Shloka 19

नरकासुरवधः, अदीतिकुण्डल-प्रत्यर्पणम्, तथा भारावतरण-लीला

Devanagari script

हत्वा मुरुं हयग्रीवं तथा पञ्चजनं द्विज प्राग्ज्योतिषपुरं धीमांस् त्वरावान् समुपाद्रवत्

Transliteration

hatvā muruṃ hayagrīvaṃ tathā pañcajanaṃ dvija prāgjyotiṣapuraṃ dhīmāṃs tvarāvān samupādravat

Translation

O twice-born one, having slain Muru, Hayagrīva, and also Pañcajana, the wise Lord hastened onward and advanced against the city of Prāgjyotiṣa.

Word by Word

• हत्वा: having slain
• हत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘हन्’ धातोः

• मुरुम्: Muru
• मुरुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हयग्रीवम्: Hayagriva
• हयग्रीवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय-ग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (हयस्य ग्रीवा यस्य) नामरूपेण

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रमवाचक (also/likewise)

• पञ्चजनम्: Pañcajana (name)
• पञ्चजनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च-जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (पञ्चानां जनानां/पञ्चजन-नाम)

• द्विज: O twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्राग्ज्योतिषपुरम्: the city Prāgjyotiṣa
• प्राग्ज्योतिषपुरम्: Karma (Goal/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राक्-ज्योतिष-पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (प्राग्ज्योतिषं नाम पुरम्)

• धीमान्: wise/valiant
• धीमान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘समुपाद्रवत्’ इत्यस्य कर्तुः विशेषणम्

• त्वरावान्: swift/hasty
• त्वरावान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वरावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषणम् (possessed of haste)

• समुपाद्रवत्: rushed/advanced
• समुपाद्रवत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः—सम्+उप+आ

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Śrī Kṛṣṇa clears the path by slaying Muru, Hayagrīva, and Pañcajana, then advances to Prāgjyotiṣa to confront Naraka and free the oppressed.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Removal of asuric strongholds obstructing righteous rule and safety

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Krishna (Vishnu)
• Muru
• Hayagriva
• Panchajana
• Pragjyotisha (city)

FAQs

What is the significance of Krishna slaying Muru, Hayagriva, and Panchajana in the Vishnu Purana?

It frames Krishna’s actions as the Supreme Lord’s restoration of order—removing obstructive forces before confronting the next stronghold of adharma at Prāgjyotiṣa.

How does Sage Parashara present Krishna’s role in this episode?

Parāśara narrates Krishna as dhīmān (supremely wise) and tvarāvān (swift in purpose), emphasizing divine sovereignty—action guided by omniscient intent rather than human impulse.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu in this context?

Vishnu, appearing as Krishna, is shown as the active Supreme Reality who intervenes in history to protect dharma—his victories are not merely heroic feats but cosmic governance.