Shloka 36

पौण्ड्रक-वधः, कृत्या-प्रशमनम्, वाराणसी-दाहः

Devanagari script

जहि कृत्याम् इमाम् उग्रां वह्निज्वालाजटाकुलाम् चक्रम् उत्सृष्टम् अक्षेषु क्रीडासक्तेन लीलया

Transliteration

jahi kṛtyām imām ugrāṃ vahnijvālājaṭākulām cakram utsṛṣṭam akṣeṣu krīḍāsaktena līlayā

Translation

“Destroy this fierce kṛtyā—dreadful, matted with streaming tongues of fire. The discus, cast off in mere play by one absorbed in the dice-game, has been released among the dice.”

Word by Word

• जहि: kill!
• जहि: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• कृत्याम्: the kṛtyā (magic entity)
• कृत्याम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इमाम्: this
• इमाम्: Karman (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying कृत्याम्)

• उग्राम्: fierce
• उग्राम्: Karman (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• वह्निज्वालाजटाकुलाम्: filled with matted locks of fire-flames
• वह्निज्वालाजटाकुलाम्: Karman (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्वाला (प्रातिपदिक) + जटा (प्रातिपदिक) + आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—'वह्निज्वालाभिः जटाभिः आकुला' (entangled/filled with matted locks of flames)

• चक्रम्: the discus
• चक्रम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उत्सृष्टम्: released/thrown
• उत्सृष्टम्: Karman (Object qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-सृज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'released/thrown' (qualifying चक्रम्)

• अक्षेषु: at the dice (game)
• अक्षेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'in/at the dice' (locative)

• क्रीडासक्तेन: by one absorbed in play
• क्रीडासक्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक) + सक्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसक?—तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः—'क्रीडायां सक्तः' (attached to play); विशेषणम् (agent/instrument context)

• लीलया: playfully; as a sport
• लीलया: Karana (Manner/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (adverbial instrumental)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna deploys Sudarśana to annihilate the fierce kṛtyā and avert imminent destruction.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Immediate protection of innocents and the upholding of divine law over violent, occult aggression.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: For Bhagavān, even world-protecting force can be exercised effortlessly—His līlā expresses sovereign mastery without inner strain.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate trust that divine protection is not limited by the apparent magnitude of threats; respond to danger with steadiness rather than panic.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhagavān’s līlā unites transcendence (unlimited power) with immanence (active protection within history).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Kṛtyā
• Chakra (discus)

FAQs

What is the significance of the kṛtyā in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse, the kṛtyā represents a manufactured, violent force—an unnatural eruption of harm—whose very imagery (entangled flames) signals chaos that must be checked by higher authority.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the act of destruction here?

Parāśara reports an urgent command—“destroy”—showing that when destructive magic or adharma arises, it is to be neutralized decisively, not negotiated with.

What is the theological importance of the chakra in this context?

The chakra functions as a sign of irresistible sovereignty: even when released “in play,” it embodies a higher, inviolable power that restores order—echoing Vaishnava theology where Vishnu’s instruments uphold cosmic and moral stability.