Shloka 19

नारदेन कंसबोधनम्, कंसस्योपायचिन्ता, अक्रूरप्रेषणम् (मथुरागमनप्रस्तावः)

Devanagari script

ततः समस्तगोपानां गोधनान्य् अखिलान्य् अहम् वित्तं चापहरिष्यामि दुष्टानां मद्वधैषिणाम्

Transliteration

tataḥ samastagopānāṃ godhanāny akhilāny aham vittaṃ cāpahariṣyāmi duṣṭānāṃ madvadhaiṣiṇām

Translation

“Therefore, I shall seize all the cattle-wealth of every cowherd—indeed all of it—and I shall also carry off their riches; for these wicked men are intent upon my death.”

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana/Temporal (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/ततः (ablatival adverb)

• समस्तगोपानाम्: of all the cowherds
• समस्तगोपानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समस्त + गोप (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (समस्ताः गोपाः)

• गोधनानि: cattle/wealth in cows
• गोधनानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + धन (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गवां धनम्)

• अखिलानि: all, entire
• अखिलानि: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वित्तम्: wealth, money
• वित्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपहरिष्यामि: I will seize/rob away
• अपहरिष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + √हृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दुष्टानाम्: of the wicked
• दुष्टानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट (√दुष् + क्त; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• मद्वधैषिणाम्: of those seeking my death
• मद्वधैषिणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी) + वध + एषिन् (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मम वधम् एषन्ति ये)

Speaker

A hostile antagonist (an enemy of Sri Krishna, speaking of plundering the cowherds of Vraja)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To protect the Vraja cowherds and Yādavas from Kaṃsa’s predatory state violence and restore security for devotees.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of agrarian/cowherd livelihood (go-rakṣā) and justice against oppressive expropriation.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adharma expresses itself as exploitation—seizing others’ livelihood and wealth under the guise of security or revenge.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate non-exploitative leadership and protect vulnerable communities; practice generosity and justice in economic life.

Vishishtadvaita: The devotees’ ‘wealth’ (go-dhana) is under Bhagavān’s protection; the Lord safeguards those who take refuge in him.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Vatsalya

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Characters & Entities

• Gopas (cowherds of Vraja)
• Godhāna (cattle-wealth)
• Sri Krishna (implied as the target of 'my death')

FAQs

What is the significance of godhāna (cattle-wealth) in the Vishnu Purana’s Krishna narrative?

Here, cattle represent the livelihood and dharmic stability of Vraja; threatening godhāna is a direct assault on the community sustained under Krishna’s protection.

How does the Vishnu Purana portray the tactics of adharma in this verse?

Adharma is shown as both violent and calculated—first crippling the devotees economically (vitta and cattle), while openly declaring murderous intent.

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

Even when enemies plot to rob and kill, the narrative frames Krishna as the sovereign divine presence who safeguards devotees and re-establishes order against such hostility.