Shloka 8

कुब्जानुग्रहः, धनुर्भङ्गः, कुवलयापीडवधः, मल्लयुद्धं, कंसवधः, स्तुतयः

Devanagari script

भक्तिच्छेदानुलिप्ताङ्गौ ततस् तौ पुरुषर्षभौ सेन्द्रचापौ विराजेतां सितकृष्णाव् इवाम्बुदौ

Transliteration

bhakticchedānuliptāṅgau tatas tau puruṣarṣabhau sendracāpau virājetāṃ sitakṛṣṇāv ivāmbudau

Translation

Then those two bull-like heroes among men, their bodies as though marked with the traces of devotion’s trials, shone forth like two clouds—one white and one dark—each arched with a rainbow as if bearing Indra’s bow.

Word by Word

• भक्तिच्छेद: with a break/cut of devotion (i.e., with devoted effort)
• भक्तिच्छेद: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति + छेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भक्तेः छेदः)

• अनुलिप्ताङ्गौ: (the two) with anointed limbs
• अनुलिप्ताङ्गौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-लिप् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → अनुलिप्त (कृदन्त) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘अनुलिप्तानि अङ्गानि यस्य’ (having limbs anointed)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (thereupon/then)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुरुषर्षभौ: bulls among men / best of men (two)
• पुरुषर्षभौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पुरुषाणां ऋषभौ)

• सेन्द्रचापौ: with rainbows
• सेन्द्रचापौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + इन्द्रचाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘इन्द्रचापसहितौ’ (with rainbows)

• विराजेताम्: shone forth
• विराजेताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-राज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सितकृष्णौ: white and dark
• सितकृष्णौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित + कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व (white and dark)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (Comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय (simile marker)

• अम्बुदौ: two clouds
• अम्बुदौ: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How Krishna’s presence manifests divinity even in ordinary encounters.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna and Balarāma reveal their radiance, enchanting devotees and signaling divine power concealed within human play.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Assurance of divine protection and the imminent removal of tyrannical adharma.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine beauty and tejas appear most vividly when touched by devotion, turning the body into a sign of grace.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate devotion that refines conduct and presence—let inner bhakti express as outward gentleness and purity.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhagavān’s auspicious qualities (kalyāṇa-guṇas) become perceptible in embodied form, supporting a personal, attribute-full Brahman.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Kings (dynastic context)

FAQs

What is the significance of Indra’s bow (rainbow) in this Vishnu Purana verse?

It functions as an auspicious cosmic sign—suggesting divine sanction and harmony of ṛta (universal order) around the appearance of these two heroic figures.

How does Sage Parāśara frame devotion (bhakti) in this context?

By noting “bhakti-ccheda” and the marks upon their bodies, he implies devotion is proven through trials; endurance through disruption becomes a visible testimony to inner steadfastness.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu in this context even when not named?

Within Ansha 4’s dynastic narrative, royal splendor and auspicious portents ultimately rest on Vishnu’s supreme governance—kings and omens are meaningful because sovereignty is rooted in the Supreme Reality who upholds dharma.