Shloka 4

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

Viraha-Bhakti

Devanagari script

इत्य् उक्तः प्रणिपत्येशं जगताम् अच्युतं नृपः गुहामुखाद् विनिष्क्रान्तः ददृशे सो ऽल्पकान् नरान्

Transliteration

ity uktaḥ praṇipatyeśaṃ jagatām acyutaṃ nṛpaḥ guhāmukhād viniṣkrāntaḥ dadṛśe so 'lpakān narān

Translation

Thus instructed, the king bowed down to the Lord of the worlds, Acyuta. Then, emerging from the mouth of the cave, he beheld only a few men.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative particle)

• uktaḥ: (having been) told
• uktaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ukta (कृदन्त; √vac (धातु))
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (past passive participle: 'having been told')

• praṇipatya: having prostrated
• praṇipatya: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + √nam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund): 'having bowed down'

• īśam: the Lord
• īśam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• jagatām: of the worlds
• jagatām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; सम्बन्धः (genitive: 'of the worlds')

• acyutam: Acyuta (the unfailing one)
• acyutam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेष्य-नाम (epithet)

• nṛpaḥ: the king
• nṛpaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• guhā-mukhāt: from the mouth/entrance of the cave
• guhā-mukhāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guhā + mukha (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गुहायाः मुखम्); अपादानम् (ablative: 'from the cave-mouth')

• viniṣkrāntaḥ: having emerged
• viniṣkrāntaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + nis + √kram (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (past participle: 'having come out')

• dadṛśe: he saw
• dadṛśe: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• alpakān: few, small in number
• alpakān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• narān: men, people
• narān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After receiving instruction, humble surrender (praṇipāta) before Acyuta precedes right-seeing of the world’s transience.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice gratitude and surrender after spiritual insight; then re-enter daily life with discernment and simplicity.

Vishishtadvaita: Acyuta is ‘jagatām īśa’—the personal Lord of real worlds, approached through reverent surrender.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Acyuta)
• A king (nṛpa)
• Men (narāḥ)

FAQs

What is the significance of the name Acyuta in the Vishnu Purana?

Acyuta means “the unfailing/imperishable one,” emphasizing Vishnu’s unchanging sovereignty over the worlds even as worldly conditions transform around the king.

How does Sage Parāśara frame royal dharma in this verse?

By showing the king first receiving instruction and then offering praṇipāta (reverent prostration), Parāśara presents humility before the Supreme Lord as foundational to righteous kingship.

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

Vishnu is identified as īśa of jagat—Lord of the cosmos—so the narrative underscores that political power and human society remain subordinate to the Supreme Reality who governs universal order.