Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

देवलोकगतिं प्राप्तो नाथ देवगणो ऽपि हि मत्तः साहाय्यकामो ऽभूच् शाश्वती कुत्र निर्वृतिः

Transliteration

devalokagatiṃ prāpto nātha devagaṇo 'pi hi mattaḥ sāhāyyakāmo 'bhūc śāśvatī kutra nirvṛtiḥ

Translation

O Lord—though the host of gods attained the path to heaven, even they came to seek help from me. Where, then, is everlasting peace to be found in any realm of the world?

Word by Word

• देव-लोक-गतिम्: the going to the world of gods
• देव-लोक-गतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (देवलोकस्य गतिः)

• प्राप्तः: having attained
• प्राप्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्राप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन

• नाथ: O lord
• नाथ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Case 8), एकवचन

• देव-गणः: the host of gods
• देव-गणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (देवानां गणः)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• मत्तः: from me
• मत्तः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी (Case 5/अपादान), एकवचन

• साहाय्य-कामः: desiring help
• साहाय्य-कामः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साहाय्य (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (साहाय्यं कामयते)

• अभूत्: became
• अभूत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• शाश्वती: eternal
• शाश्वती: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन; ‘निर्वृतिः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कुत्र: where
• कुत्र: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: where)

• निर्वृतिः: cessation/peace
• निर्वृतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्वृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन

Speaker

A speaker addressing a higher Lord (nātha); within the Vishnu Purana’s dominant frame this functions as a devotional utterance aligned with the Parasara–Maitreya narration, emphasizing that even devas depend on aid and that true śāśvata-nirvṛti lies beyond heavenly attainment—ultimately in Vishnu.

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna is addressed to affirm that even heavenly attainment is not final; true peace lies only in the Lord beyond all lokas.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Orientation toward nitya-śreyas (eternal good) over temporary heavenly reward

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even devaloka is not the seat of śāśvatī nirvṛti; all realms within the cosmos remain non-final and dependent.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Do not treat success, prestige, or ‘higher experiences’ as ultimate; aim practices toward inner surrender and God-centered peace rather than status in any realm.

Vishishtadvaita: Implied hierarchy: lokas are finite; the Lord alone is the infinite refuge, and liberation is communion/service to Him, not relocation within the cosmos.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devas (devagaṇa)
• Devaloka (heavenly realm)

FAQs

What is the significance of Devaloka (heaven) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse underscores that reaching Devaloka is not the same as attaining everlasting peace; heavenly status remains within the changing cosmos and does not guarantee final contentment.

How does the Vishnu Purana frame the idea of lasting peace (śāśvatī nirvṛtiḥ)?

By contrasting heavenly attainment with continued dependence and seeking of help, the verse points to a peace that is not located in any worldly realm but in the ultimate refuge—Vishnu and liberation.

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

The implied teaching is that all beings—including the gods—remain contingent within cosmic order, while the truly permanent refuge and fulfillment is grounded in Vishnu as the supreme reality.