Shloka 31

अर्जुनस्य अन्त्येष्टि, द्वारकाप्लावनम्, कलिप्रवेशः, कालोपदेशः

Devanagari script

अहो ऽतिबलवद् दैवं विना तेन महात्मना यद् असामर्थ्ययुक्ते ऽपि नीचवर्गे जयप्रदम्

Transliteration

aho 'tibalavad daivaṃ vinā tena mahātmanā yad asāmarthyayukte 'pi nīcavarge jayapradam

Translation

Ah—how overpowering is destiny (daiva)! Without the support of that great-souled one, even the side of inferior men, though steeped in incapacity, is made the giver of victory.

Word by Word

• अहो: ah! indeed
• अहो: Sambodhana/Exclamation (सम्बोधन/विस्मय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विस्मयादिबोधक-निपात (interjection/particle of exclamation)

• अतिबलवत्: very powerful
• अतिबलवत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय-उपसर्ग) + बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter, nominative/accusative singular; adjective)

• दैवम्: fate; divine dispensation
• दैवम्: Karta/Pratipādya (कर्ता/प्रातिपाद्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• विना: without
• विना: Nishedha-sambandha (वियोग/अभाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपपद-निपात (preposition) — तृतीया/पञ्चमी-अर्थे ‘without’

• तेन: by him/with him
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• महात्मना: by the great-souled one
• महात्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• यत्: that (whereby)
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative particle ‘that/whereby’)

• असामर्थ्ययुक्ते: in/for one who is incapable
• असामर्थ्ययुक्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असामर्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त, √युज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (locative singular; ‘endowed with incapacity’)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (particle: even/also)

• नीचवर्गे: in a low class/group
• नीचवर्गे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीच (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (locative singular)

• जयप्रदम्: granting victory
• जयप्रदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (कृदन्त, √दा/√प्रदा ‘to give’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc singular)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Daiva (the divine ordering power) is so strong that, bereft of the great support (Kṛṣṇa), even the incapable can be made victorious.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Replace egoic certainty with prayerful humility; attribute success to grace and align effort with dharma.

Vishishtadvaita: Emphasizes dependence (śeṣatva) on Bhagavān’s grace: capability and victory are ultimately granted by the Lord, not autonomous.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Daiva (Providence/Fate)

FAQs

What is the significance of daiva (destiny) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse stresses that daiva can override apparent competence: even an incapable, inferior faction can be made victorious when providence turns in its favor.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the tension between human effort and fate?

In this reflection, Parāśara highlights providence as a decisive factor in outcomes, implying that visible merit or strength alone does not guarantee success in dynastic or political events.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Although Vishnu is not directly named, the Purana’s worldview treats cosmic order and the turning of fortune as ultimately grounded in the Supreme Reality—so ‘daiva’ functions as a manifestation of higher sovereignty.