Shloka 6

अरिष्टवृषभदैत्यवधः (गोव्रजत्राणम्)

Devanagari script

सूदयंस् तापसान् उग्रो वनान्य् अटति यः सदा

Transliteration

sūdayaṃs tāpasān ugro vanāny aṭati yaḥ sadā

Translation

Fierce by nature, he roamed the forests unceasingly, slaying the ascetics who dwelt there.

Word by Word

• सूदयन्: killing, slaying
• सूदयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सूदयत् (कृदन्त; √सूद्/सूदय् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी-भावः

• तापसान्: ascetics
• तापसान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तापस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• उग्रः: fierce
• उग्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to subject)

• वनानि: forests
• वनानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• अटति: wanders
• अटति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अट् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Ascetics (Tāpasas)
• Forest hermit communities

FAQs

What is the significance of violence against ascetics (tāpasas) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse marks such violence as a clear sign of adharma—an inversion of social and cosmic order—since ascetics embody tapas and sustain dharma through restraint and spiritual practice.

How does Sage Parāśara frame moral decline within dynastic history here?

By depicting a ruler/figure who habitually roams forests killing hermits, Parāśara highlights character as the pivot of lineage narratives—genealogy is used to teach how adharma in leaders disrupts rightful sovereignty.

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

Even when not named in the verse, the narrative assumes Vishnu as the upholder of ṛta/dharma; acts that violate dharma (like harming ascetics) stand opposed to the Vishnu-centered order that sustains the world.