Shloka 40

पौण्ड्रक-वधः, कृत्या-प्रशमनम्, वाराणसी-दाहः

Devanagari script

ततः काशिबलं भूरि प्रमथानां तथा बलम् समस्तशस्त्रास्त्रयुतं चक्रस्याभिमुखं ययौ

Transliteration

tataḥ kāśibalaṃ bhūri pramathānāṃ tathā balam samastaśastrāstrayutaṃ cakrasyābhimukhaṃ yayau

Translation

Then the vast forces of Kāśī, together with the hosts of the Pramathas, fully armed with every weapon and missile, advanced straight toward the Cakra.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = indeclinable adverb; अर्थे ‘तस्मात्/तदनन्तरम्’

• काशि-बलम्: the force/army of Kāśī
• काशि-बलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशि (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (काश्याः बलम्) = ‘strength/army of Kāśī’

• भूरि: abundant, great
• भूरि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोगः/नपुंसकलिङ्ग एकवचन (विशेषणम्); अर्थे ‘बहु’

• प्रमथानाम्: of the Pramathas
• प्रमथानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन = genitive plural

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/उपमानार्थ) = indeclinable; ‘also/likewise’

• बलम्: the force/army
• बलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• समस्त-शस्त्र-अस्त्र-युतम्: equipped with all weapons and missiles
• समस्त-शस्त्र-अस्त्र-युतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) ‘to join’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; ‘समस्तानि शस्त्राणि च अस्त्राणि च यैः युतम्’ = furnished with all weapons

• चक्रस्य: of the discus (chakra)
• चक्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन = genitive singular

• अभिमुखम्: towards, facing
• अभिमुखम्: Gati/Desha (Direction/दिशा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (दिशा/गति-विशेषण)

• ययौ: went, advanced
• ययौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa manifests divine sovereignty by unleashing the Sudarśana to neutralize adharma-backed aggression and protect dharma.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Supremacy of Bhagavat’s ordinance over militarized and occult-backed violence

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Collective power and weaponry cannot override the higher ordinance (ājñā) of Viṣṇu that guards dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Measure power by alignment with dharma; refuse to sanctify violence merely because it is organized or ‘traditional’.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhagavān’s will governs the world-order; all agencies operate under His sovereignty even when opposing Him.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī (Kashi)
• Pramathas
• Sudarśana Cakra
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What is the significance of the Sudarśana Cakra in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse it functions as Viṣṇu’s enforcing power—an emblem of divine sovereignty that no merely assembled army, however well-armed, can ultimately resist.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the clash between worldly armies and divine power?

By describing the fully armed forces moving against the Cakra, Parāśara highlights that human and even semi-divine hosts act within a larger cosmic rule where Viṣṇu’s will safeguards dharma.

What is the theological importance of Lord Viṣṇu in this context?

Viṣṇu is implicitly affirmed as the Supreme regulator: his Cakra represents the transcendent authority that subordinates all political and martial strength to the maintenance of cosmic order.