Shloka 17

केशीवधः तथा ‘केशव’ नामप्रसिद्धिः

Devanagari script

ततो गोप्यश् च गोपाश् च हते केशिनि विस्मिताः तुष्टुवुः पुण्डरीकाक्षम् अनुरागमनोरमम्

Transliteration

tato gopyaś ca gopāś ca hate keśini vismitāḥ tuṣṭuvuḥ puṇḍarīkākṣam anurāgamanoramam

Translation

Then, when Keśin had been slain, the cowherd women and men—astonished—praised the Lotus-eyed Lord, captivating in loving devotion.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/अनन्तरं (adverb: then/thereupon)

• गोप्यः: the cowherd women
• गोप्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• गोपाः: the cowherd men
• गोपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपाल/गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• हते: when (he) was slain
• हते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत (कृदन्त; √हन् ‘to kill’ क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• केशिनि: in the case of Keśin
• केशिनि: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी—‘in/when Keśin (was slain)’

• विस्मिताः: astonished
• विस्मिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मित (कृदन्त; √स्मि/√स्मय् ‘to wonder’ वि- + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त—qualifying gopyaḥ/gopāḥ (mixed group; masculine plural)

• तुष्टुवुः: praised
• तुष्टुवुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्तु (धातु) तु-उपसर्ग? (न); लिट्/परस्मैपद
• Form: लकारः: लिट् (Perfect; past sense), परस्मैपदम्; पुरुषः: प्रथम (3rd), वचनम्: बहुवचन

• पुण्डरीकाक्षम्: the lotus-eyed (Krishna)
• पुण्डरीकाक्षम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्डरीक (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘पुण्डरीक इव अक्षिणी यस्य सः’ (lotus-eyed)

• अनुरागमनोरमम्: charming with love
• अनुरागमनोरमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुराग (प्रातिपदिक) + मनोरम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तृतीया/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)—‘अनुरागेण मनोरमः’ / ‘अनुरागस्य मनोरमः’ (charming with affection)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The gopīs and gopas’ astonishment and praise of Puṇḍarīkākṣa (lotus-eyed Lord).

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: affectionate

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To reveal himself as the lotus-eyed protector whose presence awakens loving praise in Vraja.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Devotees’ confidence and communal dharma expressed as stuti (praise) after deliverance.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Astonishment at divine protection naturally matures into stuti—loving praise that deepens the devotee’s bond with Bhagavān.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: After overcoming difficulties, consciously offer gratitude and praise, transforming relief into steady devotion.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhagavān is personally present and lovable (sauśīlya), yet remains the supreme protector—accessibility of the transcendent.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Madhurya

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Vishnu (as Puṇḍarīkākṣa)
• Keśin

FAQs

What is the significance of Keśin’s slaying in the Vishnu Purana?

It demonstrates Krishna’s protective sovereignty in Vraja—removing a lethal threat and revealing the Lord’s divine power while remaining intimately present among devotees.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the community’s reaction to Krishna’s deeds?

Parāśara depicts the gopas and gopis as both astonished and devotionally awakened—responding not with mere fear or relief, but with stuti (praise) directed to the Lotus-eyed Lord.

What is the theological importance of calling Krishna “Puṇḍarīkākṣa” here?

The epithet identifies Krishna with Vishnu’s supreme identity, underscoring that the charming cowherd hero is the same transcendent Lord worthy of worship and praise.