Shloka 3

नरकासुरवधः, अदीतिकुण्डल-प्रत्यर्पणम्, तथा भारावतरण-लीला

Devanagari script

त्वया नाथेन देवानां मनुष्यत्वे ऽपि तिष्ठता प्रशमं सर्वदुःखानि नीतानि मधुसूदन

Transliteration

tvayā nāthena devānāṃ manuṣyatve 'pi tiṣṭhatā praśamaṃ sarvaduḥkhāni nītāni madhusūdana

Translation

O Madhusūdana, by you—the Lord and refuge of the gods—even while abiding in human form, all their sufferings have been calmed and brought to perfect rest.

Word by Word

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana/Agent-instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री (सर्वनाम), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• नाथेन: as (our) lord/protector
• नाथेन: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे विशेषणवत्

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• मनुष्यत्वे: in human-ness / in human form
• मनुष्यत्वे: Adhikaraṇa (Location/state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्यत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Emphasis particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/अपवाद (even/also)

• तिष्ठता: while abiding/remaining
• तिष्ठता: Viśeṣaṇa (qualifying tvayā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; धातु: स्था (to stand/abide)

• प्रशमम्: calming/cessation
• प्रशमम्: Karma (Object/result)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रशम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• सर्वदुःखानि: all sorrows
• सर्वदुःखानि: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन; समास: सर्व + दुःख (all + sorrows)

• नीतानि: have been led (to)/brought
• नीतानि: Kriyā (predicate with implied 'are')
• Type: Verb
• Root: नीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √नी धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; √नी (to lead)

• मधुसूदन: O Madhusūdana
• मधुसूदन: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधुसूदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; समास: मधु + सूदन (slayer of Madhu)

Speaker

A deva (one of the gods), addressing Sri Krishna/Vishnu in praise (as framed within Parasara’s narration to Maitreya).

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He abides in a human-like form to become the refuge of the gods and to pacify their sufferings by destroying oppressive adharma.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Deva-protection and restoration of cosmic balance (dharma) through the Lord’s presence and action.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even while appearing as human, the Lord remains the devas’ nātha and śaraṇa, and his presence itself brings śānti to suffering.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Approach the Lord as refuge (śaraṇāgati) amid distress, trusting that divine nearness steadies the mind and reorders life.

Vishishtadvaita: The transcendent Lord freely assumes a finite, approachable form without losing sovereignty, enabling personal refuge and grace.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Krishna
• Devas (gods)

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu ‘remaining in human form’ in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse emphasizes that even when Vishnu appears as a human (Krishna), his supreme lordship remains intact and effective—capable of pacifying the devas’ distress and restoring order.

How does Sage Parasara explain divine intervention in times of cosmic distress?

In the Parasara–Maitreya framework, divine intervention is presented as Vishnu’s compassionate governance: he enters the world through an avatara so that suffering (of gods and beings) is calmed and dharma is safeguarded.

What is the theological importance of calling Krishna ‘Madhusudana’ here?

The epithet links Krishna to Vishnu’s timeless supremacy—“slayer of Madhu”—signaling that the same transcendent Lord who conquers cosmic threats also dissolves suffering through his incarnate presence.