Shloka 17

बाणयुद्धम्, हरिहरसंवादः, ज्वरप्रकरणम्, अनिरुद्धमोचनम्

Bāṇa’s War, the Jvara Episode, Hari–Hara Dialogue, and Aniruddha’s Release

Devanagari script

नारायणभुजाघातपरिपीडनविह्वलम् तं वीक्ष्य क्षम्यताम् अस्येत्य् आह देवः पितामहः

Transliteration

nārāyaṇabhujāghātaparipīḍanavihvalam taṃ vīkṣya kṣamyatām asyety āha devaḥ pitāmahaḥ

Translation

Seeing him reeling in anguish, crushed by the blow of Nārāyaṇa’s arm, the divine Grandfather Brahmā spoke: “May he be forgiven.”

Word by Word

• नारायणभुजाघातपरिपीडनविह्वलम्: distressed by the crushing blow of Nārāyaṇa’s arm
• नारायणभुजाघातपरिपीडनविह्वलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायण + भुज + आघात + परिपीडन + विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; ‘distressed due to the crushing from the blow of Nārāyaṇa’s arm’

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — सर्वनाम

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) — ‘having seen’

• क्षम्यताम्: let (him) be forgiven
• क्षम्यताम्: Kriya (Injunction/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगः; ‘let (him) be forgiven’

• अस्य: of him
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन — सर्वनाम

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उद्धरण/quotative particle)

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (Speech/वचन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पितामहः: Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• पितामहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — ब्रह्मणः नाम

Speaker

Brahmā (Pitāmaha)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Brahmā’s intervention and plea for forgiveness upon seeing the Jvara’s distress

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: compassionate

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna’s decisive blow subdues the hostile fever-force, after which Brahmā intercedes to temper justice with forgiveness and preserve cosmic harmony.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Mercy within sovereignty—restoring order without needless annihilation of subordinate powers

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Supreme power is complemented by kṣamā (forgiveness); cosmic administration (Brahmā) urges mercy to maintain harmony among divine agencies.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice forgiveness after establishing boundaries; do not let victory become cruelty—restore relationships and order with compassion.

Vishishtadvaita: The cosmic hierarchy (Brahmā as ‘pitāmaha’) functions under Nārāyaṇa’s supremacy, yet participates meaningfully through intercession—plural agents within one sovereign order.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Narayana (Vishnu)
• Brahma (Pitamaha)

FAQs

What is the significance of Brahmā asking forgiveness in this verse of the Vishnu Purana?

It shows Brahmā’s role as a cosmic mediator who seeks to restore balance after Nārāyaṇa’s overwhelming display of power, emphasizing order and reconciliation.

How does the Vishnu Purana present Nārāyaṇa’s supremacy in this context?

The verse depicts another being incapacitated by Nārāyaṇa’s mere arm-blow and then shows Brahmā himself advocating mercy—both highlighting Nārāyaṇa’s uncontested sovereignty.

What is the theological importance of Lord Viṣṇu (Nārāyaṇa) here?

Nārāyaṇa is portrayed as the supreme regulator of events: his power is decisive, yet the narrative also frames divine action within dharma through forgiveness and restoration of harmony.