Shloka 58

स्वर्गगमनम्, अदितिस्तुतिः-मायातत्त्वम्, तथा पारिजात-प्रसङ्गे इन्द्रयुद्धम्

Devanagari script

यमेन प्रहितं दण्डं गदाविक्षेपखण्डितम् पृथिव्यां पातयाम् आस भगवान् देवकीसुतः

Transliteration

yamena prahitaṃ daṇḍaṃ gadāvikṣepakhaṇḍitam pṛthivyāṃ pātayām āsa bhagavān devakīsutaḥ

Translation

The rod dispatched by Yama, Bhagavān—the Son of Devakī—struck down to the earth, shattering it to pieces with a single swing of His mace.

Word by Word

• यमेन: by Yama
• यमेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Instrumental singular

• प्रहितम्: sent/dispatched
• प्रहितम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-हि (धातु) → प्रहित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; agrees with दण्डम्

• दण्डम्: staff/rod (punishment)
• दण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Accusative singular

• गदा: mace
• गदा: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रातिपदिक-रूपम् (समास-पूर्वपद)

• विक्षेप: throwing
• विक्षेप: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-क्षिप् (धातु) → विक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रातिपदिक-रूपम् (समास-पूर्वपद); action-noun ‘throwing’

• खण्डितम्: shattered by the throw of the mace
• खण्डितम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खण्ड् (धातु) → खण्डित (कृदन्त)
• Form: समासः—गदाविक्षेपेण खण्डितम् (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; agrees with दण्डम्

• पृथिव्याम्: on the earth
• पृथिव्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Locative singular

• पातयाम्: caused to fall / made fall
• पातयाम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु) caus. पातयति
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त-धातोः (causative) लिट्-लकारे परस्मैपदे ‘पातयाम्’ इति कृदन्त-प्रायः/परिप्रयोगः; 1st person singular perfect-form used with आस (periphrastic perfect)

• आस: did/was (auxiliary)
• आस: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (परोक्षभूत/परिप्रयोगे सहायक), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; Perfect 3rd sg (auxiliary)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Nominative singular

• देवकी: Devakī
• देवकी: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रातिपदिक-रूपम् (समास-पूर्वपद)

• सुतः: son of Devakī
• सुतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—देवक्याः सुतः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Nominative singular (apposition to भगवान्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna manifests to protect dharma by subduing even cosmic enforcers when they oppose his divine mission.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Supremacy of Bhagavān over all delegated powers (including death and punishment), ensuring dharma is upheld by his sanction.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All cosmic authorities, even Yama, operate under Bhagavān’s supremacy; surrender to him transcends fear of death.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate refuge in Vishnu/Krishna when confronted by fear, remembering that worldly and cosmic powers are subordinate to the divine.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord is the inner ruler and sovereign of all delegated cosmic functions, yet personally intervenes within the world to protect his order.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Bhagavan (Sri Krishna)
• Devaki
• Gada (mace)
• Danda (rod of punishment)

FAQs

What is the significance of Yama’s daṇḍa (rod) in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse, Yama’s daṇḍa represents the power of cosmic punishment and moral retribution, shown as ultimately subordinate to Bhagavān, who can neutralize it instantly.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine authority over cosmic law here?

Through the narrative image of Krishna shattering Yama’s dispatched rod, Parāśara conveys that the Supreme Lord is the source and governor of all order—including the administrators of justice.

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

Krishna is portrayed as Bhagavān—supreme and sovereign—whose will transcends secondary divine powers, reinforcing a Vaishnava view of Vishnu/Narayana as the highest reality.