Shloka 3

Devanagari script

हृत्वा चिक्षेप चैवैनं ग्राहोग्रे लवणार्णवे कल्लोलजनितावर्ते सुघोरे मकरालये

Transliteration

hṛtvā cikṣepa caivainaṃ grāhogre lavaṇārṇave kallolajanitāvarte sughore makarālaye

Translation

Having seized him, Śambara hurled him into the salt ocean—into a dreadful whirlpool raised by the waves, the fearsome abode of the makaras.

Word by Word

• हृत्वा: having seized
• हृत्वा: Kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-कृदन्तः (gerund/absolutive)

• चिक्षेप: threw
• चिक्षेप: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थक (only/indeed)

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-रूपम्

• ग्राहोग्रे: before a crocodile
• ग्राहोग्रे: Adhikarana (Locative/Place)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राह + अग्र (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ग्राहस्य अग्रे = at the front of a crocodile)

• लवणार्णवे: in the salt ocean
• लवणार्णवे: Adhikarana (Locative/Place)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण + अर्णव (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (लवणः अर्णवः = salt ocean)

• कल्लोलजनितावर्ते: in a whirlpool produced by waves
• कल्लोलजनितावर्ते: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कल्लोल + जनित + आवर्त (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (कल्लोलैः जनितः आवर्तः यस्मिन्)

• सुघोरे: very dreadful
• सुघोरे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + घोर (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (अतिघोरे)

• मकरालये: in the abode of sea-monsters
• मकरालये: Adhikarana (Locative/Place)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मकर + आलय (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मकराणाम् आलयः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How Pradyumna was abducted and survived to kill Śambara.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: As Kṛṣṇa’s divine child (Pradyumna), Viṣṇu’s power remains unassailable even when cast into the ocean, setting up the asura’s eventual defeat.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of the Lord’s lineage and demonstration that adharma cannot destroy what is upheld by Bhagavān.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Vyuha Form: Pradyumna

Characters & Entities

• Crocodile (Grāha)
• Ocean (Lavaṇārṇava)
• Makara (sea-creature)

FAQs

What is the significance of the ocean and whirlpool imagery in the Vishnu Purana?

The salt ocean and wave-born whirlpool depict overwhelming, inescapable peril—often read as a narrative symbol for saṃsāra’s turbulence where only divine order and dharma ultimately restore safety.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the unfolding of danger in dynastic narratives?

Parāśara presents danger as a turning-point within royal history: a crisis intensifies the plot, tests dharma, and sets the stage for restoration through rightful action and the higher governance of cosmic order.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purāṇic frame assumes His sovereignty over nature and destiny—such terrifying events occur within a cosmos ultimately upheld and directed by the Supreme Reality (Vishnu).