Shloka 12

Kālayavana’s Rise, Dvārakā’s Founding, and Muchukunda’s Awakening (Śaraṇāgati & Brahman-Stuti)

Devanagari script

मयि मत्ते प्रमत्ते वा सुप्ते प्रवसिते तथा यादवाभिभवं दुष्टा मा कुर्वंस् त्व् अरयो ऽधिकाः

Transliteration

mayi matte pramatte vā supte pravasite tathā yādavābhibhavaṃ duṣṭā mā kurvaṃs tv arayo 'dhikāḥ

Translation

Whether I am intoxicated, heedless, asleep, or even away from the city—let not the wicked and overbold enemies dare to disgrace and overthrow the Yādavas.

Word by Word

• मयि: in me / when I (am)
• मयि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), उत्तमपुरुष-प्रातिपदिक; एकवचन, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी)

• मत्ते: when (I am) intoxicated
• मत्ते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद् (कृदन्त; √मद् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), अर्थः ‘मत्तः’ (intoxicated/infatuated)

• प्रमत्ते: when (I am) careless
• प्रमत्ते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमद् (कृदन्त; प्र+√मद् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, अर्थः ‘प्रमत्तः’ (careless/heedless)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• सुप्ते: when (I am) asleep
• सुप्ते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वप् (कृदन्त; √स्वप् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, अर्थः ‘सुप्तः’ (asleep)

• प्रवसिते: when (I am) away
• प्रवसिते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवस् (कृदन्त; प्र+√वस् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, अर्थः ‘प्रवसितः’ (gone away/absent)

• तथा: thus / likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: ‘thus/also’)

• यादव-अभिभवम्: the defeat/overpowering of the Yādavas
• यादव-अभिभवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यादव (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यादवानाम् अभिभवः)

• दुष्टाः: the wicked (people)
• दुष्टाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्ट (कृदन्त; √दुष् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, अर्थः ‘दुष्टजनाः’ (wicked ones)

• मा: do not
• मा: Pratishedha (Prohibition/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-निपात (prohibitive particle: ‘do not’)

• कुर्वन्: (should) do / doing
• कुर्वन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त), पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा); ‘करन्तः’ (doing) — निषेध ‘मा’ सह (prohibitive sense)

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/विरोधार्थक (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• अरयः: enemies
• अरयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा)

• अधिकाः: superior / too strong
• अधिकाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा); विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘अरयः’)

Speaker

A Yadava leader/king (contextually a warning within the Yadava narrative, related to Krishna-era political security)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To protect the Yādavas and uphold dharma by preventing hostile forces from subjugating them even in moments of apparent vulnerability.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of the devotee-community and preservation of righteous sovereignty

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True guardianship of dharma includes foreseeing danger and preventing the oppression of the righteous even when one appears unprepared.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate strategic vigilance: protect dependents and institutions by anticipating risks rather than reacting after harm is done.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s sovereignty operates within history to safeguard His devotees, showing divine immanence in social order.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Enemies (Arayaḥ)

FAQs

What is the significance of vigilance and royal protection in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames protection of a dynasty as a dharmic duty: even a moment of negligence (sleep, absence, intoxication) can invite adharma through hostile aggression against the Yadavas.

How does the Vishnu Purana present governance in the Yadava context?

Through cautions like this, the text emphasizes practical statecraft—anticipating enemies and preventing opportunistic attacks—while situating political order within dharma.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu in this context?

In Ansha 5’s Krishna-centered narrative, the stability of the Yadavas functions as a worldly expression of divine order—Vishnu’s presence (as Krishna) underwrites protection, yet human vigilance remains necessary.