Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

बिभ्राणं वाससी पीते वन्यपुष्पविभूषितम् सान्द्रनीललताहस्तम् सिताम्भोजावतंसकम्

Transliteration

bibhrāṇaṃ vāsasī pīte vanyapuṣpavibhūṣitam sāndranīlalatāhastam sitāmbhojāvataṃsakam

Translation

He wore two garments of yellow, adorned with wild forest-flowers; his hands were like dense-blue creepers, and a white lotus was set as an ornament upon his head—thus shone the Lord.

Word by Word

• बिभ्राणम्: bearing, wearing
• बिभ्राणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वाससी: two garments
• वाससी: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; ‘द्वे वस्त्रे’

• पीते: yellow (two)
• पीते: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक; पा धातोः क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; वाससी इति विशेषणम्

• वन्यपुष्पविभूषितम्: adorned with wild flowers
• वन्यपुष्पविभूषितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन्य-पुष्प-विभूषित (प्रातिपदिक; वन्य + पुष्प + विभूषित)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषभावः—‘वन्यपुष्पैः विभूषितम्’

• सान्द्रनीललताहस्तम्: whose hands are like dense blue creepers
• सान्द्रनीललताहस्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सान्द्र-नील-लता-हस्त (प्रातिपदिक; सान्द्र + नील + लता + हस्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘लतेव सान्द्रनीला हस्तौ यस्य’ इति भावः

• सिताम्भोजावतंसकम्: wearing a white-lotus ornament (as a headpiece)
• सिताम्भोजावतंसकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित-अम्भोज-अवतंसक (प्रातिपदिक; सित + अम्भोज + अवतंसक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषभावः—‘सिताम्भोजस्य अवतंसकः’ (white-lotus ornament)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: aesthetic, heart-capturing description

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To manifest divine beauty and protection on earth, drawing beings toward dharma through līlā and the defeat of oppressive powers.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Right order sustained through the Lord’s presence and the awakening of devotion

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Vraja (forest/pastoral setting)

FAQs

What is the significance of Krishna’s yellow garments and forest-flowers in the Vishnu Purana?

They mark Krishna as the divine Lord within the pastoral world—pītāmbara and natural garlands signify auspicious sovereignty expressed through simplicity and intimacy in Vraja-lila.

How does Sage Parāśara present Krishna’s divinity through this verse?

By detailing embodied signs—lotus ornament, radiant color, and extraordinary beauty—Parāśara conveys that the Supreme (Vishnu) is present as Krishna, revealing transcendence through visible, devotional imagery.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu/Krishna in this context?

The verse frames Krishna’s form as a direct manifestation of the Supreme Reality: not merely a heroic figure, but the Lord whose divine qualities naturally awaken bhakti and confirm his cosmic sovereignty.