Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

स तु वीर्यमदोन्मत्तः पृथिव्यां बलिनो नृपान् पप्रच्छ नारदस् तस्मै कथयाम् आस यादवान्

Transliteration

sa tu vīryamadonmattaḥ pṛthivyāṃ balino nṛpān papraccha nāradas tasmai kathayām āsa yādavān

Translation

But he, intoxicated by pride in his own prowess, questioned the mighty kings upon the earth. Then Nārada, in reply, began to recount to him the lineage of the Yādavas.

Word by Word

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

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात; contrast/indeed)

• वीर्य-मद-उन्मत्तः: maddened by pride of strength
• वीर्य-मद-उन्मत्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मद (प्रातिपदिक) + उन्मत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘वीर्येण मदः तेन उन्मत्तः’ (maddened by pride of prowess)

• पृथिव्याम्: on the earth
• पृथिव्याम्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (on the earth)

• बलिनः: strong
• बलिनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘नृपान्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (strong)

• नृपान्: kings
• नृपान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• पप्रच्छ: asked
• पप्रच्छ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘asked’

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (to him)

• कथयाम् आस: told; narrated
• कथयाम् आस: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथ् (धातु) + णिच् + आम् (लिट्-पर्याय) + √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-पर्याय — ‘कथयाम् आस’ = ‘कथयामास’ (told/narrated); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यादवान्: the Yādavas
• यादवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यादव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘यादव-जनान्’ (the Yādavas)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; within the narrative, Sage Nārada speaks genealogical details to the unnamed inquirer referenced as 'he')

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To orchestrate the protection of the Yādavas by drawing Kālayavana into a destined confrontation, with Nārada catalyzing events through strategic speech.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Safeguarding the Yādavas and ensuring the downfall of arrogance-driven adharma.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pride in strength (vīrya-mada) clouds discernment, while the sage’s speech can redirect history by revealing where true power and dharma reside.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Watch for ego-intoxication in competence; seek counsel from wise voices and use speech to de-escalate or rightly channel power.

Vishishtadvaita: Nārada functions as Bhagavān’s instrument—divine immanence working through a devotee-sage to guide beings toward their karmic and providential outcomes.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Vamsha: Chandra

Key Kings: Yādava(s)

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Kings (nṛpāḥ)

FAQs

What is the significance of the Yādava lineage in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse introduces Nārada’s recounting of the Yādavas, a key dynastic stream in the Lunar line that anchors later sacred history and the political-theological legacy of Kṛṣṇa’s clan.

How does Sage Parāśara frame pride and power in royal narratives?

By describing the figure as 'maddened by pride of valor,' the text signals that dynastic greatness is not merely force-based; it must align with dharma, and genealogies are narrated as moral history, not just records of rule.

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

Even in genealogical chapters, the Purana’s structure implies that sovereignty and succession unfold under Vishnu’s supreme governance—dynasties rise and fall within the larger order upheld by the Supreme Reality.