Shloka 5

बलरामस्य वारुणी-प्रसङ्गः, यमुनाकर्षणम्, लक्ष्मी-प्रदत्त-विभूषणम्, रेवती-विवाहः

Devanagari script

विचरन् बलदेवो ऽपि मदिरागन्धम् उत्तमम् आघ्राय मदिरातर्षम् अवापाथ पुरातनम्

Transliteration

vicaran baladevo 'pi madirāgandham uttamam āghrāya madirātarṣam avāpātha purātanam

Translation

As Balarāma too wandered about, he caught the finest fragrance of liquor; and merely by inhaling it, an ancient thirst for wine arose within him once again.

Word by Word

• विचरन्: wandering
• विचरन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु) + विचर (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तरि (acting as finite-like participle)

• बलदेवः: Baladeva
• बलदेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (also/even)

• मदिरागन्धम्: the smell of wine
• मदिरागन्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदिरा + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—मदिरा-गन्ध (मदिरायाः गन्धः)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘मदिरागन्धम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• आघ्राय: having smelled
• आघ्राय: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + घ्रा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वक्रिया

• मदिरातर्षम्: craving for wine
• मदिरातर्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदिरा + तर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—मदिरा-तर्ष (मदिरायाः तर्षः)

• अवाप: obtained, experienced
• अवाप: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक (then)

• पुरातनम्: ancient, former
• पुरातनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘मदिरातर्षम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The verse depicts the resurgence of saṃskāra (latent impression): sensory contact can awaken old cravings even in great beings.

Vedantic Theme: Maya

Application: Guard the senses and environments; recognize triggers and replace them with uplifting habits (satsaṅga, japa, moderation).

Vishishtadvaita: Embodied līlā shows real psychophysical states (guṇas, saṃskāras) while the divine purpose remains untainted—human-like display without moral diminution of Bhagavān’s associates.

Characters & Entities

• Balarama (Baladeva)

FAQs

What is the significance of sense-contact (smell) in this verse of the Vishnu Purana?

The verse shows how even a subtle sensory stimulus—here, fragrance—can awaken dormant impressions (old tendencies), highlighting the Purana’s moral psychology about vigilance over the senses.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the arising of desire in this context?

Through straightforward narration: Balarāma’s wandering brings him into contact with an intoxicating scent, and that contact immediately produces a renewed craving—implying latent vāsanās can re-emerge when conditions align.

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

Within Book 5’s Krishna-centered framework (Vishnu’s manifestation), the narrative underscores that the divine order guides the world’s drama while individual beings still encounter the play of guṇas and sense-objects, calling for dharmic restraint.