Shloka 7

अरिष्टवृषभदैत्यवधः (गोव्रजत्राणम्)

Devanagari script

ततस् तम् अतिघोराक्षम् अवेक्ष्यातिभयातुराः गोपा गोपस्त्रियश् चैव कृष्ण कृष्णेति चुक्रुशुः

Transliteration

tatas tam atighorākṣam avekṣyātibhayāturāḥ gopā gopastriyaś caiva kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇeti cukruśuḥ

Translation

Then, seeing that being with eyes most terrifying, the cowherds and cowherd-women, overwhelmed by extreme fear, cried again and again, “Krishna! Krishna!”

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'then/from there')

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अतिघोराक्षम्: having exceedingly terrible eyes
• अतिघोराक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + घोर + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to तम्); समासः—कर्मधारयः (घोराक्षः) उपपदपूर्वकः ‘अति-’ उपसर्गसदृश-पूर्वपदेन तीव्रता

• अवेक्ष्य: having seen
• अवेक्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अवेक्ष्य (कृदन्त; √ईक्ष् धातु, अव-उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वक्रिया

• अतिभयातुराः: overwhelmed with great fear
• अतिभयातुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + भय + आतुर (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (to गोपाः/गोपस्त्रियः); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भयेन आतुरः) + ‘अति-’ तीव्रता

• गोपाः: cowherds
• गोपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• गोपस्त्रियः: cowherd women
• गोपस्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गोपानां स्त्रियः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• कृष्ण: O Krishna
• कृष्ण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन (हे कृष्ण)

• कृष्ण: O Krishna
• कृष्ण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन (पुनरुक्ति)

• इति: thus
• इति: Vakyopanyasa (वाक्योपन्यास)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• चुक्रुशुः: cried out
• चुक्रुशुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्रुश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Sage Parashara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa descends to protect the Vraja community and destroy demonic attackers who terrorize the devotees.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Safety of pastoral society and uninterrupted devotional life centered on Kṛṣṇa.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In extremity, the devotee’s spontaneous nāma-smaraṇa (calling the Lord’s name) becomes refuge and summons divine protection.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate steady remembrance so that in fear or crisis the mind naturally turns to the Divine Name rather than panic.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord responds to the surrendered community; divine grace is personal and accessible through relationship (śeṣa-śeṣi-bhāva).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna

FAQs

What is the significance of the cowherds crying “Krishna, Krishna” in the Vishnu Purana?

It shows instinctive śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): in danger, the Vraja community turns to Krishna’s name as their immediate protector and highest support.

How does Sage Parashara explain the devotees’ response to fear in this episode?

Through narrative action rather than abstract doctrine: Parashara depicts fear transforming into remembrance of Krishna, implying that devotion naturally seeks the Supreme Lord as refuge.

What is the theological importance of Krishna in this context?

Krishna is presented as Bhagavan—the sovereign, saving presence—whose very name becomes the devotees’ shelter, aligning with Vaishnava emphasis on divine grace and protection.