Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

मथुरावासिनो लोकांस् तत्रानीय जनार्दनः आसन्ने कालयवने मथुरां च स्वयं ययौ

Transliteration

mathurāvāsino lokāṃs tatrānīya janārdanaḥ āsanne kālayavane mathurāṃ ca svayaṃ yayau

Translation

Janārdana brought the people of Mathurā to a place of safety; and as Kālayavana drew near, he himself went to Mathurā, taking the peril upon his own person to protect his devotees.

Word by Word

• मथुरा-वासिनः: the inhabitants of Mathurā
• मथुरा-वासिनः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मथुरा (प्रातिपदिक) + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मथुरायां वासिनः)

• लोकान्: people
• लोकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया)

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

• आनीय: having brought
• आनीय: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+√नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; अर्थः ‘आनीय’ (having brought)

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana (Krishna)
• जनार्दनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा)

• आसन्ने: when (he was) near/at hand
• आसन्ने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आसन्न (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त; आ+√सद् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी); ‘कालयवने’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (near/approaching)

• कालयवने: (in the presence of) Kālayavana
• कालयवने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालयवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी)

• मथुराम्: Mathurā
• मथुराम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मथुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction: ‘and’)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta (Agent-emphasis/कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, आत्मार्थक (reflexive adverb: ‘himself’)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To shield the people of Mathurā by relocating them to safety while personally confronting the imminent threat of Kālayavana.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of devotees and righteous rule through strategic self-sacrifice and leadership

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord places the safety of His devotees first, taking peril upon Himself as the supreme protector.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice responsible compassion: ensure others’ safety and well-being before confronting crises personally.

Vishishtadvaita: Divine compassion (dayā) expresses itself in concrete historical acts, not merely transcendence—God’s accessibility to devotees.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Janardana (Sri Krishna/Vishnu)
• Mathura (city)
• Mathuravasins (people of Mathura)
• Kalayavana

FAQs

What is the significance of Krishna moving the people of Mathurā before facing Kālayavana in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights Krishna’s role as protector: he first secures the citizens, then personally turns toward the threat, showing divine kingship where the Lord bears danger to preserve dharma and his devotees.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Krishna’s strategy in this episode?

Parāśara narrates a deliberate sequence—relocate the vulnerable, then confront the approaching enemy—presenting Krishna’s actions as purposeful governance rather than mere battlefield impulse.

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

Janārdana appears as the Supreme Lord acting within history: his protection of devotees and calm mastery over impending danger exemplify Vishnu’s sovereignty and sustaining power in the world.