Shloka 59

स्वर्गगमनम्, अदितिस्तुतिः-मायातत्त्वम्, तथा पारिजात-प्रसङ्गे इन्द्रयुद्धम्

Devanagari script

शिबिकां च धनेशस्य चक्रेण तिलशो विभुः चकार शौरिर् अर्कं च दृष्टिदृष्टं हतौजसम्

Transliteration

śibikāṃ ca dhaneśasya cakreṇa tilaśo vibhuḥ cakāra śaurir arkaṃ ca dṛṣṭidṛṣṭaṃ hataujasam

Translation

Then the all-powerful Śauri—Lord Krishna—shattered Kubera’s palanquin into fragments with his discus; and even Arka (the Sun), touched only by his glance, was struck in sight and stripped of radiance and pride.

Word by Word

• śibikām: palanquin
• śibikām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śibikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• dhaneśasya: of Kubera (lord of wealth)
• dhaneśasya: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhaneśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• cakreṇa: with the discus
• cakreṇa: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• tilaśaḥ: into bits; piece by piece
• tilaśaḥ: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tilaśas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), प्रकार/परिमाणवाचक (manner/degree)

• vibhuḥ: the mighty one
• vibhuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• cakāra: made; did
• cakāra: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• śauriḥ: Śauri (Krishna)
• śauriḥ: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śauri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• arkam: Arka (the Sun-god)
• arkam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• dṛṣṭidṛṣṭam: seen at a glance; sight-seen
• dṛṣṭidṛṣṭam: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛṣṭi + dṛṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): dṛṣṭyā dṛṣṭam = ‘seen by sight/at a glance’

• hataujasam: whose strength was destroyed; enfeebled
• hataujasam: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata + ojas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थः: hataṃ ojaḥ yasya (strength destroyed)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating) to Maitreya

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna descends to reassert divine sovereignty, humbling celestial powers and protecting the righteous course of his līlā.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Subordination of wealth (Kubera) and cosmic luminaries (Sun) to Bhagavān, curbing pride and restoring rightful hierarchy.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even the presiding deities of wealth and the sun are dependent powers; Bhagavān alone is the ultimate source of splendor (tejas).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice humility amid prosperity and success, treating all ‘radiance’ and ‘wealth’ as entrusted gifts under the Lord’s governance.

Vishishtadvaita: Sri’s presence is implicit in Krishna’s lordship over wealth (Kubera), showing divine sovereignty over both material prosperity and cosmic order without denying their real, dependent existence.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Characters & Entities

• Krishna (Śauri)
• Kubera (Dhaneśa)
• Surya (Arka)

FAQs

What is the significance of Krishna cutting Kubera’s palanquin in the Vishnu Purana?

It dramatizes that wealth and status (Kubera/Dhaneśa) are not autonomous powers—under Bhagavān’s rule they can be diminished instantly, reinforcing dharma over pride and privilege.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine sovereignty in this episode?

By showing that even cosmic functionaries like the Sun and the lord of wealth are subdued by a mere act (the discus) or even a glance—Parāśara frames Krishna as the ultimate controller of all delegated powers.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu/Krishna here?

The verse asserts a core Vaishnava principle: Vishnu/Krishna is the Supreme Reality whose will governs all luminaries and rulers; their splendor (ojas) is contingent upon him.