Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

तस्माद् भवद्भिः सज्जैस् तु प्रतीक्ष्यो ह्य् अर्जुनागमः न स्थेयं द्वारकामध्ये निष्क्रान्ते तत्र पाण्डवे

Transliteration

tasmād bhavadbhiḥ sajjais tu pratīkṣyo hy arjunāgamaḥ na stheyaṃ dvārakāmadhye niṣkrānte tatra pāṇḍave

Translation

Therefore, all of you remain prepared and await the coming of Arjuna. When that Pāṇḍava has departed from there, you should not remain within the city of Dvārakā.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that reason
• तस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/सम्बन्धसूचक), अपादानार्थे/हेतौ; ‘therefore/from that’

• भवद्भिः: by you (all), by your agency
• भवद्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; ‘by you (hon.)’

• सज्जैः: prepared, ready
• सज्जैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सज्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (भवद्भिः)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात), विरोध/अन्वयार्थक ‘but/indeed’

• प्रतीक्ष्यः: to be awaited; should be waited for
• प्रतीक्ष्यः: Vidhi (Obligation/विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति-ईक्ष् (धातु) + य (कृत्) → प्रतीक्ष्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भविष्यत्कर्तव्यता/विधेयार्थे कृत्य-प्रत्ययः (यत्/ण्यत्-समूह), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (अर्जुनागमः)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात), कारण/निश्चयार्थक ‘for/indeed’

• अर्जुनागमः: Arjuna’s arrival
• अर्जुनागमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक) + आगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अर्जुनस्य आगमः)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध)

• स्थेयम्: one should stay (here)
• स्थेयम्: Vidhi (Prohibition/निषेध-विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + य (कृत्) → स्थेय (कृत्य-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रयोगः (भावे/कर्मणि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘should be stayed/one should stay’ (निषेधेन)

• द्वारकामध्ये: in the midst of Dvārakā
• द्वारकामध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारका (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्ये (अव्यय/सप्तमी-रूप)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (मध्य), सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘द्वारकायाः मध्ये’

• निष्क्रान्ते: when (he) has departed; after departing
• निष्क्रान्ते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निस्-क्रम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → निष्क्रान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• पाण्डवे: when the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna) has departed
• पाण्डवे: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी-सम्बन्धः (निष्क्रान्ते ... पाण्डवे)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; within the narrative this is counsel given to the Yādavas/inhabitants of Dvārakā in the aftermath of Krishna’s departure)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Kṛṣṇa’s departure and the consequent fate/relocation of the people of Dvārakā

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To lighten the earth’s burden by destroying adharmic forces and to re-establish dharma among kings, culminating in His withdrawal from the world.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of the Lord’s dependents (śaraṇāgata) and orderly transition after the Lord’s departure

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When the Lord’s manifest protection is about to withdraw, devotees must follow His command and seek righteous guardianship rather than cling to place or prosperity.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Do not cling to collapsing supports; follow dharmic counsel, prepare, and move with trustworthy guidance when circumstances change.

Vishishtadvaita: Śaraṇāgati: the community is ‘mat-parigraha’—belonging to the Lord—so protection is mediated through His ordained instruments.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Pandava (Arjuna as a Pandava)
• Dvaraka

FAQs

What is the significance of Arjuna’s arrival in this Dvārakā episode of the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Arjuna’s coming as a decisive turning point—his presence marks the transition phase after Krishna’s withdrawal, after which remaining in Dvārakā is portrayed as no longer appropriate or safe.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the shift from Krishna’s līlā to the next historical stage?

By presenting practical instructions (be ready, await Arjuna, then leave Dvārakā), Parāśara narrates how divine withdrawal reshapes worldly order—history moves according to dharma and the Lord’s will, not merely human plans.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context, even though He is not named in the verse?

The command-like inevitability of events reflects the Purāṇic view that Krishna is Vishnu, the Supreme Reality; when He departs from manifest action, the protection and stability associated with His presence also recede, compelling a new order to unfold.