Shloka 15

पारिजातहरणम्, द्वारकाप्रवेशः, षोडशसहस्रविवाहः

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

Devanagari script

एकस्मिन्न् एव गोविन्दः काले तासां महामुने जग्राह विधिवत् पाणीन् पृथग्गेहेषु धर्मतः

Transliteration

ekasminn eva govindaḥ kāle tāsāṃ mahāmune jagrāha vidhivat pāṇīn pṛthaggeheṣu dharmataḥ

Translation

O great sage, at one appointed time Govinda, in due sacred rite and in harmony with dharma, took the hands of those maidens in marriage—each within her own separate household.

Word by Word

• एकस्मिन्: in one (place/occasion)
• एकस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषण (locative singular)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• गोविन्दः: Govinda (Krishna)
• गोविन्दः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• काले: at a time
• काले: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• तासाम्: of those (women)
• तासाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• महामुने: O great sage
• महामुने: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक; महा+मुनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• जग्राह: took/accepted
• जग्राह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विधिवत्: according to rule/ritually
• विधिवत्: Kriya-vishesana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• पाणीन्: hands (i.e., in marriage)
• पाणीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Kriya-vishesana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• गेहेषु: in (their) houses
• गेहेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह/गेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• धर्मतः: in accordance with dharma
• धर्मतः: Kriya-vishesana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'according to'); क्रियाविशेषण

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Krishna’s deeds and household life at Dvārakā, including the marriage of the rescued princesses

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna, as Govinda, upholds dharma by ritually marrying the rescued princesses, restoring their social honor and rightful place.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Gṛhastha-dharma and the protection of strī-dharma/varṇa-āśrama propriety through lawful marriage

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even the Supreme acts ‘dharmataḥ’, showing that righteous means sanctify and stabilize social order.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Align personal relationships and commitments with ethical norms and sacred obligations rather than convenience.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s transcendence does not negate His immanent governance of dharma within worldly institutions.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Madhurya

Characters & Entities

• Govinda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of pāṇigrahaṇa (taking the hand) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights marriage as a dharmic sacrament performed “vidhivat,” showing social and cosmic order upheld through proper rite.

How does Sage Parāśara frame Govinda’s actions in terms of dharma?

Parāśara explicitly says Govinda acted “dharmataḥ” and “vidhivat,” presenting the event as ritually legitimate and aligned with sacred law.

What is the theological importance of calling Krishna “Govinda” here?

“Govinda” signals Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty and guardianship—He orchestrates events while remaining the protector of dharma and rightful order.