Shloka 1

नरकासुरवधः, अदीतिकुण्डल-प्रत्यर्पणम्, तथा भारावतरण-लीला

Devanagari script

द्वारवत्यां ततः शौरिं शक्रस् त्रिभुवनेश्वरः आजगामाथ मैत्रेय मत्तैरावतपृष्ठगः

Transliteration

dvāravatyāṃ tataḥ śauriṃ śakras tribhuvaneśvaraḥ ājagāmātha maitreya mattairāvatapṛṣṭhagaḥ

Translation

Then, in Dvāravatī, Śakra—Indra, lord of the three worlds—came to Śauri (Śrī Kṛṣṇa); O Maitreya, he arrived seated upon the back of the rutting elephant Airāvata.

Word by Word

• dvāravatyām: in Dvāravatī (Dvārakā)
• dvāravatyām: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvāravatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तर्यबोधक

• śaurim: Śauri (Kṛṣṇa)
• śaurim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śauri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• śakraḥ: Śakra (Indra)
• śakraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• tribhuvaneśvaraḥ: lord of the three worlds
• tribhuvaneśvaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + bhuvana + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; śakraḥ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• ājagāma: came
• ājagāma: Kriyā (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√gam (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रमबोधक

• maitreya: O Maitreya
• maitreya: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maitreya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

• mattairāvatapṛṣṭhagaḥ: riding on the back of the rutting Airāvata
• mattairāvatapṛṣṭhagaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta + airāvata + pṛṣṭha + ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-समास, विशेषण (qualifying śakraḥ): ‘one who goes on the back of intoxicated Airāvata’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: revealing

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa, as the refuge even of the devas, receives Indra who comes to seek audience and alliance.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Deva–manuṣya harmony under Kṛṣṇa’s supremacy; acknowledgement of Bhagavān’s lordship beyond the three worlds

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even the lord of the three worlds approaches Bhagavān, implying that true sovereignty culminates in devotion and surrender.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate humility: approach the divine with reverence regardless of status, and seek guidance rather than domination.

Vishishtadvaita: Hierarchy of beings is real yet integrated: devas remain dependent selves (śeṣa) approaching the Supreme Person who is their inner ruler and ultimate refuge.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: dasya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna (Shauri)
• Indra (Shakra)
• Airavata
• Dvaravati (Dvaraka)
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of Indra coming to Dvaraka in the Vishnu Purana?

It signals that even the ruler of the three worlds seeks Krishna’s presence and aid, underscoring Krishna’s supremacy over cosmic administration.

How does Sage Parashara frame the relationship between Indra and Krishna here?

By calling Indra “lord of the three worlds” yet depicting him as one who comes to Krishna, Parashara implies Indra’s authority is derivative, while Krishna stands as the higher, ultimate sovereign.

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

Krishna is presented as the supreme locus of power and refuge—above the Devas—consistent with Vaishnava theology where Vishnu is the final ground of order and protection.