Shloka 2

साम्ब-हरणम्, बलदेवस्य रोषः, हस्तिनापुर-आकर्षणम्

Devanagari script

यमुनाकर्षणादीनि श्रुतानि भगवन् मया तत् कथ्यतां महाभाग यद् अन्यत् कृतवान् बलः

Transliteration

yamunākarṣaṇādīni śrutāni bhagavan mayā tat kathyatāṃ mahābhāga yad anyat kṛtavān balaḥ

Translation

O revered one, I have heard of the drawing back of the Yamunā and other such deeds. Tell me, O greatly fortunate sage, what other feats Bala (Balarāma) performed.

Word by Word

• यमुनाकर्षणादीनि: the (deeds) beginning with the dragging of the Yamunā
• यमुनाकर्षणादीनि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमुना (प्रातिपदिक) + आकर्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—यमुनायाः आकर्षणम् इत्यादीनि (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• श्रुतानि: heard
• श्रुतानि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रुत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (अर्थतः) ‘श्रुतानि (सन्ति)’

• भगवन्: O Lord
• भगवन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; (अत्र) कर्मरूपेण

• कथ्यताम्: let it be told
• कथ्यताम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः—महान् भागः यस्य/महान् भागः (कर्मधारय)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• अन्यत्: other, further
• अन्यत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (यत् इत्यस्य)

• कृतवान्: did, performed
• कृतवान्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृतवत् (कृदन्त, क्तवतुँ)
• Form: कर्तरि कृदन्त (Perfective active participle, क्तवतुँ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बलः: Bala (Balarāma)
• बलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Maitreya (questioning Sage Parāśara)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Maitreya

Topic: Having heard of Yamunā’s being drawn back (yamunākarṣaṇa) and similar acts, asks for Bala’s other deeds

Teaching: Historical

Quality: insistent yet respectful

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Yamuna
• Balarama (Bala)

FAQs

What is the significance of Yamunākarṣaṇa in the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights divine mastery over the natural order, presenting Balarāma’s act as a līlā that sanctifies the Yamunā and reveals the superhuman status of Krishna’s divine companion.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Balarāma’s deeds in this dialogue context?

Through Maitreya’s inquiry-driven structure, Parāśara narrates sequential exploits, using questions like this verse to transition from one celebrated deed (Yamunākarṣaṇa) to further accounts of Bala’s actions.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when the verse names Balarāma, the episode belongs to the Vishnu-centered Krishna narrative, where cosmic authority is expressed through avatāra-līlā and the divine circle surrounding Bhagavān.