Shloka 60

स्वर्गगमनम्, अदितिस्तुतिः-मायातत्त्वम्, तथा पारिजात-प्रसङ्गे इन्द्रयुद्धम्

Devanagari script

नीतो ऽग्निः शतशो बाणैर् द्राविता वसवो दिशः चक्रविच्छिन्नशूलाग्रा रुद्रा भुवि निपातिताः

Transliteration

nīto 'gniḥ śataśo bāṇair drāvitā vasavo diśaḥ cakravicchinnaśūlāgrā rudrā bhuvi nipātitāḥ

Translation

Agni was driven back by hundreds of arrows; the Vasus scattered to the quarters; and the Rudras—whose spear-points were severed by the Lord’s discus—were hurled down upon the earth.

Word by Word

• nītaḥ: led; carried away
• nītaḥ: Karma (Predicate to agniḥ/कर्म-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nī (धातु) → nīta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• agniḥ: Agni (fire-god)
• agniḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• śataśaḥ: by hundreds; many times
• śataśaḥ: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śataśas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), परिमाण/आवृत्तिवाचक (by hundreds; repeatedly)

• bāṇaiḥ: with arrows
• bāṇaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• drāvitāḥ: driven away; made to flee
• drāvitāḥ: Karta (Predicate to vasavaḥ/कर्ता-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: drav (धातु) → drāvita (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• vasavaḥ: the Vasus
• vasavaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• diśaḥ: the directions
• diśaḥ: Karma (Goal/extent—directions/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• cakra-vicchinna-śūla-agrāḥ: whose spear-tips were cut off by the discus
• cakra-vicchinna-śūla-agrāḥ: Karta (Qualifier of rudrāḥ/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cakra + vicchinna + śūla + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: cakreṇa vicchinnāni śūlāgrāṇi yeṣām (whose spear-tips were cut off by the discus)

• rudrāḥ: the Rudras
• rudrāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• bhuvi: on the earth
• bhuvi: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• nipātitāḥ: felled; thrown down
• nipātitāḥ: Karta (Predicate to rudrāḥ/कर्ता-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni + pat (धातु) → nipātita (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna subdues the assembled deva-hosts to demonstrate that cosmic administration cannot override the will of the Supreme protector of dharma.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Re-establishment of rightful cosmic hierarchy: devas as servants of Vishnu, not autonomous arbiters against him.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Power and office (even divine) are legitimate only when aligned with Bhagavān’s dharma; resistance to the Supreme collapses.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Align authority and action with dharma rather than ego or institutional pride; accept correction when higher truth is evident.

Vishishtadvaita: The devas are real, exalted beings yet function as dependent modes (śeṣa) under the Lord’s sovereignty; their defeat underscores śeṣa-śeṣi order.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Vasus
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of the Sudarshana Chakra in the Vishnu Purana?

Here it signifies irresistible divine sovereignty: the discus severs the Rudras’ spear-points, showing that Vishnu’s order (dharma) overrules even the might of divine hosts.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine hierarchy in this scene?

By narrating Agni, the Vasus, and the Rudras being driven back, Parāśara frames the gods as powerful yet subordinate to the supreme controller who governs cosmic law.

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

Vishnu is presented as the supreme reality whose power stabilizes the universe—his dominance is not merely martial, but the manifestation of ultimate lordship that protects dharma.