Shloka 19

स्वर्गगमनम्, अदितिस्तुतिः-मायातत्त्वम्, तथा पारिजात-प्रसङ्गे इन्द्रयुद्धम्

Devanagari script

मया त्वं पुत्रकामिन्या वैरिपक्षक्षयाय च आराधितो न मोक्षाय मायाविलसितं हि तत्

Transliteration

mayā tvaṃ putrakāminyā vairipakṣakṣayāya ca ārādhito na mokṣāya māyāvilasitaṃ hi tat

Translation

I worshipped You out of longing for a son and for the ruin of the hostile faction—not for liberation; for that pursuit was truly only the play of Your māyā.

Word by Word

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे (सर्वनाम-रूपम्), तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम्; Instrumental singular of 1st person pronoun

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Nominative singular (2nd person pronoun)

• पुत्रकामिन्या: by (me) desiring a son
• पुत्रकामिन्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्रकामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—पुत्रस्य कामिनी (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Instrumental singular

• वैरि: of enemies
• वैरि: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (समास-पूर्वपद-रूपम्); Genitive plural used as prior member

• पक्ष: side/faction
• पक्ष: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रातिपदिक-रूपम् (समास-पूर्वपद); stem form in compound

• क्षयाय: for the destruction (of the enemies' faction)
• क्षयाय: Sampradana (Recipient/Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—वैरिणां पक्षस्य क्षयः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Dative singular (purpose)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम्; conjunction

• आराधितः: (you were) worshipped/propitiated
• आराधितः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु) → आराधित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Past passive participle used predicatively

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम्; negation particle

• मोक्षाय: for liberation
• मोक्षाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Dative singular (purpose)

• माया: illusion
• माया: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रातिपदिक-रूपम् (समास-पूर्वपद); stem form in compound

• विलसितम्: a play/manifestation of māyā
• विलसितम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-लस् (धातु) → विलसित (कृदन्त)
• Form: समासः—मायायाः विलसितम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; PPP used as noun

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्ययम्; emphatic/causal particle

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Nominative singular demonstrative

Speaker

A queen/devotee addressing Sri Krishna (Vishnu manifested as Krishna) in a reflective confession of motives

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To accept worship offered for worldly aims and redirect the worshipper toward liberation through insight into māyā.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Purification of intention in worship (from kāmya to niṣkāma) and reorientation toward mokṣa.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāmya-worship for son and victory is admitted as māyā-līlā; true aim should be mokṣa through purified devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Examine motives in prayer; keep worship steady while gradually shifting from results-seeking to surrender and inner transformation.

Vishishtadvaita: Even flawed worship is taken up within the Lord’s gracious economy; the jīva’s dependence enables purification rather than rejection.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Krishna
• Maya

FAQs

What is the significance of worshipping Vishnu for worldly desires in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights that devotion often begins with worldly aims (offspring, victory), yet the Purana frames such aims as part of the Lord’s māyā—ultimately meant to redirect the devotee toward higher realization.

How does the Vishnu Purana explain māyā in relation to human motivation?

Here, māyā is presented as the Lord’s “play” that shapes desires and goals; when recognized, it becomes a doorway to discernment, shifting worship from results-seeking to liberation-oriented surrender.

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

Krishna is addressed as the sovereign Supreme who grants outcomes and also transcends them; the verse underscores that moksha is the highest end, while worldly boons remain subordinate to His divine governance.