Shloka 8

हरेः पुत्रविस्तारः तथा ऊषानिरुद्धकथा-प्रारम्भः

Kṛṣṇa’s Progeny and the Beginning of the Uṣā–Aniruddha Episode

Devanagari script

यत्र युद्धम् अभूद् घोरं हरिशंकरयोर् महत् छिन्नं सहस्रं बाहूनां यत्र बाणस्य चक्रिणा

Transliteration

yatra yuddham abhūd ghoraṃ hariśaṃkarayor mahat chinnaṃ sahasraṃ bāhūnāṃ yatra bāṇasya cakriṇā

Translation

There a dreadful and mighty battle arose between Hari and Śaṅkara; and the discus-bearing Lord hewed away a thousand of Bāṇa’s arms.

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक-क्रियाविशेषण (relative adverb: where)

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृस्थानी/विषय (event as subject)

• अभूत्: was/occurred
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘युद्धम्’ इति विशेषण

• हरिशंकरयोः: of Hari and Śaṅkara
• हरिशंकरयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; सम्बन्ध (of Hari and Śaṅkara)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘युद्धम्’ इति विशेषण

• छिन्नम्: cut off
• छिन्नम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘सहस्रम्’ इति विशेषण

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• सहस्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; संख्या/परिमाण; कर्तृस्थानी (with ‘अभूत्’ implied: ‘there was a thousand...’)

• बाहूनाम्: of arms
• बाहूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (of arms)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्त-सम्बन्धबोधक-क्रियाविशेषण (where)

• बाणस्य: of Bāṇa
• बाणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• चक्रिणा: by the discus-bearer (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
• चक्रिणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण (instrumental); विष्णोः उपाधि (one who bears the discus)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa descends to subdue oppressive asuric might and protect devotees and rightful relations, even when opposed by Śiva’s forces in defense of Bāṇa.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Protection of devotees and restoration of just restraint upon violent, overreaching power

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu/Krishna)
• Shankara (Shiva)
• Bāṇa
• Chakrin (the discus-bearer)

FAQs

What is the significance of the Hari–Shankara battle in the Vishnu Purana?

It dramatizes the restoration of dharma through divine power, presenting Hari’s decisive sovereignty while still acknowledging Śaṅkara’s formidable presence in the cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain this conflict in the dialogue with Maitreya?

Parāśara narrates it as a historical-puranic event within a larger chain of royal and divine actions, using vivid battlefield imagery to mark key turning points in the protection of order.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu appears as the cakrin—the supreme protector whose will prevails in re-establishing balance, a theme consistent with Vaishnava readings that place Narayana as the ultimate governing reality.