Shloka 20

Devanagari script

अन्तःपुरे निपतितं मायावत्या समन्वितम् तं दृष्ट्वा कृष्णसंकल्पा बभूवुः कृष्णयोषितः

Transliteration

antaḥpure nipatitaṃ māyāvatyā samanvitam taṃ dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇasaṃkalpā babhūvuḥ kṛṣṇayoṣitaḥ

Translation

Within the inner palace they found him fallen, with Māyāvatī attending him; and seeing him so, Kṛṣṇa’s women—whose minds were fixed on Kṛṣṇa alone—became one in a single, Kṛṣṇa-centered resolve.

Word by Word

• अन्तःपुरे: in the inner palace
• अन्तःपुरे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तःपुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—अन्तः + पुर (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/निर्धारणार्थः)

• निपतितम्: fallen
• निपतितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि√पत् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मणि/स्थित्यर्थे

• मायावत्या: by Māyāvatī
• मायावत्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मायावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• समन्वितम्: accompanied/attended
• समन्वितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-अनु-√इ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• कृष्णसंकल्पाः: whose thoughts were on Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णसंकल्पाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण + संकल्प (प्रातिपदिके; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—कृष्णस्य संकल्पः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) → ‘कृष्णे संकल्पो यस्याः’ इति विशेषणवत्

• बभूवुः: became
• बभूवुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• कृष्णयोषितः: the women of Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णयोषितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण + योषित् (प्रातिपदिके; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—कृष्णस्य योषितः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa manifests to protect dharma and relieve the earth’s burden while bestowing grace through intimate līlā.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of devotees and restoration of righteous order through divine presence in Dvārakā.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ekāgratā—single-pointed fixation on Kṛṣṇa—gathers the mind into unwavering devotional resolve amid crisis.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: In distress, return attention to one chosen divine name/form and act from steadiness rather than panic.

Vishishtadvaita: Personal devotion to the Lord-with-attributes (saguṇa) is a direct, efficacious means because the Lord is accessible in intimate līlā.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Madhurya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Māyāvatī
• Krishna’s palace women/queens (kṛṣṇayoṣitaḥ)

FAQs

What is the significance of ‘kṛṣṇa-saṅkalpa’ in the Vishnu Purana?

It signals exclusive, single-pointed orientation toward Krishna—devotion that gathers the mind into one resolve, especially in moments of crisis or shock.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of māyā in this scene?

By placing Māyāvatī alongside the fallen figure, the narrative hints that events unfold under a power that can bewilder and rearrange appearances—yet remain within the sovereignty of the Divine.

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

Even in a domestic, intimate setting, Krishna remains the Supreme center of consciousness for his devotees; the verse portrays bhakti as a direct alignment with the Highest Reality, not merely emotional attachment.