Shloka 1

पौण्ड्रक-वधः, कृत्या-प्रशमनम्, वाराणसी-दाहः

Devanagari script

चक्रे कर्म महच् छौरिर् बिभ्राणो मानुषीं तनुम् जिगाय शक्रं शर्वं च सर्वान् देवांश् च लीलया

Transliteration

cakre karma mahac chaurir bibhrāṇo mānuṣīṃ tanum jigāya śakraṃ śarvaṃ ca sarvān devāṃś ca līlayā

Translation

Assuming a human body, Śauri performed a mighty deed: in effortless divine play He surpassed Śakra (Indra), Śarva (Śiva), and all the gods—revealing that though He appears mortal, He remains the sovereign Lord over every divine power.

Word by Word

• चक्रे: did, performed
• चक्रे: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कर्म: deed, act
• कर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कर्मणः)

• शौरिः: Śauri (Kṛṣṇa)
• शौरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बिभ्राणः: bearing, assuming
• बिभ्राणः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु) + बिभ्राण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि

• मानुषीम्: human
• मानुषीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानुषी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तनुम्)

• तनुम्: body, form
• तनुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जिगाय: conquered
• जिगाय: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शक्रम्: Indra
• शक्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शर्वम्: Śiva
• शर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (देवान्)

• देवान्: gods
• देवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• लीलया: playfully, as a sport
• लीलया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; साधन/रीतिवाचक

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To manifest supreme lordship while in human guise, subduing rival claims to power and protecting dharma through sportive līlā.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Recognition of the Supreme over all devas; proper hierarchy of worship and refuge in Bhagavān.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Though appearing as a man, Kṛṣṇa remains Bhagavān who transcends and governs even Indra and Śiva, so ultimate refuge belongs to Him alone.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Practice single-pointed devotion and humility by placing ultimate trust in Bhagavān rather than in limited powers or status.

Vishishtadvaita: The Supreme (Nārāyaṇa/Kṛṣṇa) is the inner ruler and master of all devas, who are real but dependent modes within His sovereignty.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Vasudeva

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Krishna (Śauri)
• Vishnu
• Indra (Śakra)
• Shiva (Śarva)
• Devas (gods)

FAQs

What is the significance of līlā (divine play) in this verse of the Vishnu Purana?

It emphasizes that the Lord’s supremacy is effortless—His acts are not compelled by limitation, but occur freely as divine sport even while He appears human.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Krishna’s status in relation to other gods here?

By stating that Śauri surpasses Indra and Śiva along with all the devas, Parāśara frames Krishna/Vishnu as the highest reality to whom all divine powers are subordinate.

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

The verse asserts Vishnu-Krishna as the Supreme Lord: incarnate in human form yet transcendent, demonstrating unmatched sovereignty over the entire divine hierarchy.