Shloka 25

केशीवधः तथा ‘केशव’ नामप्रसिद्धिः

Devanagari script

उग्रसेनसुते कंसे सानुगे विनिपातिते भारावतारकर्ता त्वं पृथिव्याः पृथिवीधर

Transliteration

ugrasenasute kaṃse sānuge vinipātite bhārāvatārakartā tvaṃ pṛthivyāḥ pṛthivīdhara

Translation

When Kaṁsa—the son of Ugrasena—together with his followers was struck down, you became the true remover of the Earth’s burden; O Upholder of the world.

Word by Word

• उग्रसेनसुते: O son of Ugrasena
• उग्रसेनसुते: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उग्रसेन + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Ugrasenasya sutaḥ)

• कंसे: when/with Kaṃsa (in Kaṃsa's case)
• कंसे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन (singular)

• सानुगे: together with his younger brother(s)/followers
• सानुगे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + अनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (qualifier)

• विनिपातिते: when (he) has been struck down
• विनिपातिते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + नि + पत् (धातु) → विनिपातित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन (singular)

• भारावतारकर्ता: the accomplisher of the descent/removal of the burden
• भारावतारकर्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार + अवतार + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः तत्पुरुष (bhārasya avatāraḥ—tasya kartā)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular); सर्वनाम

• पृथिव्याः: of the earth
• पृथिव्याः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन (singular)

• पृथिवीधर: O supporter of the earth
• पृथिवीधर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (pṛthivyāḥ dharaḥ)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He descends to slay Kaṃsa and thereby lighten Bhū-devī’s burden caused by adharma and oppressive rulers.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Removal of tyrannical rule; protection of the Earth and the devas through dharmic governance

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s descent is purposeful: He actively protects the world by removing adharma that weighs upon Bhū-devī.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: See social and personal injustice as a call to align with dharma and seek refuge in the Lord’s protective governance.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhū-devī (the world as His śarīra) is upheld by Him; His saving action reveals immanent care within the cosmos.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Lakshmi Presence: Bhumi

Characters & Entities

• Kamsa
• Ugrasena
• Earth (Prithivi)
• Krishna (implied as the addressed 'you')

FAQs

What is the significance of removing the Earth’s burden (bhāra-avatāra) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Kaṁsa’s fall as part of Vishnu’s cosmic function: when adharma accumulates as a “burden” upon Earth, the avatāra acts to restore balance and rightful order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the purpose of Krishna’s actions in this episode?

Parāśara presents the event not merely as a political overthrow but as a dharmic correction—Krishna, the world-sustainer, removes oppressive power that destabilizes the Earth’s moral and social equilibrium.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is implied as the supreme sustainer (pṛthivīdhara) whose avatāra directly intervenes in history, showing sovereignty over both cosmic order and human kingship.