols (clear sky, autumn moonlight, full bloom) to portray Krishna’s presence as intrinsically purifying, soothing, and universally auspicious—an aesthetic way of expressing divine sovereignty.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Krishna’s nature through imagery in this chapter?

Parāśara frames Krishna’s divinity through nature-similes that suggest both transcendence (spotless sky) and immanence (fragrance filling all quarters), indicating that the Supreme is present in the world without being tainted by it.

What is the theological importance of Krishna in this context?

Krishna is presented not merely as a heroic figure but as the Supreme auspicious reality whose very being brings clarity, joy, and order—aligning with Vaishnava readings where Vishnu/Krishna is the ultimate ground of purity and blessedness.