Shloka 5

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

Viraha-Bhakti

Devanagari script

ततः कलियुगं ज्ञात्वा प्राप्तं तप्तुं नृपस् तपः नरनारायणस्थानं प्रययौ गन्धमादनम्

Transliteration

tataḥ kaliyugaṃ jñātvā prāptaṃ taptuṃ nṛpas tapaḥ naranārāyaṇasthānaṃ prayayau gandhamādanam

Translation

Then, recognizing that the age of Kali had arrived, the king resolved to undertake austerities; and setting his course for the sacred seat of Nara and Nārāyaṇa, he departed for Gandhamādana.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (Adverbial relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर-अर्थे (thereafter)

• kali-yugam: the Kali age
• kali-yugam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kali + yuga (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कलिः यस्य युगम्)

• jñātvā: having known
• jñātvā: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund): 'having known/understood'

• prāptam: having arrived, come
• prāptam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāpta (कृदन्त; pra + √āp (धातु))
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः; 'arrived/come' (agreeing with kaliyugam)

• taptum: to perform austerity
• taptum: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tap (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्तः (infinitive): 'to perform austerity/to heat'

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

• tapaḥ: austerity, penance
• tapaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• nara-nārāyaṇa-sthānam: the abode of Nara-Nārāyaṇa
• nara-nārāyaṇa-sthānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + nārāyaṇa + sthāna (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नरनारायणयोः स्थानम्)

• prayayau: went forth, departed
• prayayau: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + √yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• gandhamādanam: Gandhamādana (mountain)
• gandhamādanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha-mādana (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; नाम (mountain-name)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Yuga: Kali

Manvantara: Vaivasvata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Recognizing Kali-yuga’s arrival, one should turn from worldly pursuits toward tapas at a sanctified refuge of Nara-Nārāyaṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: In times of decline, adopt disciplined practice (japa, vrata, study) and seek uplifting environments/communities.

Vishishtadvaita: Nārāyaṇa is approached through embodied disciplines (tapas) at sacred loci; the Lord’s grace works through dharmic practice in the world.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Nara-Narayana
• Gandhamadana
• King (nṛpa)

FAQs

What is the significance of Kali Yuga in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse treats Kali Yuga as a decisive turning point: as dharma wanes, the king chooses tapas and pilgrimage, showing that spiritual discipline is a primary remedy in the age of decline.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the proper response to an age of degeneration?

Through the narrative example of a king who, upon recognizing Kali’s onset, withdraws from worldly aims and seeks sanctified association—here, the seat of Nara-Nārāyaṇa—Parāśara highlights renunciation and devotion-oriented austerity.

What is the theological importance of Nara-Nārāyaṇa in this context?

Nara-Nārāyaṇa represents the divine ideal of disciplined ascetic power aligned with Viṣṇu’s supreme order; approaching their abode signifies seeking refuge in the highest spiritual authority rather than worldly sovereignty.