Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

वसुदेवो ऽपि विन्यस्य बालम् आदाय दारिकाम् यशोदाशयने तूर्णम् आजगामामितद्युतिः

Transliteration

vasudevo 'pi vinyasya bālam ādāya dārikām yaśodāśayane tūrṇam ājagāmāmitadyutiḥ

Translation

Vasudeva, having gently set down the divine child, took up the infant girl; and that man of immeasurable splendor hurried at once to Yaśodā’s bedchamber.

Word by Word

• वसुदेवः: Vasudeva
• वसुदेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; nominative

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• विन्यस्य: having placed
• विन्यस्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नि-√अस्/न्यस् (धातु: न्यस्/अस्) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/क्त्वान्त, ल्यप्); 'having placed/laid down'

• बालम्: the child (boy)
• बालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्; accusative

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√दा (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/क्त्वान्त, ल्यप्); 'having taken'

• दारिकाम्: the baby girl
• दारिकाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दारिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; accusative

• यशोदाशयने: in Yaśodā's bed
• यशोदाशयने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशोदा (प्रातिपदिक) + शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्; locative; समासः—तत्पुरुष (यशोदायाः शयनम्)

• तूर्णम्: quickly
• तूर्णम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्णम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आजगाम: came
• आजगाम: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• अमितद्युतिः: (he) of immeasurable splendor
• अमितद्युतिः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित (प्रातिपदिक) + द्युति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः—अमिता द्युतिः यस्य सः (epithet of Vasudeva)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To ensure the avatāra’s safety by transferring Him to Vraja and placing Yogamāyā in Devakī’s stead, thwarting Kaṃsa’s murderous intent.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Safeguarding the divine descent and the future liberation of the oppressed.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotion expresses itself as fearless service—Vasudeva acts swiftly as an instrument of Bhagavān’s hidden will.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When dharma is at stake, act decisively with humility, seeing oneself as a servant of the higher good.

Vishishtadvaita: The jīva’s agency is real yet supported and directed by the Lord’s overarching will, harmonizing dependence with purposeful action.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Krishna (as the divine child)
• Yashoda
• Girl-child (Yogamaya/Devī)

FAQs

What is the significance of the exchange of infants in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights divine providence: Krishna is placed in safety while the girl-child is brought to Yaśodā’s bed, ensuring the avatāra’s protection and the unfolding of dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara frame Vasudeva’s role in this episode?

Parāśara depicts Vasudeva as acting swiftly yet reverently—placing the divine child down first—showing human agency aligned with the Lord’s higher will.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Krishna’s infancy is presented as the Supreme Reality entering history; even ordinary movements (placing the child, carrying another) become instruments of Vishnu’s sovereign plan to restore cosmic order.