Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

हंसकुन्देन्दुधवलं नीलाम्बरधरं द्विज तस्यानु बलभद्रं च ददर्श यदुनन्दनः

Transliteration

haṃsakundendudhavalaṃ nīlāmbaradharaṃ dvija tasyānu balabhadraṃ ca dadarśa yadunandanaḥ

Translation

O twice-born one, the Yadu prince beheld him—radiant white like a swan, like jasmine, like the moon—clad in dark-blue garments; and behind him he also saw Balabhadra.

Word by Word

• हंसकुन्देन्दुधवलम्: white like a swan, jasmine, and the moon
• हंसकुन्देन्दुधवलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हंस-कुन्द-इन्दु-धवल (प्रातिपदिक; हंस + कुन्द + इन्दु + धवल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘हंसकुन्देन्दुवत् धवलम्’

• नीलाम्बरधरम्: wearing blue garments
• नीलाम्बरधरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील-अम्बर-धर (प्रातिपदिक; नील + अम्बर + धर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष—‘नीलाम्बरं धरति’

• द्विज: O twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (आह्वान), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अनु: after, following
• अनु: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्ग/पूर्वसर्गार्थे—‘पश्चात्/अनन्तरम्’

• बलभद्रम्: Balarāma/Balabhadra
• बलभद्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलभद्र (प्रातिपदिक; व्यक्तिनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Conjunction/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• यदुनन्दनः: the delight of the Yadus (Kṛṣṇa)
• यदुनन्दनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदु-नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘यदूनां नन्दनः’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: narrative, vivid address to the dvija

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To protect the world and guide beings through līlā, accompanied by Balabhadra as divine support in the Yādava mission.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of the righteous and the strengthening of dharmic rule

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Krishna (Yadunandana)
• Balabhadra (Balarama)
• Dvija (addressed brahmin/listener)

FAQs

What is the significance of the white radiance and blue garments described here in the Vishnu Purana?

The verse uses layered similes (swan–jasmine–moon) to convey an auspicious, otherworldly brilliance, while the blue garment evokes the divine, transcendent majesty associated with Vishnu/Krishna iconography.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the scene’s meaning within the dialogue framework?

Parāśara narrates to Maitreya in vivid visual detail, guiding the listener to recognize divinity through characteristic signs—radiance, color symbolism, and the presence of Balabhadra—within the unfolding Krishna-lila.

What is the theological importance of Krishna and Balabhadra appearing together in this context?

Their paired appearance underscores the coordinated descent of divine power and protection: Krishna as the supreme divine center and Balabhadra as the accompanying strength/support, reinforcing Vaishnava readings of avatara purpose and cosmic order.