Shloka 31

गोवर्धनोत्तरविस्मयः, रासलीलाप्रसङ्गः, तथा सर्वव्याप्तिवेदान्तोपदेशः

Devanagari script

ध्वजवज्राङ्कुशाब्जाङ्करेखावन्त्य् आलि पश्यत पदान्य् एतानि कृष्णस्य लीलालंकृतगामिनः

Transliteration

dhvajavajrāṅkuśābjāṅkarekhāvanty āli paśyata padāny etāni kṛṣṇasya līlālaṃkṛtagāminaḥ

Translation

O friend, look—these are Kṛṣṇa’s footprints, whose very movement is adorned as līlā. They bear auspicious marks: the banner, the vajra, the goad (ankusha), and the lotus.

Word by Word

• dhvaja-vajra-aṅkuśa-abja-aṅka-rekhā-vatī: having lines/marks of banner, thunderbolt, goad, lotus, etc.
• dhvaja-vajra-aṅkuśa-abja-aṅka-rekhā-vatī: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅkuśa (प्रातिपदिक) + abja (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅka (प्रातिपदिक) + rekhā (प्रातिपदिक) + vatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समाहार: 'ध्वजादि-अङ्क-रेखाः यस्याः (पादतले)'

• āli: O friend!
• āli: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āli (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• paśyata: look! (you all)
• paśyata: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• padāni: footprints
• padāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• etāni: these
• etāni: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

• kṛṣṇasya: of Krishna
• kṛṣṇasya: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• līlā-alaṃkṛta-gāminaḥ: of the one whose gait is adorned with playfulness
• līlā-alaṃkṛta-gāminaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: līlā (प्रातिपदिक) + alaṃkṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + gāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: 'लीलया अलंकृतः गामी' (पदानां विशेषणत्वेन: 'लीलालंकृतगामिनः पदानि')

Speaker

Gopi (a cowherd maiden addressing another gopi) within Parasara’s narration to Maitreya

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Identifying Krishna as the Supreme through the auspicious lakṣaṇas (marks) on his footprints

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna reveals his divine sovereignty even in playful wandering, marked by auspicious signs on his feet that proclaim him as Bhagavān.

Leela: Bala

Dharma Restored: Affirmation of Bhagavān’s supremacy within intimate līlā, harmonizing majesty with sweetness

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme Lord’s transcendence is legible within his immanent play—his very footprints bear the insignia of sovereignty.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Train the eye to perceive divine ‘signatures’—qualities like compassion, protection, and auspiciousness—in lived experience and scripture.

Vishishtadvaita: Jagat-kāraṇatva and saulabhya unite: the cause of the universe appears in accessible, lovable form, without losing divine attributes.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Madhurya

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Krishna

FAQs

What is the significance of Krishna’s footprints in the Vishnu Purana?

They function as sacred identifiers: even in playful, pastoral scenes, the auspicious emblems on his feet reveal Krishna as the Supreme Lord (Vishnu) moving among devotees.

How does Sage Parasara explain divine play (lila) through this episode?

By reporting the gopis’ recognition of Krishna through his marked footprints, Parasara shows that the Lord’s ordinary-looking actions are actually lila—divinity expressed through charming, accessible human-like movement.

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

The verse underscores Vishnu’s sovereignty: the royal and cosmic emblems (banner, thunderbolt, goad, lotus) appear on Krishna’s feet, indicating that the playful cowherd is none other than the supreme ruler of the universe.