Shloka 40

बाणयुद्धम्, हरिहरसंवादः, ज्वरप्रकरणम्, अनिरुद्धमोचनम्

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

Devanagari script

स उपेत्याह गोविन्दं सामपूर्वम् उमापतिः विलोक्य बाणं दोर्दण्डच्छेदासृक्स्राववर्षिणम्

Transliteration

sa upetyāha govindaṃ sāmapūrvam umāpatiḥ vilokya bāṇaṃ dordaṇḍacchedāsṛksrāvavarṣiṇam

Translation

Then Umāpati (Śiva) approached Govinda and, first speaking in a conciliatory tone, looked upon Bāṇa—whose severed arm-stumps were pouring forth a rain of blood—and addressed him.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• उपेत्य: having approached
• उपेत्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप-इ (√इ, धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; त्वान्त (absolutive/क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त) अव्ययभावः; ‘having approached’

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अह्/√ब्रू (धातु; उक्त्यर्थ)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गोविन्दम्: Govinda
• गोविन्दम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सम्बोध्य-प्रायः (addressed as object of speech)

• सामपूर्वम्: preceded by conciliation (gentle words)
• सामपूर्वम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सामन् + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम्

• उमापतिः: Umāpati (Śiva)
• उमापतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (उमायाः पतिः)

• विलोक्य: having looked at
• विलोक्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि-लोक् (√लोक्, धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; त्वान्त (absolutive) अव्यय; ‘having seen’

• बाणम्: Bāṇa
• बाणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• दोर्दण्डच्छेदासृक्स्राववर्षिणम्: shedding a rain of blood from the severing of the arm-staffs
• दोर्दण्डच्छेदासृक्स्राववर्षिणम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दोर्/दोः (बाहु) + दण्ड + छेद + असृक् + स्राव + वर्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः; ‘(यः) दोर्दण्ड-छेदात् असृक्-स्रावं वर्षति’ इति अर्थे विशेषणम् (बाणम्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How Śiva approached Krishna and what he requested regarding Bāṇa.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: revealing

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna’s victory compels Śiva to intercede so that Bāṇa may be spared in accordance with Śiva’s prior boon and cosmic propriety.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Reconciliation between divine powers and restraint of punishment through intercession.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even in righteous victory, punishment is tempered by compassion and by honoring truthful commitments (boons/words).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Exercise restraint after success; seek reconciliation and keep promises even when you hold power over an opponent.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s sovereignty accommodates the moral order—boons and vows—without compromising His supremacy.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Govinda (Krishna/Vishnu)
• Umāpati (Shiva)
• Bāṇa (Bāṇāsura)
• Umā (Pārvatī)

FAQs

What is the significance of Śiva speaking with sāma (conciliation) to Govinda in the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights dharmic statecraft within sacred narrative—Śiva chooses peace-making first, implicitly acknowledging Govinda’s decisive authority in resolving the conflict.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the shift from battle to negotiation in this episode?

Through the image of Bāṇa’s suffering and Śiva’s approach, Parāśara frames a narrative pivot: force yields to counsel when cosmic balance has been re-established by Govinda.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Govinda stands as the final arbiter of order; even when other deities intervene, the resolution and moral direction of events ultimately rest with Vishnu’s supremacy.