Shloka 52

अर्जुनस्य अन्त्येष्टि, द्वारकाप्लावनम्, कलिप्रवेशः, कालोपदेशः

Devanagari script

आनीयमानम् आभीरैः कृष्ण कृष्णावरोधनम् हृतं यष्टिप्रहरणैः परिभूय बलं मम

Transliteration

ānīyamānam ābhīraiḥ kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇāvarodhanam hṛtaṃ yaṣṭipraharaṇaiḥ paribhūya balaṃ mama

Translation

O Kṛṣṇa, O Kṛṣṇa! As the Ābhīras carried me off, men striking with staves seized Kṛṣṇa’s cattle-pen and all that was mine; humiliating me, they robbed me of strength and pride.

Word by Word

• आनीयमानम्: being brought
• आनीयमानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-नी (धातु) + यमान (प्रत्यय; शानच्)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्तम्; शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त (आनीयमान), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• आभीरैः: by the Ābhīras (cowherd-raiders)
• आभीरैः: Karana/Agent in passive (करण/कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आभीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• कृष्ण: O Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्ण: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• कृष्णावरोधनम्: Kṛṣṇā’s women/retinue (inner apartments)
• कृष्णावरोधनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्णा (प्रातिपदिक) + अवरोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कृष्णायाः अवरोधनम् = स्त्री-समूहः/अन्तःपुरम्)

• हृतम्: was seized
• हृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (हृत), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• यष्टिप्रहरणैः: with cudgels/clubs
• यष्टिप्रहरणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रहरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (यष्टिः प्रहरणं येषां तैः)

• परिभूय: having overpowered
• परिभूय: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परि-भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• बलम्: strength/force
• बलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• मम: of me
• मम: Genitive relation (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

A cowherd/attendant from Vraja reporting the raid to Sri Krishna (as narrated by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Why Arjuna’s power failed after Kṛṣṇa’s exit from the world

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Vatsalya

Lakshmi Presence: Bhumi

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Abhiras

FAQs

What is the significance of the Ābhīras in this Vishnu Purana verse?

They appear as raiders/oppressors whose violence disrupts Vraja’s order, setting the stage for Krishna’s protective intervention.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the narrative function of such conflicts in Krishna’s life?

In the Parāśara–Maitreya frame, these incidents highlight the Lord’s role as sustainer of dharma—responding to disorder, safeguarding the vulnerable, and re-establishing rightful protection.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu (as Krishna) in this context?

Krishna is shown as the Supreme guardian whose sovereignty extends into everyday life—defending devotees and restoring moral balance when power is abused.