Shloka 11

अक्रूरस्य गोकुलगमनम्—दर्शन-लालसा, अंशावतार-बोधः, विष्णु-स्तुतिः

Devanagari script

साम्प्रतं च जगत्स्वामी कार्यम् आत्महृदि स्थितम् कर्तुं मनुष्यतां प्राप्तः स्वेच्छादेहधृग् अव्ययः

Transliteration

sāmprataṃ ca jagatsvāmī kāryam ātmahṛdi sthitam kartuṃ manuṣyatāṃ prāptaḥ svecchādehadhṛg avyayaḥ

Translation

Now the Lord of the universe, holding within His own heart the work that must be fulfilled, has assumed the human state. Unfailing and undecaying, He takes a body by His own free will to accomplish His destined work in the world.

Word by Word

• साम्प्रतम्: now, at present
• साम्प्रतम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साम्प्रतम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक/conjunction)

• जगत्स्वामी: lord of the world
• जगत्स्वामी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जगतः स्वामी)

• कार्यम्: a task, duty
• कार्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ (धातु) + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आत्महृदि: in (his) own heart
• आत्महृदि: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः हृदि)

• स्थितम्: placed, situated
• स्थितम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कार्यम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• कर्तुम्: to do, to accomplish
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थक

• मनुष्यताम्: humanity, human state
• मनुष्यताम्: Karma (Object/attained state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राप्तः: having attained
• प्राप्तः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘जगत्स्वामी’ इति विशेषणम्

• स्वेच्छादेहधृक्: one who bears a body by his own will
• स्वेच्छादेहधृक्: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + इच्छा + देह + धृक् (प्रातिपदिक; √धृ (धातु) + क्विप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः (स्वेच्छया देहं धत्ते/धारयति इति)

• अव्ययः: imperishable, undecaying
• अव्ययः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘जगत्स्वामी’ इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He assumes human form by His own will to accomplish the divine work appointed for the welfare of the world.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Restoration of dharma through divine intervention while remaining untouched by decay

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The imperishable Lord freely assumes embodiment without compulsion, holding His purpose within, to enact His salvific work in the world.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Contemplate the Lord’s intentional descent and align one’s actions with dharma as participation in His purpose.

Vishishtadvaita: Embodiment is a voluntary mode of the Supreme (not bondage), supporting the Lord’s transcendence while engaging the world for protection.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Vyuha Form: Vasudeva

Antaryamin: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu ‘assuming humanity’ in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames incarnation as a deliberate, sovereign act: the imperishable Lord voluntarily takes human form to accomplish a specific divine purpose in the world.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine action and intention here?

Parāśara presents the Lord’s mission as ‘abiding in His own heart’—a pre-held resolve—showing that events unfold according to Vishnu’s conscious will rather than compulsion by karma or material forces.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu being called ‘avyaya’ while taking a body?

Calling Him ‘imperishable’ emphasizes that embodiment does not limit or diminish Vishnu; incarnation is a freely assumed mode for protecting dharma while His supreme nature remains unchanged.