Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

इत्य् उक्ताः प्रययुर् गोपा नन्दगोपपुरोगमाः शकटारोपितैर् भाण्डैः करं दत्त्वा महाबलाः

Transliteration

ity uktāḥ prayayur gopā nandagopapurogamāḥ śakaṭāropitair bhāṇḍaiḥ karaṃ dattvā mahābalāḥ

Translation

Thus instructed, the mighty cowherds set out—led by Nanda—having loaded their goods upon carts and having paid the due levy for the journey.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākya-sambandha (Quotation marker/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (quotative particle): 'thus'

• uktāḥ: having been told
• uktāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्) (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'having been told/addressed'

• prayayur: departed
• prayayur: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (या) + pra- (उपसर्ग) (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; 'they went/departed'

• gopāḥ: the cowherds
• gopāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• nanda-gopa-purogamāḥ: with Nanda Gopa as their leader
• nanda-gopa-purogamāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nanda (प्रातिपदिक) + gopa (प्रातिपदिक) + purogama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समासः ('those whose leader is Nanda Gopa'); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying gopāḥ)

• śakaṭa-āropitaiḥ: loaded on carts
• śakaṭa-āropitaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakaṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + āropita (प्रातिपदिक; √ruh/√rop 'to place' with ā-; क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (सप्तमी/अधिकरण-भाव: 'placed on carts'); पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying bhāṇḍaiḥ)

• bhāṇḍaiḥ: with goods/loads
• bhāṇḍaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• karam: the hand
• karam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'hand'

• dattvā: having given
• dattvā: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा) (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund); 'having given'

• mahābalāḥ: very strong
• mahābalāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः ('great' + 'strong'); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying gopāḥ)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: The community’s relocation and orderly departure establish the safe setting for Kṛṣṇa’s bāla-līlā and protection from Kaṃsa’s reach.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Social order and protective dharma through communal solidarity and lawful travel.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Collective duties—planning, provisioning, and respecting civic obligations—support the protection and stability of the community.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: In transitions, prepare responsibly, cooperate with others, and fulfill lawful dues without negligence.

Vishishtadvaita: Worldly order (vyavahāra) can serve divine purpose when aligned with dharma and protection of the Lord’s devotees.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Vatsalya

Characters & Entities

• Nanda (Nandagopa)
• Krishna (implied context)

FAQs

What is the significance of paying kara (tax/levy) in this Vishnu Purana verse?

It highlights dharmic social order: even the pastoral community travels lawfully, acknowledging civic authority and maintaining harmony through rightful dues.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the Gopas’ departure in the Krishna narrative?

He presents it as a collective, disciplined movement led by Nanda, with practical preparations (carts and goods) that set the stage for Krishna’s unfolding līlā among the community.

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

Though not named in the line, the verse situates the human, ordered world in which Vishnu’s avatāra acts—showing the Supreme sustaining dharma through ordinary life and communal duty.