Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

मनुष्यदेहम् उत्सृज्य संकर्षणसहायवान् प्राप्त एवास्मि मन्तव्यो देवेन्द्रेण तथा सुरैः

Transliteration

manuṣyadeham utsṛjya saṃkarṣaṇasahāyavān prāpta evāsmi mantavyo devendreṇa tathā suraiḥ

Translation

Casting off this human body, supported by Saṅkarṣaṇa, I have indeed attained my destined state; know that Devendra (Indra) and the host of the gods have received and escorted Me.

Word by Word

• manuṣyadeham: human body
• manuṣyadeham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manuṣya+deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (मनुष्यस्य देहः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• utsṛjya: having abandoned
• utsṛjya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: utsṛjya (कृदन्त-अव्यय; ud+√sṛj)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) अव्यय; ‘having abandoned’

• saṃkarṣaṇasahāyavān: having Saṃkarṣaṇa as helper
• saṃkarṣaṇasahāyavān: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃkarṣaṇa+sahāya+vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (संकर्षणः सहायः यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम्

• prāptaḥ: arrived, attained
• prāptaḥ: Karta/Predicate (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāpta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; pra+√āp)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘arrived/attained’

• eva: indeed
• eva: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात

• asmi: I am
• asmi: Kriya (Copula/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• mantavyaḥ: to be regarded (as)
• mantavyaḥ: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mantavya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √man)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् ‘to be considered’

• devendreṇa: by Indra
• devendreṇa: Karana/Agent (करण/कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devendra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/कर्तृ), एकवचन

• tathā: likewise, also
• tathā: Conjunctive/Adverbial (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय; ‘also/likewise’

• suraiḥ: by the gods
• suraiḥ: Karana/Agent (करण/कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/कर्तृ), बहुवचन

Speaker

A departing/ascended royal or heroic figure within the Vaṃśānucarita narrative (reported by Sage Parāśara in his discourse to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa casts off the human form and, with Saṅkarṣaṇa, returns to his destined divine state, received by Indra and the gods.

Leela: Moksha-dana

Dharma Restored: Reaffirmation of divine order: gods recognize the Lord’s supremacy and the avatāra’s completion

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s human embodiment is a voluntary assumption for līlā; abandoning it, he remains the supreme reality, honored even by Indra and the devas.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Contemplate the Lord’s transcendence alongside his approachable humanity, strengthening surrender (prapatti) and steady devotion.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms a personal Supreme who assumes real, gracious manifestations without losing transcendence; also hints at Pañcarātra vyūha (Saṅkarṣaṇa) supporting the avatāra.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Vyuha Form: Sankarshana

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Saṅkarṣaṇa
• Devendra (Indra)
• Suras (the gods)

FAQs

What is the significance of ‘casting off the human body’ in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse it marks a decisive transition from mortal limitation to a higher attainment, framed not as accidental death but as an ordered passage acknowledged by divine beings.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine assistance in a soul’s journey?

Through narrative testimony: the speaker attributes the successful passage beyond embodiment to Saṅkarṣaṇa’s support, showing that higher attainment is enabled by divine power rather than human effort alone.

What is the theological importance of Saṅkarṣaṇa here?

Saṅkarṣaṇa functions as a Vaishnava divine support—an expansion associated with sustaining power—implying Vishnu’s sovereignty operates through his manifestations to guide and uphold beings in critical transitions.