Shloka 44

पौण्ड्रक-वधः, कृत्या-प्रशमनम्, वाराणसी-दाहः

Devanagari script

अक्षीणामर्षम् अत्यल्पसाध्यसाधनसस्पृहम् तच् चक्रं प्रस्फुरद्दीप्ति विष्णोर् अभ्याययौ करम्

Transliteration

akṣīṇāmarṣam atyalpasādhyasādhanasaspṛham tac cakraṃ prasphuraddīpti viṣṇor abhyāyayau karam

Translation

Then that discus—its wrath unspent, eager even for the slightest task—flashing with a tremulous blaze, sped at once back to the hand of Lord Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• अक्षीण-अमर्षम्: with unabated wrath
• अक्षीण-अमर्षम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (निषेध) + क्षीण (कृदन्त; √क्षि (धातु) ‘to waste’) + अमर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः = ‘अक्षीणः अमर्षः यस्य’/‘अक्षीण-अमर्षम्’ (unabated wrath)

• अति-अल्प-साध्य-साधन-स-स्पृहम्: eager, and achievable with very little means
• अति-अल्प-साध्य-साधन-स-स्पृहम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय-पूर्वपद) + अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + साध्य (कृदन्त; √साध्) + साधन (प्रातिपदिक) + स (अव्यय ‘सहित’) + स्पृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; अर्थः ‘अत्यल्पेन साधनेन साध्यं (कार्यं) यस्य’ तथा ‘सस्पृहम्’ = eager/desirous

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• चक्रम्: the discus
• चक्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रस्फुरत्-दीप्ति: with flashing brilliance
• प्रस्फुरत्-दीप्ति: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रस्फुरत् (कृदन्त; √स्फुर् (धातु) ‘to flash’) + दीप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः/बहुव्रीहिवत् विशेषणम् = ‘प्रस्फुरन्ती दीप्तिः यस्य’ (having flashing radiance)

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन = genitive singular

• अभ्याययौ: went towards, returned to
• अभ्याययौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + आ + √या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्गयुक्त

• करम्: hand
• करम्: Karma (Goal/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Having completed dharma’s enforcement, Sudarśana returns—still blazing—to the hand of Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa, signifying the Lord’s effortless control over His śakti.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Re-establishment of order through the withdrawal of divine force back into the Lord’s command

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine power is never autonomous; even the fiercest śakti remains perfectly obedient to the Lord and returns to Him when the purpose is fulfilled.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Trust that dharma-protecting power is governed by the Divine; cultivate śaraṇāgati (surrender) rather than fear of chaotic forces.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s attributes/energies (śakti) are inseparable and controlled by Him; this supports a personal, sovereign Brahman who acts in the world without losing transcendence.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of the Sudarshana Chakra in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse it is portrayed as a living extension of Viṣṇu’s will—radiant, swift, and ever-ready—signifying the Lord’s immediate power to restore dharma and cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine action in moments of crisis?

By describing Viṣṇu’s discus as already eager for the slightest ‘task and means,’ Parāśara emphasizes that divine protection is not delayed—Viṣṇu’s power moves instantly when order must be upheld.

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

Viṣṇu is shown as the Supreme sovereign whose radiance and authority command even cosmic weapons; his hand is the final refuge where protective power naturally returns.