Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

आदाय वसुदेवो ऽपि दारिकां निजमन्दिरे देवकीशयने न्यस्य यथापूर्वम् अतिष्ठत

Transliteration

ādāya vasudevo 'pi dārikāṃ nijamandire devakīśayane nyasya yathāpūrvam atiṣṭhata

Translation

Taking up the infant girl, Vasudeva returned to his own dwelling; placing her upon Devakī’s bed, he stood there again exactly as before, outwardly unchanged.

Word by Word

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

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

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

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

• निजमन्दिरे: in his own house
• निजमन्दिरे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्दिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारय (निजं मन्दिरम्)

• देवकीशयने: in Devakī's bed
• देवकीशयने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवकी (प्रातिपदिक) + शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुष (देवक्याः शयनम्)

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

• यथापूर्वम्: as before
• यथापूर्वम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• अतिष्ठत: stood/remained
• अतिष्ठत: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-√स्था (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To conceal the avatāra’s presence from Kaṃsa by placing Yogamāyā in Devakī’s bed, allowing Kṛṣṇa’s līlā to unfold in Vraja.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Preservation of the divine mission and protection of devotees under oppression.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Steadiness and self-control can serve dharma when circumstances demand discretion in the face of tyranny.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice calm, non-reactive presence while doing what is necessary for protection of the vulnerable.

Vishishtadvaita: Human effort functions within the Lord’s overarching niyati; the devotee’s composure becomes a vehicle for divine purpose.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Devakī
• Infant girl (Yogamāyā)

FAQs

What is the significance of Vasudeva placing the infant on Devakī’s bed in the Vishnu Purana?

It completes the divinely guided exchange: Krishna is protected, and Yogamāyā is placed where Kaṃsa will encounter her, setting the next events of dharma-restoration in motion.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine action operating through ordinary human behavior here?

By describing Vasudeva acting “as before,” the text highlights how the Lord’s cosmic plan works through calm, practical steps—human agency functioning within Vishnu’s higher sovereignty.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even without naming Vishnu directly in the verse, the narrative implies that the avatāra’s protection and the unfolding of destiny occur under the Supreme Lord’s governance, with Yogamāyā serving that purpose.