Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

इत्य् उक्तो वासुदेवेन देवदूतः प्रणम्य तम् मैत्रेय दिव्यया गत्या देवराजान्तिकं ययौ

Transliteration

ity ukto vāsudevena devadūtaḥ praṇamya tam maitreya divyayā gatyā devarājāntikaṃ yayau

Translation

Thus addressed by Vāsudeva, the celestial messenger bowed to Him; and, O Maitreya, moving with divine swiftness, he departed for the presence of the Lord of the gods.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle/इत्यादि-निपात): वाक्यसमाप्त्यर्थे

• उक्तः: (having been) addressed
• उक्तः: Karta (Subject of subsequent action/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु) (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्मणि: ‘having been told/addressed’

• वासुदेवेन: by Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवेन: Karana (Agent in passive/by-phrase/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण) एकवचन; कर्तृ-करणभावे ‘by Vāsudeva’

• देव-दूतः: the divine messenger
• देव-दूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता) एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘देवानां दूतः’

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Kriya-viseshana (Absolutive/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√नम् (धातु) (क्त्वान्त/gerund)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त: ‘having bowed’

• तम्: to him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म) एकवचन

• मैत्रेय: O Maitreya
• मैत्रेय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन) एकवचन

• दिव्यया: by divine
• दिव्यया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण) एकवचन; विशेषण ‘गत्या’ इत्यस्य

• गत्या: by (his) movement/way
• गत्या: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण) एकवचन

• देव-राज-अन्तिकम्: to the presence of the king of gods
• देव-राज-अन्तिकम्: Karma (Goal as object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + राज (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म) एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘देवराजस्य अन्तिकम्’ (near the king of gods)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: compassionate

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He directs celestial agents as part of his orderly withdrawal and protection of cosmic administration.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Proper transmission of divine command within the deva-polity

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True service (dāsya) is marked by humility—praṇāma—and prompt execution of the Lord’s command.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate ‘prompt obedience’: translate spiritual insight into timely action with humility rather than delay.

Vishishtadvaita: Personal relationship of Lord and servant is real: the messenger’s reverence underscores the Lord’s supremacy and accessibility.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Vasudeva

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (Vishnu)
• Deva-dūta (divine messenger)
• Devarāja (Indra)
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of a deva-dūta (divine messenger) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse uses the messenger as a narrative device showing how divine will is transmitted through celestial administration—Vāsudeva’s word becomes immediate action within the deva-world.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine authority in this episode?

By depicting the messenger first bowing to Vāsudeva and only then proceeding to Indra, Parāśara frames Vishnu as the higher sovereign whose command precedes and directs the gods’ governance.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu (Vāsudeva) here?

Vāsudeva is presented as the supreme center of order: even Indra’s realm is approached only after receiving Vishnu’s instruction, reinforcing Vishnu’s primacy in Vaishnava theology.