Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

इति संचिन्त्य गोविन्दो योजनानि महोदधिम् ययाचे द्वादश पुरीं द्वारकां तत्र निर्ममे

Transliteration

iti saṃcintya govindo yojanāni mahodadhim yayāce dvādaśa purīṃ dvārakāṃ tatra nirmame

Translation

Thus reflecting, Govinda petitioned the great ocean for twelve yojanas of space; and upon that granted expanse he established the city of Dvārakā.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, वाक्य-समाप्त्यर्थक/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle: ‘thus’)

• संचिन्त्य: having considered
• संचिन्त्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+√चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; अर्थः ‘संचिन्त्य’ (having reflected)

• गोविन्दः: Govinda
• गोविन्दः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा)

• योजनानि: yojanas (a measure)
• योजनानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया)

• महोदधिम्: the great ocean
• महोदधिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + उदधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया); कर्मधारयः (महान् उदधिः)

• ययाचे: asked/begged
• ययाचे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √याच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-विशेषणम्; (here) द्वितीया-बहुवचनार्थे ‘पुरीम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (twelve)

• पुरीम्: a city
• पुरीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया)

• द्वारकाम्: Dvārakā
• द्वारकाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया); ‘पुरीम्’ इत्यस्य विशेष्य-विशेषणभावे अपि (apposition)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: ‘there’)

• निर्ममे: constructed / built
• निर्ममे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+√मा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To secure an inviolable refuge for the Yādavas by obtaining land from the ocean and founding Dvārakā.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Establishment of a protected dharmic polity for the Lord’s devotees

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord, though independent, arranges a secure abode for His devotees, turning even the ocean into a servant of dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Seek refuge (śaraṇāgati) and build life-structures that support devotion—community, discipline, and safe boundaries.

Vishishtadvaita: Nature and cosmic powers (like the ocean) function as the Lord’s modes, responsive to His will—divine immanence in the world-order.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Govinda (Sri Krishna)
• Mahodadhi (the great ocean)
• Dvaraka (Dvārakā)

FAQs

What is the significance of Dvārakā’s founding in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents Dvārakā as a divinely sanctioned city—space itself is obtained from the ocean—highlighting Krishna’s role as protector-king who establishes a secure, dharmic realm for his people.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Krishna’s authority over the natural world here?

Through the simple act of “requesting” the ocean and receiving an expanse to build upon, Parāśara frames nature as responsive to Bhagavān, underscoring that the elements operate within Vishnu’s cosmic order.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu (Krishna) in this context?

Krishna is shown as the Supreme Lord whose will manifests as orderly creation—founding a sacred city—illustrating divine immanence and sovereignty central to Vaishnava theology.