Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

यदर्थम् आगताः कार्यं तन् निष्पन्नं किम् आस्यते भवद्भिर् गम्यतां नन्द तच् छीघ्रं निजगोकुलम्

Transliteration

yadartham āgatāḥ kāryaṃ tan niṣpannaṃ kim āsyate bhavadbhir gamyatāṃ nanda tac chīghraṃ nijagokulam

Translation

The purpose for which you have come has been fulfilled. Why do you still remain here? Go now, O Nanda—return swiftly to your own Gokula.

Word by Word

• yadartham: for what purpose
• yadartham: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययम् (interrogative-relative adverb): 'for what purpose/for which purpose'

• āgatāḥ: (you all) have come
• āgatāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्) + ā- (उपसर्ग) (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'having come/arrived'

• kāryam: the task
• kāryam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'task/thing to be done'

• tat: that (task)
• tat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; 'that/it'

• niṣpannam: completed
• niṣpannam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣpanna (प्रातिपदिक; √pad/√pād 'to go/attain' with nis-; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—'accomplished/completed' (qualifying tat/kāryam)

• kim: what
• kim: Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक—'what?'

• āsyate: is (still) sitting/remaining
• āsyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ās (आस्) (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'sits/remains'

• bhavadbhiḥ: by you (all)
• bhavadbhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: bhavat (भवत्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; आदरार्थे 'you (hon.)'

• gamyatām: go (please)
• gamyatām: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्) (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'let it be gone/please go' (polite injunction)

• nanda: O Nanda
• nanda: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• tat: that (there/that place)
• tat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'that' (referring to destination/act)

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम् (adverb/क्रियाविशेषण): 'quickly'

• nija-gokulam: to (your) own Gokula
• nija-gokulam: Gati/Karma (Destination as object/गति-कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक) + gokula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'one's own' + 'Gokula'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Kamsa’s court/authority figure addressing Nanda (narrated by Sage Parashara to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa’s descent is being safeguarded by sending Nanda back to Gokula so the divine child may be protected from Kaṃsa’s threats.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of the righteous and preservation of divine order through safeguarding the avatāra’s life.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When a duty is completed, one should act promptly and responsibly for the greater protection of dependents.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Finish obligations without delay and prioritize the safety and wellbeing of those entrusted to you.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s līlā unfolds within human duties, affirming divine immanence working through social roles.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Vatsalya

Characters & Entities

• Nanda
• Gokula

FAQs

What is the significance of being told to return to Gokula in the Vishnu Purana?

It marks a narrative turning-point: the immediate purpose of the visit is fulfilled, and the story redirects Nanda back to Gokula where the next phase of Krishna’s divine play unfolds.

How does Sage Parashara present authority and duty in this context?

Through a simple command—“the task is done, depart”—the text highlights dharma as timely action: once an obligation is completed, one should not linger but proceed to the next rightful step.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even in a brief logistical instruction, the Krishna narrative implies divine governance: worldly directives and movements ultimately serve Vishnu’s larger design within the avatara-lila.