Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

एवं कृतस्वस्त्ययनो नन्दगोपेन बालकः शायितः शकटस्याधो बालपर्यङ्किकातले

Transliteration

evaṃ kṛtasvastyayano nandagopena bālakaḥ śāyitaḥ śakaṭasyādho bālaparyaṅkikātale

Translation

Thus, after Nanda the cowherd had duly performed the rites of blessing and protection, the infant was laid to rest beneath the cart, on the low cradle-bed made for a child.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-Visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• कृतस्वस्त्ययनः: for whom the rite of blessing/protection was performed
• कृतस्वस्त्ययनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त) + स्वस्त्ययन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘कृत’; तत्पुरुष (स्वस्त्ययनं कृतम् येन/यस्य)

• नन्दगोपेन: by Nandagopa
• नन्दगोपेन: Karana (Instrument/Agent-in-instrumental/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दगोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), एकवचन

• बालकः: the child
• बालकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• शायितः: was laid (to sleep)
• शायितः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (धातु) → शायित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; कर्मणि/निष्पन्नार्थ (laid down)

• शकटस्य: of the cart
• शकटस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन

• अधः: below
• अधः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb/postposition: below)

• बालपर्यङ्किकातले: on the surface of the child's cot
• बालपर्यङ्किकातले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल + पर्यङ्किका + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (बालस्य पर्यङ्किकायाः तलम्)

Speaker

Sage Parashara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Kṛṣṇa’s early life in Vraja—protective rites by Nanda and the setting for ensuing demon episodes.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: tender, narrative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He descends as Kṛṣṇa to enact bālya-līlā, protecting Vraja and removing demonic threats while granting liberation even to His enemies.

Leela: Bala

Dharma Restored: Protection of the divine child and the Vraja community; establishment of auspiciousness through svastyayana rites.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme Lord accepts apparent helplessness as an infant, allowing devotees’ protective love and rituals to become vehicles of bhakti.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Sanctify family life by offering daily acts of care (for children, elders, dependents) as service to the indwelling Lord.

Vishishtadvaita: The transcendent Lord truly enters embodied, relational life—receiving devotees’ service—without losing divinity (acintya-sāmarthya within a personal Brahman).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Vatsalya

Characters & Entities

• Nanda (Nandagopa)
• Krishna (as the infant child)
• Gokula (implied setting)

FAQs

What is the significance of svastyayana (protective blessing rites) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse shows how traditional household rites are performed even for the Divine Child, highlighting Krishna’s human-like upbringing while implying that true protection ultimately rests in Vishnu Himself.

How does Sage Parashara frame Krishna’s infancy in this passage?

Parashara narrates a simple domestic scene—Nanda’s blessings and the baby placed under a cart—setting up the contrast between Krishna’s apparent helplessness and His hidden sovereignty.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu’s supremacy is expressed through concealment: the Lord who upholds the universe chooses to appear as an infant, inviting devotion (bhakti) through intimacy rather than spectacle.