Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

तत् क्षन्तव्यम् इदं सर्वम् अतिक्रमकृतं पितः कंसप्रतापवीर्याभ्याम् आवयोः परवश्ययोः

Transliteration

tat kṣantavyam idaṃ sarvam atikramakṛtaṃ pitaḥ kaṃsapratāpavīryābhyām āvayoḥ paravaśyayoḥ

Translation

Father, forgive all this—whatever transgression has been committed. Overpowered by Kaṃsa’s might and ruthless valor, we were made helpless, compelled to act under another’s control.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• क्षन्तव्यम्: should be forgiven
• क्षन्तव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्षम (धातु) + तव्यत् (gerundive)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तम् (gerundive/obligatory passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; 'should be forgiven'

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Apposition/Anaphoric
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• अतिक्रमकृतम्: done as a transgression
• अतिक्रमकृतम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिक्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (√कृ धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्तान्त-विशेषणम्

• पितः: O father
• पितः: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative), एकवचनम् (Vedic/epic vocative form)

• कंसप्रतापवीर्याभ्याम्: by Kaṃsa's might and valor
• कंसप्रतापवीर्याभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंस (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रताप (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), द्विवचनम्; द्वन्द्व-आभ्याम् ending indicates 'by (his) might and valor' as a pair; whole as कंस-सम्बन्धि

• आवयोः: of us two
• आवयोः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), द्विवचनम्

• परवश्ययोः: of (us two) who were under another's control
• परवश्ययोः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परवश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying आवयोः)

Speaker

Vasudeva (addressing his father, as part of the Yadava family’s turmoil under Kamsa)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Kṛṣṇa’s humility and reconciliation with His parents after Kaṃsa’s oppression

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: compassionate

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa seeks forgiveness from Vasudeva, attributing any lapse in filial duty to coercion under Kaṃsa’s oppressive power, thereby modeling humility and dharma.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Filial piety and moral accountability tempered by recognition of coercive tyranny

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even when wrongdoing is driven by coercion, the righteous seek forgiveness and restore relationships with humility.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When circumstances forced hard choices, still practice accountability: explain constraints without self-justification and actively repair harmed bonds.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhagavān’s avatāra models dharma as lived virtue—humility and relational repair—showing that grace works through ethical exemplarity within the world.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Vamsha: Chandra

Dharma Exemplar: Kṣamā-yācñā (seeking forgiveness)

Key Kings: Krishna, Vasudeva, Kaṃsa

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Kamsa
• Vasudeva
• Father (pita—Yadava elder)

FAQs

What is the significance of acting under coercion (paravaśa) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames moral injury under tyranny: the speaker asks forgiveness because actions were compelled by Kaṃsa’s overpowering force, highlighting how adharma creates helplessness that ultimately necessitates divine restoration of order.

How does the narrative use family dialogue to show the impact of Kamsa’s rule?

By placing an apology to a father/elder at the center, the text shows that political oppression fractures household dharma and forces even well-intentioned people into transgression.

What is Lord Vishnu’s theological importance in this context, even if not named in the verse?

Kaṃsa’s oppressive sovereignty is portrayed as adharma that cannot sustain cosmic order; the broader Krishna-avatara narrative positions Vishnu as the Supreme Reality who restores dharma when human agency is crushed.