Shloka 37

अक्रूर-सत्कारः, मथुरायात्रा-विरहः, यमुनातटे दिव्यदर्शनम्, चतुर्व्यूह-नमस्कारः

Devanagari script

वृतं वासुकिरम्भाद्यैर् महद्भिः पवनाशिभिः संस्तूयमानं गन्धर्वैर् वनमालाविभूषितम्

Transliteration

vṛtaṃ vāsukirambhādyair mahadbhiḥ pavanāśibhiḥ saṃstūyamānaṃ gandharvair vanamālāvibhūṣitam

Translation

He was surrounded by the great ones—Vāsuki, Rambhā, and others—beings who move with the swiftness of the wind; praised in song by the Gandharvas, and adorned with the forest-garland (vanamālā).

Word by Word

• वृतम्: surrounded
• वृतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle: 'surrounded'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) (बलभद्रम्)

• वासुकिरम्भाद्यैः: by Vāsuki, Rambhā, and others
• वासुकिरम्भाद्यैः: Karana (Agent-instrument in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुकि (प्रातिपदिक) + रम्भा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ādi: 'and others'), पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• महद्भिः: by great (ones)
• महद्भिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण पवनाशिभिः

• पवनाशिभिः: by the wind-eating ones (serpents)
• पवनाशिभिः: Karana (Agent-instrument in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवन (प्रातिपदिक) + आशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: 'wind-eaters' = serpents), पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• संस्तूयमानम्: being praised
• संस्तूयमानम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्तु (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present passive participle: 'being praised'), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (बलभद्रम्)

• गन्धर्वैः: by Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वैः: Karana (Agent-instrument in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वनमालाविभूषितम्: adorned with a garland of forest-flowers
• वनमालाविभूषितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वनमाला (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूषित (प्रातिपदिक; वि-भूष् धातु से)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (instrumental sense: 'adorned with a forest-garland'), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (बलभद्रम्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: The vision expands to show the Lord’s celestial retinue and praise, confirming the avatāra’s divine sovereignty recognized by gandharvas and nāgas.

Leela: Moksha-dana

Dharma Restored: Re-establishing divine kingship (aiśvarya) as the ground of cosmic harmony and devotional praise.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine sovereignty is celebrated by celestial beings; śravaṇa and kīrtana (hearing and praising) are portrayed as natural responses to the Lord’s manifested glory.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice kīrtana or recitation with attention to the Lord’s attributes (aiśvarya), letting praise refine the heart toward steadiness and humility.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s ‘vanamālā’ and attended majesty express a personal, attribute-rich Brahman; devotion relates to His auspicious qualities rather than an impersonal absolute.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Vyuha Form: Sankarshana

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vasuki
• Rambha
• Gandharvas
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of the Vanamālā (forest garland) in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse it marks divine majesty and auspicious identity—an emblem of the Lord’s supreme sovereignty, recognized even by celestial beings.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Lord’s supremacy in this scene?

By portraying the greatest celestial beings surrounding and praising Him, Parāśara frames the Lord as the natural center of cosmic hierarchy and devotion.

What is the theological importance of Gandharvas praising Vishnu here?

Their hymns show that divine sovereignty is affirmed across worlds: even celestial musicians uphold Vishnu as the Supreme Reality worthy of perpetual glorification.