Shloka 6

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

Viraha-Bhakti

Devanagari script

कृष्णो ऽपि घातयित्वारिम् उपायेन हि तद्बलम् जग्राह मथुराम् एत्य हस्त्यश्वस्यन्दनोज्ज्वलम्

Transliteration

kṛṣṇo 'pi ghātayitvārim upāyena hi tadbalam jagrāha mathurām etya hastyaśvasyandanojjvalam

Translation

Kṛṣṇa too, by wise strategy, destroyed the foe and shattered the strength of his forces. Then he came to Mathurā and took possession of that radiant city, resplendent with elephants, horses, and chariots.

Word by Word

• kṛṣṇaḥ: Kṛṣṇa
• kṛṣṇaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थे (particle: 'also/even')

• ghātayitvā: having had (someone) killed
• ghātayitvā: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु) [णिच् causative: ghātayati]
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund) causative: 'having caused to be slain'

• arim: enemy
• arim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• upāyena: by a means, by a strategy
• upāyena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; करणम् (instrumental: 'by means')

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपातः (emphatic/causal particle)

• tat-balam: his/that force, army
• tat-balam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य बलम्)

• jagrāha: seized, took
• jagrāha: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• mathurām: Mathurā
• mathurām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mathurā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; नगर-नाम

• etya: having gone (to), having come
• etya: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √i (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund): 'having gone/coming'

• hasti-aśva-syandana-ujjvalam: bright with elephants, horses, and chariots
• hasti-aśva-syandana-ujjvalam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hasti + aśva + syandana + ujjvala (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (mathurām); समासार्थः: हस्त्यश्वस्यन्दनैः उज्ज्वलाम् (bright with elephants, horses, chariots)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating) to Maitreya

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa descends to destroy oppressive foes and re-establish righteous rule, protecting the Yādavas and the world.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Removal of tyrannical rule and restoration of just kingship in Mathurā

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma may be upheld through righteous strength guided by wise strategy (upāya), not brute force alone.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Confront injustice with courage and prudence—choose effective means aligned with ethical ends.

Vishishtadvaita: The personal Lord acts in history to protect beings; divine agency works through practical nīti while remaining supremely sovereign.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna (personal)

Bhakti Type: Sakhya

Vyuha Form: Vasudeva

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Mathura

FAQs

What is the significance of Krishna taking Mathura in the Vishnu Purana?

It marks the restoration of dharmic rule: after neutralizing hostile power, Krishna establishes rightful sovereignty over Mathura, signaling the reordering of society under divine guidance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of strategy (upāya) here?

Parāśara frames Krishna’s victory as not merely brute force but intelligent, purposeful action—upāya—showing that divine governance can operate through practical means to remove adharma.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu as Krishna in this context?

Krishna’s conquest is presented as the Supreme Lord’s protective function: Vishnu incarnates to dismantle oppressive power and re-establish cosmic and social order (dharma) through decisive, sovereign action.