Shloka 33

गोवर्धनोत्तरविस्मयः, रासलीलाप्रसङ्गः, तथा सर्वव्याप्तिवेदान्तोपदेशः

Devanagari script

पुष्पावचयम् अत्रोच्चैश् चक्रे दामोदरो ध्रुवम् येनाग्राक्रान्तिमात्राणि पदान्य् अत्र महात्मनः

Transliteration

puṣpāvacayam atroccaiś cakre dāmodaro dhruvam yenāgrākrāntimātrāṇi padāny atra mahātmanaḥ

Translation

Here Dāmodara lifted Dhruva up in the honor of flowers; therefore in this very place remain the revered footprints of that great-souled devotee—marked only by the touch of his toes as the Supreme bore him aloft.

Word by Word

• पुष्पावचयम्: gathering of flowers
• पुष्पावचयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + अवचय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पुष्पाणाम् अवचयः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• उच्चैः: aloud, loudly
• उच्चैः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उच्चैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (manner adverb)

• चक्रे: did, made
• चक्रे: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद-न), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (perfect)

• दामोदरः: Dāmodara (Krishna)
• दामोदरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दामोदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ध्रुवम्: surely, certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (निश्चयार्थे)

• येन: by which
• येन: Hetu/Karana (Cause/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन (instrumental)

• अग्राक्रान्तिमात्राणि: measuring only a toe-step
• अग्राक्रान्तिमात्राणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आक्रान्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अग्रस्य आक्रान्तिः = toe-step; तस्य मात्रं = only that much); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (पदानि)

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

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one
• महात्मनः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (genitive)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He incarnates to protect dharma by bestowing visible grace upon devotees and demonstrating his supremacy through wondrous acts.

Leela: Moksha-dana

Dharma Restored: Bhakti-siddhānta: the Lord elevates the devotee, making devotion a ‘path’ for others.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s grace can lift a steadfast devotee beyond ordinary limits, leaving sacred traces that inspire subsequent worship.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Treat places, texts, and practices that preserve saintly remembrance as supports for steady devotion and humility.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhagavān’s personal initiative (śeṣin) uplifts the devotee (śeṣa), showing liberation as grace-mediated rather than self-generated.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dāmodara (Vishnu)
• Dhruva

FAQs

What is the significance of Dhruva’s footprints mentioned here in the Vishnu Purana?

They signify a sanctified memorial of Dhruva’s divine favor—his devotion is made tangible through marks that remain in a specific holy place.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Dhruva’s exaltation in this passage?

Parāśara presents it as an act of Dāmodara’s sovereign grace: the Lord lifts Dhruva high, leaving lasting signs of the devotee’s presence and honor.

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

Vishnu is shown as the Supreme Lord who personally elevates and establishes the devotee—granting enduring status and transforming devotion into cosmic and historical permanence.