Shloka 17

Vasudeva Meets Nanda; Pūtanā’s Fall; Viṣṇu-Rakṣā (Protective Hymn) in Gokula

Devanagari script

वामनो रक्षतु सदा भवन्तं यः क्षणाद् अभूत् त्रिविक्रमक्रमाक्रान्तत्रैलोक्यः स्फुरदायुधः

Transliteration

vāmano rakṣatu sadā bhavantaṃ yaḥ kṣaṇād abhūt trivikramakramākrāntatrailokyaḥ sphuradāyudhaḥ

Translation

May Vāmana ever protect you—He who in an instant became Trivikrama, whose stride overran the three worlds, and whose resplendent weapons flashed forth.

Word by Word

• वामनः: Vāmana
• वामनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (singular)

• रक्षतु: may (he) protect
• रक्षतु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• भवन्तम्: you (honorific)
• भवन्तम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम-आदरार्थ)
• Form: आदरार्थ-प्रयोग, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (singular)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• क्षणात्: in a moment; from a moment (i.e., instantly)
• क्षणात्: Apadana (Source/starting point/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन (singular)

• अभूत्: became
• अभूत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• त्रिविक्रम-क्रम-आक्रान्त-त्रैलोक्यः: whose three worlds were overstepped by Trivikrama’s strides
• त्रिविक्रम-क्रम-आक्रान्त-त्रैलोक्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिविक्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + आक्रान्त (कृदन्त; आ+√क्रम्) + त्रैलोक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष; त्रिविक्रमस्य क्रमैः आक्रान्तं त्रैलोक्यं यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• स्फुरत्-आयुधः: with flashing weapons
• स्फुरत्-आयुधः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्फुरत् (कृदन्त; √स्फुर्) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (कर्मधारय; स्फुरद् आयुधं यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya; verse from a protective hymn section)

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Vamana

Purpose: He descended as Vāmana to humble Bali and restore the rightful sovereignty of the three worlds to the gods without needless destruction.

Leela: Loka-rakshana (world-protection)

Dharma Restored: Right order of the three worlds and the balance between devas and asuras; honoring truth through Bali’s gift

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine sovereignty can manifest through measured, dharmic restraint—subduing pride while preserving order.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice humility and right measure in power; let commitments and truthfulness guide action.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s immanence is shown by pervading the three worlds, yet He remains the sovereign Person beyond them.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari (name)

Bhakti Type: Shanta (peaceful)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vāmana
• Three worlds (Trailokya)

FAQs

What is the significance of Vāmana becoming Trivikrama in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights Vishnu’s avatāra power: the seemingly small Vāmana instantly reveals cosmic supremacy as Trivikrama, covering the three worlds and re-establishing divine order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine protection through Vishnu’s forms?

In the rakṣā-stotra style passage, Parāśara invokes specific avatāra-manifestations as living protections—each form embodies a distinct mode of safeguarding the cosmos and the devotee.

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

Vishnu is presented as the Supreme Reality who can assume a limited form without losing infinitude—His stride over the worlds and shining weapons signify absolute lordship and the protection of dharma.