Shloka 37

Devanagari script

अयं स कथ्यते प्राज्ञैः पुराणार्थावलोकिभिः गोपालो यादवं वंशं मग्नम् अभ्युद्धरिष्यति

Transliteration

ayaṃ sa kathyate prājñaiḥ purāṇārthāvalokibhiḥ gopālo yādavaṃ vaṃśaṃ magnam abhyuddhariṣyati

Translation

This very one—so declare the wise who behold the inner purport of the Purāṇas—is Gopāla; and he shall raise up the Yādava line, sunk in decline.

Word by Word

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कथ्यते: is said / is called
• कथ्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• प्राज्ञैः: by the wise
• प्राज्ञैः: Karana (Agent-instrument in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• पुराण-अर्थ-अवलोकिभिः: by those who discern the meaning of the Purāṇas
• पुराण-अर्थ-अवलोकिभिः: Karana (Agent-instrument in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + अवलोकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'पुराणस्य अर्थस्य अवलोकिनः'

• गोपालः: Gopāla (cowherd)
• गोपालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यादवम्: Yādava
• यादवम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यादव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वंशम्: lineage
• वंशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मग्नम्: sunk / submerged
• मग्नम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मग्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √मज्ज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• अभ्युद्धरिष्यति: will lift up / will rescue
• अभ्युद्धरिष्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-उद्-हृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: As Gopāla, he descends to revive and uphold the Yādava lineage that has sunk into danger and decline.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection and rejuvenation of the righteous clan that supports dharma and shelters devotees.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Those who discern the Purāṇic inner meaning recognize Kṛṣṇa as Gopāla whose advent safeguards and restores the devoted community.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Seek scriptural ‘inner purport’ (tātparya) and align one’s life with communities and practices that sustain devotion and dharma.

Vishishtadvaita: Scripture reveals a personal, purposive Lord who enters history to protect His dependents (śeṣa-bhūta jīvas).

Dynasty & Genealogy

Vamsha: Chandra

Dharma Exemplar: Clan-protection (kula-rakṣā) as a support of dharma

Key Kings: Yadu

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Vatsalya

Characters & Entities

• Gopala (Krishna)
• Yadava dynasty

FAQs

What is the significance of Gopāla in the Vishnu Purana’s account of the Yādavas?

This verse frames Gopāla (Krishna) as the divinely recognized restorer who rescues the Yādava dynasty when it is portrayed as “sunk” in decline.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Purāṇic “purport” (purāṇa-artha) here?

Parāśara implies that those who truly understand the Purāṇas identify the same supreme agency behind history—Gopāla’s role is not merely heroic but a purposeful, dharma-restoring descent.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

By identifying Gopāla as the one who will raise the fallen lineage, the verse underscores Vishnu’s sovereign providence—history and dynasty are upheld by the Supreme Reality manifesting to protect dharma.