Shloka 57

स्वर्गगमनम्, अदितिस्तुतिः-मायातत्त्वम्, तथा पारिजात-प्रसङ्गे इन्द्रयुद्धम्

Devanagari script

पाशं सलिलराजस्य समाकृष्योरगाशनः चकार खण्डशश् चञ्च्वा बालपन्नगदेहवत्

Transliteration

pāśaṃ salilarājasya samākṛṣyoragāśanaḥ cakāra khaṇḍaśaś cañcvā bālapannagadehavat

Translation

Drawing the noose of the Lord of the Waters toward himself, the serpent-devourer seized it and, with his beak, tore it into pieces—like a tender young snake’s body cut apart—thus shattering the binding power that sought to restrain him.

Word by Word

• पाशम्: noose
• पाशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सलिलराजस्य: of the lord of waters (Varuṇa)
• सलिलराजस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक) + राज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सलिलस्य राजा); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• समाकृष्य: having drawn/pulled
• समाकृष्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-कृष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी; 'having pulled/drawn'

• उरगाशनः: serpent-eater (Garuḍa)
• उरगाशनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरग (प्रातिपदिक) + अशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उरगान् अश्नाति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• चकार: made
• चकार: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदी, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• खण्डशः: into fragments
• खण्डशः: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खण्डशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (प्रकारवाचक adverb) = 'into pieces'

• चञ्च्वा: with (his) beak
• चञ्च्वा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चञ्चु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• बालपन्नगदेहवत्: like the body of a young serpent
• बालपन्नगदेहवत्: Sambandha (Simile/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + पन्नग (प्रातिपदिक) + देह (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (प्रत्यय, मतुप्-तुल्य)
• Form: समासान्त 'वत्' (तुल्योपमा) functioning as अव्यय; 'like the body of a young serpent'

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna breaks Varuṇa’s binding noose to demonstrate that no cosmic regulator can restrain the Supreme and to protect his freedom to safeguard devotees.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Affirmation of Bhagavan’s svātantrya (sovereign freedom) and the impotence of bondage before him

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: What binds beings cannot bind the Lord; devotion rests on the One whose freedom is absolute and whose protection is certain.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: When feeling ‘bound’ by fear or circumstance, redirect dependence toward Bhagavan through prayer and disciplined remembrance.

Vishishtadvaita: Bondage is real for the jīva, yet the Lord remains its master and liberator—immanent controller without being conditioned by matter.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Varuṇa (Salilarāja)
• Garuḍa (Uraga-āśana)

FAQs

What is the significance of Varuṇa’s pāśa (noose) in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse, the pāśa functions as a symbol of binding authority and restraint; its being torn apart signifies the breaking of bondage when confronted by a superior cosmic force aligned with dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the act of breaking the noose in narrative terms?

Parāśara presents it as a vivid action-image—pulling the noose close and shredding it with the beak—emphasizing decisive power that nullifies attempted restraint within the unfolding cosmic story.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named directly, the episode reflects Vaishnava theology: forces aligned with Vishnu’s order cannot be ultimately bound by lesser powers, underscoring supreme sovereignty over cosmic constraints.