Shloka 13

द्विविद-वधः, यज्ञ-विध्वंस-निवारणम्, बलदेव-पराक्रम-समाहारः

Devanagari script

ततः स वानरो ऽभ्येत्य गृहीत्वा सीरिणो हलम् मुसलं च चकारास्य संमुखं सविडम्बनम्

Transliteration

tataḥ sa vānaro 'bhyetya gṛhītvā sīriṇo halam musalaṃ ca cakārāsya saṃmukhaṃ saviḍambanam

Translation

Then that monkey rushed forward; seizing the plough and the club of the Plough-bearer (Balarāma), he mockingly brandished them right before him in deliberate affront.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अनन्तरकालवाचक) — adverb ‘then/thereupon’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Pronoun, nominative singular

• वानरः: the monkey
• वानरः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• अभ्येत्य: having come near, approaching
• अभ्येत्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि + इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग), अव्यय — Gerund ‘having approached’

• गृहीत्वा: having taken
• गृहीत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त, अव्यय — Gerund ‘having seized/taken’

• सीरिणः: of the plough-bearer (Balarāma)
• सीरिणः: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — Genitive singular

• हलम्: plough
• हलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular

• मुसलम्: club, pestle
• मुसलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुसल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular

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

• चकार: made, did
• चकार: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — 3rd person singular perfect

• अस्य: of him, his
• अस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — Genitive singular

• संमुखम्: in front (of him), face-to-face
• संमुखम्: Kriya-visheshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbially)

• स-विडम्बनम्: with mockery; a mocking display
• स-विडम्बनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपसर्गार्थ ‘with’) + विडम्बन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular; अव्ययीभावः (विडम्बनेन सह)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Deliberate mockery and theft of symbols of authority (weapons) is a dharmic breach that kindles conflict and demands discernment in response.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Recognize provocation tactics; respond with measured strength—protecting order without being dragged into needless escalation.

Vishishtadvaita: Moral agency operates within the Lord’s governed world; righteous power (śakti) is to be exercised as service to order, not ego.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Vamsha: Chandra

Key Kings: Balarāma

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Characters & Entities

• Balarama
• Vanara (monkey-like adversary)

FAQs

What is the significance of Balarama’s plough and club in the Vishnu Purana?

They identify Balarama as Haladhara (the plough-bearer) and symbolize irresistible strength used to restore order and subdue disruptive forces.

How does Sage Parāśara frame hostility or mockery in Krishna-era episodes?

As a narrative device showing that arrogance and derision toward the divine are self-defeating—such acts invite swift correction within the Lord’s līlā.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu’s sovereignty in this context?

Even when the verse centers on Balarama, it reflects Vaishnava theology: the Lord’s power (through his divine associates) governs events, and opposition collapses under that supreme order.