Shloka 7

कुब्जानुग्रहः, धनुर्भङ्गः, कुवलयापीडवधः, मल्लयुद्धं, कंसवधः, स्तुतयः

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वैतद् आह सा कुब्जा गृह्यताम् इति सादरम् अनुलेपनं च ददौ गात्रयोग्यम् अथोभयोः

Transliteration

śrutvaitad āha sā kubjā gṛhyatām iti sādaram anulepanaṃ ca dadau gātrayogyam athobhayoḥ

Translation

Hearing this, Kubjā replied with reverence, “Please accept it,” and she respectfully offered the unguent fit for anointing the limbs, providing it for them both.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + क्त्वा (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया: ‘having heard’

• एतत्: this (request/statement)
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कुब्जा: the hunchback woman (Kubjā)
• कुब्जा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुब्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गृह्यताम्: let it be taken
• गृह्यताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): ‘let it be taken/accepted’

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• सादरम्: respectfully
• सादरम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स + आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative): ‘with respect’

• अनुलेपनम्: ointment
• अनुलेपनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु-लिप् (धातु) + ल्युट् → अनुलेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गात्रयोग्यम्: fit for the body
• गात्रयोग्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गात्र + योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गात्रस्य योग्यं)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• उभयोः: to/for both (of them)
• उभयोः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम (gen./loc. dual)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Continuation of Krishna’s Mathurā-līlā and the signs of devotion among common folk.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: compassionate and illustrative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna accepts the devotee’s offering to draw her into grace and deepen her devotion through intimate līlā.

Leela: Moksha-dana

Dharma Restored: Sanctification of ordinary service (seva) into worship through divine acceptance.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s grace is mediated through his willing acceptance of simple offerings made with śraddhā and respect.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Offer daily work or small gifts with sincerity, treating service as worship rather than transaction.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhagavān remains the supreme person yet enters reciprocal relations with devotees, receiving their offerings without losing transcendence.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Kubjā
• Krishna (implied)
• Balarāma (implied)

FAQs

What is the significance of Kubjā’s offering (anulepana) in the Vishnu Purana?

It shows bhakti expressed as simple service—an honoring gift offered to the Lord in His human līlā—foreshadowing divine grace bestowed upon a sincere devotee.

How does Sage Parāśara present devotion in this Krishna narrative?

Parāśara highlights devotion through respectful speech and tangible offering: Kubjā hears, responds with humility, and gives what she has, depicting bhakti as attentive receptivity and seva.

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

Even while moving among people, Vishnu as Krishna remains the Supreme—yet accessible—accepting offerings and transforming lives through compassionate sovereignty enacted in līlā.