Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

प्रोक्तश् च देवैः संसुप्तं यस् त्वाम् उत्थापयिष्यति देहजेनाग्निना सद्यः स तु भस्मीभविष्यति

Transliteration

proktaś ca devaiḥ saṃsuptaṃ yas tvām utthāpayiṣyati dehajenāgninā sadyaḥ sa tu bhasmībhaviṣyati

Translation

Thus have the gods declared: while you lie in deep slumber, whoever seeks to awaken you will at once be reduced to ashes by the fire that springs from your own body.

Word by Word

• proktaḥ: declared/said
• proktaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prokta (कृदन्त; √vac/वच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण—‘said/declared’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• devaiḥ: by the gods
• devaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• saṃsuptam: (one) asleep
• saṃsuptam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃsupta (कृदन्त; √svap/स्वप्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण—‘fallen asleep’

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• utthāpayiṣyati: will awaken/raise
• utthāpayiṣyati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: utthāpay (धातु; √sthā/स्था, णिच् causative + ut-)
• Form: लृट् (Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

• dehajena: with (that) born from the body
• dehajena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deha-ja (प्रातिपदिक; deha + ja)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘dehāt jātaḥ’ (born from the body)

• agninā: with fire
• agninā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• sadyaḥ: immediately
• sadyaḥ: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadyaḥ (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• bhasmībhaviṣyati: will become ashes
• bhasmībhaviṣyati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhasmī-bhū (धातु; √bhū/भू with bhasmī- prefix)
• Form: लृट् (Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; नामधातु-प्रयोग (to become ashes)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To protect the world and devotees by destroying adharmic aggressors and re-establishing dharma in the Yadu line.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of the righteous and the inviolability of divinely granted boons; restraint of arrogant violence.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Arrogant interference with divinely sanctioned order rebounds instantly upon the wrongdoer.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Respect boundaries, avoid coercion and hubris, and heed wise counsel before acting.

Vishishtadvaita: Hari’s sovereign will operates within the world as moral governance, not mere impersonal fate.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Characters & Entities

• Devas (the gods)
• Agni (fire, as bodily fire/tejas)

FAQs

What is the significance of ‘dehaja agni’ (fire born of the body) in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse it signifies the innate spiritual radiance (tejas) generated by tapas/yogic power, which functions as a divinely sanctioned protection—anyone who violates the ordained boundary is immediately destroyed.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the consequence of disturbing a sacred or divinely protected sleep?

Parāśara frames it as a decree of the Devas: the act is not merely impolite but a breach of cosmic order, and the punishment is instantaneous—incineration by the sleeper’s own tejas.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the line, the Purana’s worldview is operative: divine governance preserves dharma through inviolable protections, reflecting the sovereignty of the Supreme Reality that upholds cosmic law.