Shloka 31

स्वर्गगमनम्, अदितिस्तुतिः-मायातत्त्वम्, तथा पारिजात-प्रसङ्गे इन्द्रयुद्धम्

Devanagari script

मथ्यमाने ऽमृते जातं जातरूपोपमत्वचम् पारिजातं जगन्नाथः केशवः केशिसूदनः

Transliteration

mathyamāne 'mṛte jātaṃ jātarūpopamatvacam pārijātaṃ jagannāthaḥ keśavaḥ keśisūdanaḥ

Translation

When the ocean was churned for amṛta, the Pārijāta tree arose, its bark and radiance like refined gold; the Lord of the universe—Keśava, slayer of Keśin—took it as his own.

Word by Word

• मथ्यमाने: when (it was) being churned
• मथ्यमाने: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मथ् (धातु)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/आत्मनेपद-शानच् (present passive participle) ‘while being churned’; locative absolute with अमृते

• अमृते: in/at the (churning of) nectar
• अमृते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative absolute सह मथ्यमाने

• जातम्: produced, arisen
• जातम्: Karman (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) ‘born/produced’; qualifies पारिजातम्

• जातरूपोपमत्वचम्: with bark like gold
• जातरूपोपमत्वचम्: Karman (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जातरूप-उपम-त्वच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘having bark/skin comparable to gold’ (जातरूप = gold)

• पारिजातम्: the Pārijāta tree
• पारिजातम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारिजात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; object understood with ददर्श (from context)

• जगन्नाथः: Jagannātha (Lord of the world)
• जगन्नाथः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत्-नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘lord of the world’

• केशवः: Keśava
• केशवः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; apposition to जगन्नाथः

• केशिसूदनः: slayer of Keśin
• केशिसूदनः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशि-सूदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘slayer of Keśin’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa, as Jagannātha Keśava, appropriates the Pārijāta—born from the cosmic churning—to affirm his lordship over the devas’ treasures and to fulfill his līlā with Satyabhāmā.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Divine sovereignty: the cosmic products of the samudra-manthana ultimately belong to the Supreme Lord.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic treasures arising from primordial processes (like samudra-manthana) are subordinate to the Supreme Lord, who is their ultimate cause and rightful master.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Treat prosperity and ‘divine gifts’ as entrusted by God; cultivate stewardship rather than possessiveness.

Vishishtadvaita: Jagannātha is both transcendent sovereign and immanent cause (jagat-kāraṇa), so all excellences naturally ‘belong’ to him without negating their real existence.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Madhurya

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Keśava/Jagannātha)
• Pārijāta tree
• Amṛta (nectar of immortality)
• Keśin (as epithet in Keśisūdana)

FAQs

What is the significance of the Pārijāta tree in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents Pārijāta as a celestial treasure born from Samudra Manthana, symbolizing divine abundance that ultimately belongs to the Supreme Lord, Keśava.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthana) here?

Parāśara narrates that while the ocean was churned to obtain amṛta, wondrous beings and objects manifested—among them the golden-barked Pārijāta—showing that cosmic upheaval yields ordered divine outcomes under Vishnu’s sovereignty.

What is the theological importance of calling Vishnu “Jagannātha” in this context?

“Jagannātha” frames Vishnu as the universal Lord whose authority extends over all cosmic treasures; even the most divine products of creation are portrayed as subordinate to him.