Shloka 13

Hari’s Boon to Muchukunda, Security of the Yādus, and Balarāma’s Consolation in Vraja

Viraha-Bhakti

Devanagari script

अस्मच्चेष्टाम् अपहसन् न कच्चित् पुरयोषिताम् सौभाग्यमानम् अधिकं करोति क्षणसौहृदः

Transliteration

asmacceṣṭām apahasan na kaccit purayoṣitām saubhāgyamānam adhikaṃ karoti kṣaṇasauhṛdaḥ

Translation

Is there someone—laughing at my efforts—who makes the women of the city prize a fleeting, momentary affection as a greater “fortune” than true worth?

Word by Word

• अस्मत्-चेष्टाम्: our actions/gestures
• अस्मत्-चेष्टाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चेष्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘अस्माकं चेष्टा’

• अपहसन्: mocking, laughing at
• अपहसन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अपहस् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (concomitant action)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय/particle (negation)

• कच्चित्: whether, I wonder
• कच्चित्: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय/particle (anxious inquiry)

• पुर-योषिताम्: of the city-women
• पुर-योषिताम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक) + योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘पुरस्य योषितः’

• सौभाग्य-मानम्: the measure of good fortune
• सौभाग्य-मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभाग्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘सौभाग्यस्य मानम्’ (measure/esteem of fortune)

• अधिकम्: greater, excessive
• अधिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘मानम्’)

• करोति: makes, causes
• करोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• क्षण-सौहृदः: one whose friendship is momentary
• क्षण-सौहृदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + सौहृद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘क्षणस्य सौहृदम्’ (friendship lasting a moment)

Speaker

A male royal/noble speaker within the Ansha 4 dynastic narrative (courtly dialogue; exact named speaker not specified by the provided excerpt alone)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He descends to enchant hearts through līlā, drawing beings from worldly ‘saubhāgya’ to the higher fortune of devotion.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Right valuation of love—truthful, steadfast devotion over fickle social glamour.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worldly ‘fortune’ rooted in momentary attraction is inferior to steadfast love grounded in inner worth and fidelity.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Do not measure relationships or spirituality by social validation; cultivate steadiness (niṣṭhā) and sincerity over novelty.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhakti is a real, personal relation to the Lord that surpasses transient guṇic attractions, affirming the reality of loving dependence on Bhagavān.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Madhurya

Characters & Entities

• Women of the city (purayoṣitaḥ)
• A fickle suitor/temporary friend (kṣaṇasauhṛdaḥ)

FAQs

What is the significance of fleeting affection (kṣaṇa-sauhṛda) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse critiques momentary, opportunistic affection as something that can distort social judgment—making people treat transient charm as ‘greater fortune’ than enduring virtue.

How does the Vishnu Purana frame reputation and honor in dynastic (Ansha 4) narratives?

Through courtly dialogues like this, the text shows how public perception—especially in royal settings—can be influenced by mockery, gossip, and short-lived alliances, highlighting the need for steadiness and dharmic conduct.

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

Even in social and historical episodes, the Vishnu Purana implicitly contrasts unstable worldly attachments with the higher ideal of steadfastness—an orientation ultimately fulfilled in devotion to Vishnu as the enduring Supreme Reality.