Shloka 43

स्वर्गगमनम्, अदितिस्तुतिः-मायातत्त्वम्, तथा पारिजात-प्रसङ्गे इन्द्रयुद्धम्

Devanagari script

इत्य् उक्ते तैर् उवाचैतान् सत्यभामातिकोपिनी का शची पारिजातस्य को वा शक्रः सुराधिपः

Transliteration

ity ukte tair uvācaitān satyabhāmātikopinī kā śacī pārijātasya ko vā śakraḥ surādhipaḥ

Translation

When they had spoken thus, Satyabhāmā, aflame with anger, replied: “Who is Śacī to lay claim to the Pārijāta? And who, indeed, is Śakra (Indra) to be called the lord of the gods?”

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative particle)

• उक्ते: when (it was) said
• उक्ते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय); सप्तमी एकवचन/द्विवचन?; नपुंसकलिङ्गे (locative absolute) — 'when (it was) said'

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एतान्: these (persons)
• एतान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन (accusative plural)

• सत्यभामा: Satyabhāmā
• सत्यभामा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यभामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन

• अतिकोपिनी: very angry
• अतिकोपिनी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + कोपिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषण — 'exceedingly angry'

• का: who?
• का: Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• शची: Śacī (Indrāṇī)
• शची: Karta (Predicate nominative/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन

• पारिजातस्य: of the Pārijāta tree
• पारिजातस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारिजात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचन (genitive singular)

• कः: who?
• कः: Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• वा: or/indeed
• वा: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: Karta (Predicate nominative/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन

• सुराधिपः: lord of the gods
• सुराधिपः: Karta (Predicate nominative/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष — 'सुराणाम् अधिपः'

Speaker

Satyabhama (as quoted within Parasara’s narration to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa upholds dharma by humbling Indra’s pride and securing the Pārijāta for Satyabhāmā, affirming Viṣṇu’s supremacy over the devas.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Right order of divine hierarchy with Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa as supreme, not Indra

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worldly power and titles (like ‘lord of the gods’) are contingent and should not eclipse the higher sovereignty of Bhagavān.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat status and institutional authority as limited; align decisions with dharma rather than prestige.

Vishishtadvaita: Devas are dependent selves (śeṣa) whose lordship is subordinate to the Supreme Person

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Madhurya

Characters & Entities

• Satyabhama
• Shachi
• Shakra (Indra)
• Devas
• Parijata (Kalpavriksha)

FAQs

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

In this episode it symbolizes divine sovereignty and rightful possession: Satyabhāmā’s demand frames the Pārijāta not as Indra’s entitlement, but as something Krishna can bestow, revealing the devas’ dependence on the Supreme.

How does the Vishnu Purana portray Indra (Śakra) in relation to Krishna/Vishnu here?

By questioning “who is Śakra to be lord of the gods,” the verse underscores that Indra’s authority is conditional and secondary, while Krishna (as Vishnu’s manifestation) stands as the ultimate source of power and order.

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

The narrative reinforces a Vaishnava hierarchy: even the king of the devas is not supreme; true lordship belongs to Vishnu, whose incarnate presence as Krishna governs heaven and earth alike.