Shloka 13

पारिजातहरणम्, द्वारकाप्रवेशः, षोडशसहस्रविवाहः

Pārijāta, Return to Dvārakā, and the Lord’s Many Forms

Devanagari script

किंकरैः समुपानीतं हस्त्यश्वादि ततो धनम् स्त्रियश् च कृष्णो जग्राह नरकस्य परिग्रहान्

Transliteration

kiṃkaraiḥ samupānītaṃ hastyaśvādi tato dhanam striyaś ca kṛṣṇo jagrāha narakasya parigrahān

Translation

Then, brought forward by his attendants, there came elephants, horses, wealth, and the women; and Kṛṣṇa took these possessions that had belonged to Naraka.

Word by Word

• किंकरैः: by servants
• किंकरैः: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• समुपानीतम्: brought
• समुपानीतम्: Karma (Predicate adjective to धनम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उप-आ-नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि भावः (brought/led in)

• हस्त्यश्वादि: elephants, horses, etc.
• हस्त्यश्वादि: Karma (Appositive/qualifier of धनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (हस्तयः अश्वाः च) + आदि (etc.)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Discourse adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थे/तस्मात् (then/thereupon)

• धनम्: wealth/treasure
• धनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• जग्राह: took/seized
• जग्राह: Kriya (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नरकस्य: of Naraka
• नरकस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• परिग्रहान्: possessions/booty
• परिग्रहान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To remove the fruits of asuric oppression and reassign them under dharmic guardianship, liberating the captives and restoring rightful order.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of women and restoration of rightful possession under dharma; ending asuric hoarding

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Wealth and power gained through oppression are to be reclaimed and redirected toward dharma under righteous authority.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Use resources ethically: rectify unjust gain, protect the vulnerable, and place wealth in service of social and spiritual good.

Vishishtadvaita: Divine kingship is protective and restorative: Bhagavān’s governance integrates worldly order with spiritual welfare.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Naraka (Narakasura)
• Attendants (Kiṅkaras)
• Women captives

FAQs

What is the significance of Krishna taking Naraka’s possessions in the Vishnu Purana?

It signifies the restoration of rightful order: what was amassed through adharma under Naraka is reclaimed under Krishna’s sovereign authority, emphasizing Vishnu’s role as the upholder of cosmic and moral law.

How does Sage Parāśara frame this event within the narrative?

Parāśara presents it as a consequence of Naraka’s defeat: attendants bring forth the spoils, and Krishna assumes control of them, continuing the episode’s theme of dharma being re-established after an asura’s tyranny.

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

Krishna acts as the Supreme regulator of justice—overturning unrighteous power, reclaiming what was wrongfully held, and protecting beings affected by asuric domination—reflecting Vaishnava theology of divine governance.