Shloka 19

वैष्णवीमायावितानम्, उग्रसेनाभिषेकः, सुधर्मासभा, सांदीपनिगमनम्, पाञ्चजन्य-प्राप्तिः, गुरुदक्षिणा

Devanagari script

ततः सान्दीपनिं काश्यम् अवन्तीपुरवासिनम् अस्त्रार्थं जग्मतुर् वीरौ बलदेवजनार्दनौ

Transliteration

tataḥ sāndīpaniṃ kāśyam avantīpuravāsinam astrārthaṃ jagmatur vīrau baladevajanārdanau

Translation

Thereafter, the two heroic brothers—Baladeva and Janārdana—went to Sāndīpani of the Kāśyapa lineage, who dwelt in the city of Avantī, to master the knowledge of weapons and sacred martial disciplines.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal setting/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक (then/thereupon)

• सान्दीपनिम्: Sāndīpani
• सान्दीपनिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सान्दीपनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; आचार्य-नाम

• काश्यम्: of the Kāśya lineage
• काश्यम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (काश्य-गोत्रसम्बन्धी)

• अवन्तीपुरवासिनम्: dwelling in the city of Avantī
• अवन्तीपुरवासिनम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवन्तीपुर + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: अवन्तीपुरे वासी); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• अस्त्रार्थम्: for the sake of weapons (training)
• अस्त्रार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अस्त्रस्य अर्थः/प्रयोजनम्); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (accusative of purpose)

• जग्मतुः: went
• जग्मतुः: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपद

• वीरौ: the two heroes
• वीरौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• बलदेवजनार्दनौ: Baladeva and Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa)
• बलदेवजनार्दनौ: Karta (Subject apposition/कर्ता-सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलदेव + जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (बलदेवश्च जनार्दनश्च); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Where and under whom Krishna and Balarāma studied the martial and sacred disciplines.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna descends to enact human life-stages and dharma, including formal training in weapons to protect the world.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Kṣatriya discipline aligned with śāstra and guru-instruction, enabling righteous protection.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Power (astra-vidyā) becomes dharmic only when acquired through proper discipline and guru-guided training.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Pursue skills under qualified mentors; align competence with ethics, restraint, and service.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s līlā affirms that worldly capacities are to be sanctified through śāstra and ācārya, integrating devotion with right action.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Sandipani
• Kashyapa lineage
• Avanti
• Baladeva (Balarama)
• Janardana (Krishna)

FAQs

What is the significance of Sandipani in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse identifies Sāndīpani as the teacher approached by Balarama and Krishna to learn astra-vidyā, highlighting the Purana’s emphasis on guru-paramparā and disciplined knowledge even in divine incarnations.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the avatar’s conduct through this episode?

By narrating that Baladeva and Janārdana seek formal training, Parāśara frames the avatāra-līlā as the Lord modeling righteous social order—honoring teachers, learning arts properly, and using power under dharma.

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

Janārdana’s choice to study under a human guru underscores Vaishnava theology: the Supreme Reality enters history not from need, but to establish dharma and exemplify the ideal path for beings within the world.