Shloka 25

नरकासुरवधः, अदीतिकुण्डल-प्रत्यर्पणम्, तथा भारावतरण-लीला

Devanagari script

भारावतरणार्थाय ममैव भगवान् इमम् अंशेन लोकम् आयातः प्रसादसुमुखः प्रभो

Transliteration

bhārāvataraṇārthāya mamaiva bhagavān imam aṃśena lokam āyātaḥ prasādasumukhaḥ prabho

Translation

To lighten the burden of the earth, Bhagavān—my own Lord—has come into this world as a partial manifestation; that sovereign Master, gracious-faced and ever-merciful, has appeared.

Word by Word

• भारावतरणार्थाय: for the purpose of relieving the burden
• भारावतरणार्थाय: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतरण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-समर्थ: ‘भारस्य अवतरणस्य अर्थः’); पुंलिङ्ग ‘अर्थ’ शब्दः; चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Dative singular (purpose)

• मम: of me/my
• मम: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Genitive singular

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular (qualifying लोकम्)

• अंशेन: by (a) portion
• अंशेन: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Instrumental singular

• लोकम्: the world
• लोकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular

• आयातः: has come
• आयातः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-या (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Nominative singular; ‘come/arrived’

• प्रसादसुमुखः: gracious and fair-faced
• प्रसादसुमुखः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक) + सुमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘प्रसादः सुमुखः यस्य/प्रसादेन सुमुखः’); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Nominative singular (qualifying भगवान्)

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन — Vocative singular

Speaker

Likely a devotee/character addressing the Lord within the Krishna narrative (Ansha 5 context); overarching narrator is Sage Parāśara speaking to Maitreya.

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He descends as an aṃśa to relieve the Earth’s burden by destroying oppressive forces and re-establishing dharma.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Removal of bhāra (overburden) and restoration of righteous rule and cosmic balance.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The avatāra is a compassionate descent of the Supreme into history for loka-saṅgraha and the restoration of dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Interpret crises as calls to dharmic action and devotion—participate in ‘lightening the burden’ through protection of the vulnerable and ethical living.

Vishishtadvaita: The Supreme remains full yet manifests ‘aṃśena’ for the world’s welfare—immanence as grace without diminution of transcendence.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Lakshmi Presence: Bhumi

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Bhagavan (Supreme Lord)
• Earth (Bhumi)

FAQs

What is the significance of ‘bhārāvataraṇa’ (removing the Earth’s burden) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames the avatāra as a cosmic intervention: the Lord descends to relieve the world’s oppressive weight—symbolizing the removal of adharma and the restoration of order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Lord coming ‘aṃśena’ (by a portion)?

In Purāṇic theology, the Supreme remains fully sovereign and unchanged, yet manifests an aṃśa for worldly purposes—allowing divine action in history without limiting transcendence.

What is the theological importance of calling Vishnu ‘Bhagavān’ and ‘Prabho’ here?

The terms emphasize Vishnu’s supreme lordship and benevolent governance: the descent is not merely heroic, but an act of divine grace and sovereignty directed toward dharma.