Shloka 4

नरकासुरवधः, अदीतिकुण्डल-प्रत्यर्पणम्, तथा भारावतरण-लीला

Devanagari script

तपस्विजननाशाय सो ऽरिष्टो धेनुकस् तथा प्रवृत्तो यस् तथा केशी ते सर्वे निहतास् त्वया

Transliteration

tapasvijananāśāya so 'riṣṭo dhenukas tathā pravṛtto yas tathā keśī te sarve nihatās tvayā

Translation

To destroy ascetics and holy folk, Ariṣṭa, Dhenuka, and Keśī were set in motion; yet all of them were slain by you, O protector of dharma.

Word by Word

• तपस्विजननाशाय: for the destruction of ascetics
• तपस्विजननाशाय: Sampradāna/Purpose (प्रयोजन-चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्वि-जन-नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन; समास: तपस्वि + जन + नाश (destruction of ascetics/holy people)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अरिष्टः: Ariṣṭa
• अरिष्टः: Karta (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धेनुकः: Dhenuka
• धेनुकः: Karta (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• प्रवृत्तः: who had set out/was engaged
• प्रवृत्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (qualifying 'यः')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-वृत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √वृत्/√वृत्त् धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/कर्तरि कृदन्त (PPP used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थ: प्रवृत्त (set in motion/engaged)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (also)

• केशी: Keśī
• केशी: Karta (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशिन्/केशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (of te)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• निहताः: were slain
• निहताः: Kriyā (predicate with implied 'are')
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-हत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √हन् धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; √हन् (to slay) with उपसर्ग नि-

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Kartr̥ (Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He descends to protect the righteous—especially ascetics and holy folk—by destroying demons dispatched to ruin dharma.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Safety of tapasvins and preservation of dharmic life against violent disruption.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Violence aimed at the righteous is ultimately nullified by the Lord’s protective sovereignty.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Stand with and support dharmic communities; cultivate courage grounded in faith when righteousness is threatened.

Vishishtadvaita: God’s lordship is not abstract: it manifests as concrete protection of devotees and dharma within the world-order.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Ariṣṭa
• Dhenuka
• Keśī
• Tapasvins (ascetics/holy people)

FAQs

What is the significance of Ariṣṭa, Dhenuka, and Keśī being mentioned together in the Vishnu Purana?

They represent coordinated forces of adharma sent to harm the righteous; grouping them highlights Krishna’s comprehensive protection of Vraja and the saintly.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the protection of ascetics (tapasvins) in this verse?

By stating the demons were unleashed specifically to destroy holy people, Parāśara underscores that Krishna’s intervention is aimed at preserving dharma and those who uphold it.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu (as Krishna) in this context?

The verse presents Krishna as the supreme guardian whose will overrides hostile cosmic forces—affirming Vishnu’s sovereign role in restoring and maintaining universal order.