Shloka 1

नारदेन कंसबोधनम्, कंसस्योपायचिन्ता, अक्रूरप्रेषणम् (मथुरागमनप्रस्तावः)

Devanagari script

ककुद्मिनि हते ऽरिष्टे धेनुके विनिपातिते प्रलम्बे निधनं नीते धृते गोवर्धनाचले

Transliteration

kakudmini hate 'riṣṭe dhenuke vinipātite pralambe nidhanaṃ nīte dhṛte govardhanācale

Translation

When Ariṣṭa was slain at Kakudmin, Dhenuka struck down, Pralamba led to death, and Govardhana mountain held aloft, the Lord’s sovereign lila unfolded as the refuge of Vraja—revealing that the Supreme Vishnu, by effortless will, removes the burdens that oppress the world.

Word by Word

• ककुद्मिनि: in/when the humped one
• ककुद्मिनि: Adhikarana (Locative absolute-like/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ककुद्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘अरिष्टे’ इत्यस्य विशेषण (one having a hump/crest)

• हते: when slain
• हते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute-like/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत (कृदन्त; √हन् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘ककुद्मिनि’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• अरिष्टे: in/when Ariṣṭa
• अरिष्टे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• धेनुके: in/when Dhenuka
• धेनुके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• विनिपातिते: when felled, cast down
• विनिपातिते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute-like/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनिपातित (कृदन्त; √पत् (धातु) णिच् + क्त; उपसर्ग वि-नि-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘धेनुके’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• प्रलम्बे: in/when Pralamba
• प्रलम्बे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• निधनम्: death, destruction
• निधनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नीते: when brought to (his) death
• नीते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute-like/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीत (कृदन्त; √नी (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘प्रलम्बे’ इत्यस्य विशेषण (निधनं नीतः)

• धृते: when held up
• धृते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute-like/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृत (कृदन्त; √धृ (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘गोवर्धनाचले’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• गोवर्धनाचले: on/when Govardhana mountain
• गोवर्धनाचले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोवर्धन-अचल (प्रातिपदिक; गोवर्धन + अचल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (गोवर्धनः अचलः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How Krishna’s successive deeds in Vraja manifest his supremacy as Vishnu and his role in removing the world’s burden.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To lighten the earth’s burden by destroying asuras and to shelter Vraja through effortless divine līlā, revealing Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of Vraja and restoration of cosmic-social balance by removing disruptive demonic forces.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme Vishnu, appearing as Krishna, by mere will protects devotees and removes the burdens of the world through līlā.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: In crises, practice śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) through prayer, remembrance, and ethical steadiness, trusting that protection and order ultimately rest in the Lord.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms Vishnu’s para-tattva while acting within the world for devotees—transcendent supremacy expressed as immanent, compassionate governance (jagat-niyantṛ).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Krishna (Vishnu’s avatara)
• Ariṣṭa
• Dhenuka
• Pralamba
• Govardhana

FAQs

What is the significance of Krishna’s slaying of Ariṣṭa, Dhenuka, and Pralamba in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse groups major demon-slain episodes to show Krishna’s role as the protector of Vraja and the remover of adharma, affirming avatara-lila as a restoration of cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara frame these deeds in the dialogue with Maitreya?

Parāśara narrates them as sequential markers of divine intervention—events that demonstrate the Lord’s supremacy through decisive acts that safeguard the devoted community.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu in this context?

Krishna’s feats are presented as the actions of the Supreme Vishnu: by mere will He protects His dependents and subdues forces that threaten dharma, a key Vaishnava theme in the Purana.