Shloka 45

बाणयुद्धम्, हरिहरसंवादः, ज्वरप्रकरणम्, अनिरुद्धमोचनम्

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

Devanagari script

इत्य् उक्तः प्राह गोविन्दः शूलपाणिम् उमापतिम् प्रसन्नवदनो भूत्वा गतामर्षो ऽसुरं प्रति

Transliteration

ity uktaḥ prāha govindaḥ śūlapāṇim umāpatim prasannavadano bhūtvā gatāmarṣo 'suraṃ prati

Translation

Thus addressed, Govinda spoke to Śūlapāṇi, the Lord of Umā. With a serene face, his displeasure dissolved, and he turned his attention toward the asura.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative particle)

• उक्तः: having been addressed / being spoken to
• उक्तः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘having been spoken to/being addressed’

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• शूलपाणिम्: the trident-bearer
• शूलपाणिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल + पाणि (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शूलं पाणौ यस्य/शूलधारी); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उमापतिम्: the lord of Umā (Shiva)
• उमापतिम्: Karma (Object/apposition/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा + पति (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उमायाः पतिः); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रसन्नवदनः: with a cheerful face
• प्रसन्नवदनः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न + वदन (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (प्रसन्नं वदनं यस्य); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गोविन्दस्य)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya (Conjunctive action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (क्त्वान्त/gerund); ‘having become’

• गतामर्षः: free from anger
• गतामर्षः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत + अमर्ष (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (गतः अमर्षः यस्य = whose anger has gone); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गोविन्दस्य)

• असुरम्: the demon
• असुरम्: Adhikarana/Goal (Direction-object with प्रति/प्रति-योग्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रति: towards
• प्रति: Sambandha (Directional relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: अव्यय; उपपद (preposition) ‘towards/against’

Speaker

Narratorial voice (Sage Parāśara relating the episode to Maitreya); the quoted speech begins with Govinda addressing Shiva

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He descends to protect the world and devotees, resolving conflicts even among divine powers through calm sovereignty.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Restoration of peace and proper order through measured divine response and reconciliation.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True sovereignty is shown by mastery over anger and the capacity to restore harmony.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Respond to provocation with composure; de-escalate before acting, especially when power is involved.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s supreme governance is expressed through compassionate restraint, harmonizing rival powers under one divine order.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Govinda (Vishnu)
• Shulapani (Shiva)
• Uma (Parvati)
• Asura

FAQs

What is the significance of Govinda becoming 'gata-amarṣa' (free from anger) in the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights Vishnu’s sovereignty and sattvic composure—action taken for dharma is not driven by personal wrath but by the calm restoration of cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the Vishnu–Shiva relationship in this verse?

By naming Shiva with honorifics (Śūlapāṇi, Umāpati) while placing Govinda as the decisive speaker, the narration depicts reverence and coordination, with Vishnu’s will guiding the resolution.

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

Vishnu appears as the supreme regulator whose serenity and authority direct the narrative toward the subduing of adharmic forces (the asura), reinforcing Vaishnava supremacy without denying Shiva’s dignity.