Shloka 32

गोवर्धनोत्तरविस्मयः, रासलीलाप्रसङ्गः, तथा सर्वव्याप्तिवेदान्तोपदेशः

Devanagari script

कापि तेन समं याता कृतपुण्या मदालसा पदानि तस्याश् चैतानि घनान्य् अल्पतनूनि च

Transliteration

kāpi tena samaṃ yātā kṛtapuṇyā madālasā padāni tasyāś caitāni ghanāny alpatanūni ca

Translation

Madālasa, rich in well-earned merit, went forth beside him. These are her footprints—close-set and compact, yet delicate and slender in form.

Word by Word

• कापि: some woman (someone)
• कापि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: का (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'अपि' निपात-सहित अनिश्चितार्थ (indefinite)

• तेन: with him / by him
• तेन: Sahakari/Karana (Instrument/साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन (instrumental)

• समम्: together, along with
• समम्: Sambandha (Association/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; उपपद-प्रयोगः (with तृतीया)

• याता: went
• याता: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे—'gone/has gone'

• कृतपुण्या: having performed merit
• कृतपुण्या: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु, क्त) + पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कृतं पुण्यं यस्या:); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मदालसा: languid with intoxication / drowsy
• मदालसा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद (प्रातिपदिक) + आलस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पदानि: footprints/steps
• पदानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (genitive)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; 'पदानि' इत्यस्य विशेषण-प्रयोगः

• घनानि: thick, dense
• घनानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (पदानि)

• अल्पतनूनि: small and slender
• अल्पतनूनि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (पदानि)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He incarnates to protect dharma by delighting devotees and lightening the earth’s burden through his līlā in Vraja and beyond.

Leela: Bala

Dharma Restored: Devotional order (bhakti) through intimate līlā that draws beings toward Bhagavān.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Madhurya

Characters & Entities

• Madālasa

FAQs

What is the significance of Madālasa being called kṛtapuṇyā in the Vishnu Purana?

It presents her as a model of earned virtue (puṇya), suggesting her actions align with dharma and making her an exemplary figure within the dynastic narrative.

How does Sage Parāśara explain character through description in this passage?

By highlighting physical signs—like her compact yet delicate footprints—Parāśara uses a classical narrative device to imply refinement, auspiciousness, and cultivated virtue.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, Ansha 4 frames royal lineages and exemplary figures as operating within Vishnu’s ordered cosmos—where dharma, merit, and rightful rule reflect the sovereignty of the Supreme.