Shloka 10

प्रद्युम्न-अपहरणम्, मत्स्य-उद्धारः, मायावती-शिक्षा, शम्बरवधः, रुक्मिणी-पुत्र-संगमः

Devanagari script

क्षिप्तः समुद्रे मत्स्येन निगीर्णस् ते वशं गतः नररत्नम् इदं सुभ्रु विस्रब्धा परिपालय

Transliteration

kṣiptaḥ samudre matsyena nigīrṇas te vaśaṃ gataḥ nararatnam idaṃ subhru visrabdhā paripālaya

Translation

Cast into the ocean and swallowed by a fish, he has now come under your power. O fair-browed one, this jewel among men stands before you—guard him well, with calm confidence.

Word by Word

• क्षिप्तः: thrown
• क्षिप्तः: Karma (Object/कर्म) (implied: ‘he’ as one who was thrown)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु) → क्षिप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; past passive participle

• समुद्रे: in the sea
• समुद्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; locative

• मत्स्येन: by a fish
• मत्स्येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; instrumental

• निगीर्णः: swallowed
• निगीर्णः: Karma (Object/कर्म) (implied: ‘he’ as one who was swallowed)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-गॄ (धातु) → निगीर्ण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; past passive participle

• ते: of you / your
• ते: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; genitive pronoun

• वशम्: control, power
• वशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative

• गतः: having come (into)
• गतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता) (implied: he)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; past participle

• नररत्नम्: a jewel among men
• नररत्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + रत्न (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नरस्य रत्नम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative pronoun

• सुभ्रु: O fair-browed one
• सुभ्रु: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (सु-भ्रूः यस्याः सा), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; vocative

• विस्रब्धा: confident, unafraid
• विस्रब्धा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-श्रभ् (धातु) → विस्रब्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; used adverbially (‘confidently’)

• परिपालय: protect, take care of
• परिपालय: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; parasmaipada

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To lighten the earth’s burden by destroying adharma and to manifest divine līlā in Vraja and Dvārakā.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of the Yādava line and restoration of rightful familial order.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: One must protect the vulnerable who come under one’s charge, with steadiness rather than fear.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When entrusted with someone’s wellbeing, act responsibly and calmly, not reactively.

Vishishtadvaita: Divine arrangement works through human (and semi-divine) agency to protect the Lord’s embodied manifestations and devotees.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Vatsalya

Vyuha Form: Pradyumna

Characters & Entities

• A noble man (nararatna)
• A fish (matsya)

FAQs

What is the significance of the ocean-and-fish motif in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse it functions as a narrative device for providential rescue and transfer of custody—showing how destiny (under divine order) redirects a person’s life even through apparent catastrophe.

How does Sage Parāśara frame protection and duty in this context?

He presents guardianship as dharma: the rescued 'nararatna' is to be preserved carefully and without fear, implying responsible stewardship rather than mere possession.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here, even though not named?

The verse reflects the Purana’s underlying view that a higher sovereignty governs outcomes; even within royal history, events unfold in alignment with Vishnu’s sustaining order (dharma and cosmic governance).