Shloka 16

यादवक्षयः, बलराम-निर्याणम्, कृष्णस्य उपसंहारः (प्रभासे विनाशः)

Devanagari script

वस्वश्विमरुदादित्यरुद्रसाध्यादिभिः सह विज्ञापयति वः शक्रस् तद् इदं श्रूयतां प्रभो

Transliteration

vasvaśvimarudādityarudrasādhyādibhiḥ saha vijñāpayati vaḥ śakras tad idaṃ śrūyatāṃ prabho

Translation

With the Vasus, Aśvins, Maruts, Ādityas, Rudras, Sādhyas, and the other divine hosts, Śakra (Indra) submits a petition to You; therefore, O Lord, please hear this.

Word by Word

• वसु-अश्वि-मरुत्-आदित्य-रुद्र-साध्य-आदिभिः: with the Vasus, Ashvins, Maruts, Adityas, Rudras, Sadhyas, etc.
• वसु-अश्वि-मरुत्-आदित्य-रुद्र-साध्य-आदिभिः: Sahakari/Karana (Accompaniment/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु + अश्विन् + मरुत् + आदित्य + रुद्र + साध्य + आदि (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; समाहार/समुच्चय-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahartha (Accompaniment/सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-प्रयोग-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)

• विज्ञापयति: informs, makes known
• विज्ञापयति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√ज्ञा (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Present, 3rd person, Singular

• वः: to you (all)
• वः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-बहुवचन-रूप (enclitic), ‘of you/for you’ — Genitive/Dative, Plural

• शक्रः: Indra
• शक्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Deictic/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular

• इदम्: this (matter)
• इदम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular

• श्रूयताम्: let (it) be heard
• श्रूयताम्: Kriya (Injunctive/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु; ‘श्रवणे’ to hear)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive imperative) — ‘let it be heard’

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन — Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

Narrator (Sage Parāśara) reporting the scene; the immediate speaker referenced is Śakra (Indra) addressing the Supreme Lord (Vishnu).

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Indra and the principal divine hosts formally submit their request to Keśava concerning the completion of his world-sustaining mission.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Stability of svarga’s governance and the devas’ protection under Bhagavān’s guardianship.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even the highest devas approach Bhagavān through humble petition, acknowledging his supreme lordship.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Replace self-sufficiency with reverent dependence on the Divine, especially in moments of institutional or personal responsibility.

Vishishtadvaita: Hierarchy is real: devas are exalted yet remain śeṣa (dependent) to the supreme Lord.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Vasus
• Aśvins
• Maruts
• Ādityas
• Sādhyas
• Vishnu (implied as the addressed Lord)

FAQs

What is the significance of the gods petitioning Vishnu in the Vishnu Purana?

It emphasizes Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty: even Indra and the principal divine classes approach him as the final refuge and authority for restoring cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara frame Indra’s role in this verse?

Parāśara presents Indra as the spokesman of the devas, formally submitting their collective request, showing hierarchical dependence on the Supreme Lord.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Vishnu is implied as the ultimate ruler and sustainer (the one who must ‘hear’ and decide), aligning with Vaishnava theology where all divine powers operate under him.