Shloka 1

श्रीकृष्ण-जन्म, वसुदेव-यमुनातरण, बालिका-उत्क्षेपः, देवी-प्रादुर्भावः

Devanagari script

एवं संस्तूयमाना सा देवैर् देवम् अधारयत् गर्भेण पुण्डरीकाक्षं जगतां त्राणकारणम्

Transliteration

evaṃ saṃstūyamānā sā devair devam adhārayat garbheṇa puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ jagatāṃ trāṇakāraṇam

Translation

Thus praised by the gods, she conceived within her womb the lotus‑eyed Lord, Puṇḍarīkākṣa—the very cause of the worlds’ deliverance and protection.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable); प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• संस्तूयमाना: being praised
• संस्तूयमाना: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सं√स्तु (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present passive participle; शानच्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• देवैः: by the gods
• देवैः: Kartr/Agent (Agent of praising; instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• देवम्: the god (Vishnu)
• देवम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अधारयत्: she bore; she held
• अधारयत्: Kriya (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (√धृ) (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: अ- (आङ्/अधि-भावे)

• गर्भेण: by (means of) the womb; in pregnancy
• गर्भेण: Karana (Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुण्डरीकाक्षम्: lotus-eyed one
• पुण्डरीकाक्षम्: Karma (Object; epithet of देवम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्डरीक + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पुण्डरीकस्य अक्षी इव यस्य)

• जगताम्: of the worlds
• जगताम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• त्राणकारणम्: the cause of deliverance/protection
• त्राणकारणम्: Karma (Object; apposition to देवम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्राण + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (त्राणस्य कारणम्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the Lord took birth (janma) for the protection of the worlds.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: revealing

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To protect and deliver the worlds, the lotus-eyed Lord is conceived in Devakī’s womb in response to the gods’ praise.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of the worlds (trāṇa) and restoration of righteous order through the Lord’s descent.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme Lord, praised by the gods, enters embodied existence for the deliverance of beings, showing divine accessibility to devotion and need.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Let praise (kīrtana/stuti) mature into trust in divine protection, especially amid collective fear or disorder.

Vishishtadvaita: The transcendent Lord truly assumes a real, compassionate relation to the world (entering the womb) without losing sovereignty—immanence without negating transcendence.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Vasudeva

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Vyuha Form: Vasudeva

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devas
• The Goddess (Divine Mother/Lakshmi)

FAQs

What is the significance of the phrase “jagatāṃ trāṇakāraṇam” in the Vishnu Purana?

It identifies Vishnu not merely as a deity among others but as the fundamental cause behind the protection and deliverance of all worlds—His sovereignty is intrinsic to cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the manifestation of Vishnu in this passage?

Parāśara frames it as a theophany arising in response to divine praise: the Goddess, lauded by the Devas, bears the lotus‑eyed Lord, indicating a purposeful manifestation for universal safeguarding.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is presented as the Supreme protector whose very being is oriented toward sustaining and rescuing creation, aligning with Vaishnava readings that emphasize his ultimate lordship and salvific role.