Shloka 9

कुब्जानुग्रहः, धनुर्भङ्गः, कुवलयापीडवधः, मल्लयुद्धं, कंसवधः, स्तुतयः

Devanagari script

ततस् तां चिबुके शौरिर् उल्लापनविधानवित् उत्पाट्य तोलयाम् आस द्व्यङ्गुलेनाग्रपाणिना

Transliteration

tatas tāṃ cibuke śaurir ullāpanavidhānavit utpāṭya tolayām āsa dvyaṅgulenāgrapāṇinā

Translation

Then Śauri, fully skilled in the art of playful teasing, caught her by the chin and, lifting her up, held her poised as though weighing her, using only two fingers of his hand.

Word by Word

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

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• चिबुके: at/on the chin
• चिबुके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिबुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (locative)

• शौरिः: Śauri (Krishna)
• शौरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उल्लापनविधानवित्: knower of the method of straightening
• उल्लापनविधानवित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उल्लापन + विधान + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘उल्लापनविधानं वेत्ति’ (knower of the method of straightening/raising)

• उत्पाट्य: having pulled up
• उत्पाट्य: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-पाṭ्/उत्पाट् (धातु) + क्त्वा (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund): ‘having pulled up’

• तोलयाम्: to raise
• तोलयाम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुल्/तोल् (धातु)
• Form: णमुल्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitival/absolutive-like): ‘to lift/raise’ (tolyām)

• आस: did / proceeded
• आस: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; सहायक-क्रिया (periphrastic: ‘did/was’)

• द्व्यङ्गुलेन: with two fingers
• द्व्यङ्गुलेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि + अङ्गुलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (two-finger measure)

• अग्रपाणिना: with the forehand / front part of the hand
• अग्रपाणिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अग्रे स्थितः पाणिः / अग्रभागस्य पाणिः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Krishna’s charming conduct and its effect on devotees in Mathurā.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: intimate and narrative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna playfully engages Kubjā, transforming her longing into a moment of intimate grace that deepens her devotion.

Leela: Bala

Dharma Restored: Affirmation that divine play can uplift the socially overlooked without violating propriety of bhakti.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Madhurya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna (Śauri)

FAQs

What is the significance of Krishna lifting someone with two fingers in the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights Krishna’s effortless sovereignty—his divine power appears through an intimate, playful gesture, showing the Supreme Lord engaging lovingly with devotees in Vraja.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Krishna’s behavior in this scene?

Parāśara frames it as deliberate lila: Krishna, ‘skilled in playful teasing,’ adopts humanlike gestures to deepen affectionate devotion while still remaining the transcendent Lord.

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

Krishna’s apparent simplicity is a veil for the Supreme Reality: Vishnu’s absolute lordship is not diminished by intimacy; it is expressed through it, supporting Vaishnava readings centered on bhakti.