Shloka 9

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

Viraha-Bhakti

Devanagari script

ततो गोपांश् च गोपीश् च यथापूर्वम् अमित्रजित् तथैवाभ्यवदत् प्रेम्णा बहुमानपुरःसरम्

Transliteration

tato gopāṃś ca gopīś ca yathāpūrvam amitrajit tathaivābhyavadat premṇā bahumānapuraḥsaram

Translation

Then the unconquered hero addressed the cowherds and the cowherd-women just as before—speaking with affection, his words led by honor and warm regard.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla/Anukrama (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक (then/thereafter)

• गोपान्: the cowherds
• गोपान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• गोपीः: the cowherd women
• गोपीः: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यथा-पूर्वम्: as before
• यथा-पूर्वम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb): 'as before/according to former manner'

• अमित्रजित्: O Amitrajit
• अमित्रजित्: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्रजित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम (epithet)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/in that way)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• अभ्यवदत्: he greeted/spoke to
• अभ्यवदत्: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-वाद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: अभि-वाद् (to greet/speak to)

• प्रेम्णा: with affection
• प्रेम्णा: Karaṇa (Means/manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• बहुमान-पुरःसरम्: preceded by honor/respect
• बहुमान-पुरःसरम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial accusative qualifying greeting)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुमान (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरःसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (बहुमानः पुरःसरः यस्य/यत् = preceded by respect)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord (and His divine associates) meets devotees in the language of their relationship—honoring them with affectionate, familiar regard.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Approach devotion relationally: let respect and warmth guide speech and conduct in community.

Vishishtadvaita: Personal reciprocity between divine and devotee underscores a real, enduring relation (śeṣa-śeṣin) rather than impersonal abstraction.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Sakhya

Vyuha Form: Sankarshana

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Gopis (cowherd-women)

FAQs

What is the significance of Krishna addressing the gopas and gopis “as before” in the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights continuity of intimacy and trust in Vraja—Krishna preserves their relational dharma and reassures them through familiar, affectionate speech.

How does Sage Parashara explain devotion (bhakti) through this verse’s tone?

By depicting the Lord speaking with premā (love) and bahumāna (honor), Parashara shows bhakti as a reciprocal bond where the Supreme acknowledges devotees with warmth and esteem.

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

Krishna’s sovereignty is expressed not by distance but by gracious accessibility—Supreme Reality willingly relates to devotees, sustaining order through compassion and respectful conduct.