Shloka 3

केशीवधः तथा ‘केशव’ नामप्रसिद्धिः

Devanagari script

तस्य हेषितशब्देन गोपाला दैत्यवाजिनः गोप्यश् च भयसंविग्ना गोविन्दं शरणं ययुः

Transliteration

tasya heṣitaśabdena gopālā daityavājinaḥ gopyaś ca bhayasaṃvignā govindaṃ śaraṇaṃ yayuḥ

Translation

Startled by the fierce neighing of that demonic horse, the cowherds and the gopīs, shaken with fear, sought refuge in Govinda, protector of the cows and the world.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — Genitive singular (of him/its)

• हेषितशब्देन: by the sound of neighing
• हेषितशब्देन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेषित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन — Instrumental singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हेषितस्य शब्दः)

• गोपालाः: cowherds
• गोपालाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — Nominative plural

• दैत्यवाजिनः: the demon’s horses
• दैत्यवाजिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — Nominative plural; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दैत्यस्य वाजिनः)

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

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

• भयसंविग्नाः: terrified with fear
• भयसंविग्नाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + संविग्न (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √विज्/विग् with सम्, past participle)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — Nominative plural; समासः तत्पुरुषः (भयेन संविग्नाः = frightened by fear)

• गोविन्दम्: Govinda
• गोविन्दम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Gati/Karma (Goal as object/गति-कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular; गत्यर्थक-क्रियायाः द्वितीया (to take as refuge)

• ययुः: went
• ययुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन — they went

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To protect Vraja and destroy demonic threats sent against his devotees, restoring safety and dharma in the pastoral community.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of the innocent and the sanctity of Vraja-bhakti under divine guardianship.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In fear, the devotees naturally take śaraṇa (refuge) in Govinda, revealing bhakti as reliance on the Lord’s protection.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate śaraṇāgati by turning first to prayer and remembrance when threatened or anxious.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord is personally accessible and responsive to embodied souls, sustaining them as their protective inner ruler and refuge.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Govinda (Krishna)
• Gopalas

FAQs

What is the significance of taking refuge (śaraṇa) in Govinda in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames bhakti as practical surrender: when threatened by adharma (the daitya’s assault), Vraja instinctively seeks Govinda as the supreme protector.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the devotees’ response to fear in Krishna’s Vraja narratives?

Parāśara depicts fear not as spiritual failure but as a catalyst that turns the community toward śaraṇāgati—approaching the Lord who alone can neutralize demonic disruption.

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

Govinda is shown as the supreme refuge whose presence guarantees order: the demonic force may appear overwhelming, yet it is ultimately subordinate to Vishnu’s sovereign protection.