Shloka 52

स्वर्गगमनम्, अदितिस्तुतिः-मायातत्त्वम्, तथा पारिजात-प्रसङ्गे इन्द्रयुद्धम्

Devanagari script

ततः परिघनिस्त्रिंशगदाशूलवरायुधाः बभूवुस् त्रिदशाः सज्जाः शक्रे वज्रकरे स्थिते

Transliteration

tataḥ parighanistriṃśagadāśūlavarāyudhāḥ babhūvus tridaśāḥ sajjāḥ śakre vajrakare sthite

Translation

Then, as Śakra (Indra) stood firm with the thunderbolt in his hand, the gods became fully prepared—each bearing his finest weapon: iron clubs, swords, maces, and tridents.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Temporal/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of sequence)

• परिघनिस्त्रिंशगदाशूलवरायुधाः: having clubs, swords, maces, spears and excellent weapons
• परिघनिस्त्रिंशगदाशूलवरायुधाः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parigha (प्रातिपदिक) + nistriṃśa (प्रातिपदिक) + gadā (प्रातिपदिक) + śūla (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास ‘परिघ-निस्त्रिंश-गदा-शूल-वर-आयुधानि येषां ते’; पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative); त्रिदशाः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषण

• बभूवुः: became
• बभूवुः: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• त्रिदशाः: the gods (thirty)
• त्रिदशाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tridaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative)

• सज्जाः: ready, prepared
• सज्जाः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sajja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative); विशेषण

• शक्रे: when/while Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी (Locative)

• वज्रकरे: in (his) thunderbolt-bearing hand / with thunderbolt in hand
• वज्रकरे: Adhikarana (Location/state/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (instrument-in-hand) ‘वज्रः करे यस्य/वज्रं करः’; पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी (Locative)

• स्थिते: being stationed/standing
• स्थिते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी (Locative); सप्तमी-सम्बन्धे (locative absolute)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: descriptive

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: By facing the fully armed devas led by Indra, Krishna demonstrates that even the guardians of cosmic order cannot prevail against the Supreme when moved by pride.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Correction of deva-ego and reaffirmation that true cosmic order rests on Hari’s supremacy

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even righteous forces become unrighteous when weaponized for attachment and pride rather than for dharma aligned with the Supreme.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Before acting ‘for a cause,’ examine motives—attachment and ego can corrupt even legitimate responsibilities.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is not autonomous; it is grounded in Bhagavān’s will—devas uphold order only insofar as they serve the Supreme.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Devas (Tridaśa)
• Vajra (thunderbolt)

FAQs

What is the significance of Indra holding the Vajra in the Vishnu Purana?

Indra with the Vajra symbolizes sanctioned divine authority and the active defense of cosmic order (dharma/ṛta) when disorder threatens.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the role of the Devas in this verse?

Parāśara presents the Devas as organized and ready—armed with their best weapons—indicating a collective, duty-bound response to uphold order rather than mere personal combat.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the line, the Purana’s theology implies that the Devas’ power and mandate to protect dharma ultimately operate under Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty.