Shloka 18

Śakaṭa-bhañjana, Naming by Garga, Dāmodara and Yamala-arjuna, and the Move to Vṛndāvana

Devanagari script

ततः कटकटाशब्दसमाकर्णनकातरः आजगाम व्रजजनो ददृशे च महाद्रुमौ

Transliteration

tataḥ kaṭakaṭāśabdasamākarṇanakātaraḥ ājagāma vrajajano dadṛśe ca mahādrumau

Translation

Then, alarmed on hearing the harsh cracking sound, the people of Vraja hurried to the spot—and there they beheld the two great trees.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha/Temporal (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/अनन्तरार्थे (indeclinable; then/thereupon/from that)

• कटकटाशब्दसमाकर्णनकातरः: distressed by hearing the ‘kaṭakaṭā’ sound
• कटकटाशब्दसमाकर्णनकातरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कटकटा-शब्द + सम्-आ-√कर्ण (धातु) + कातर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (कटकटाशब्दस्य समाकर्णनेन कातरः = distressed by hearing the rattling sound); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)

• आजगाम: came
• आजगाम: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + आ-उपसर्ग
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (perfect, 3rd person, singular)

• व्रजजनः: the people of Vraja
• व्रजजनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रज + जन (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (व्रजस्य जनः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)

• ददृशे: saw
• ददृशे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (perfect, 3rd person, singular; ātmanepada)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (indeclinable; conjunction)

• महाद्रुमौ: the two great trees
• महाद्रुमौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + द्रुम (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमासः (महान्तौ द्रुमौ); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), द्विवचन (masc. acc. dual)

Speaker

Sage Parashara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: narrative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He draws the Vraja community into witness of His līlā, deepening communal devotion through astonishment and concern.

Leela: Bala

Dharma Restored: Strengthening of Vraja’s protective love and shared bhakti through direct experience of the divine child.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Vatsalya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Vraja (Vrajajana)
• Yamala-Arjuna trees

FAQs

What is the significance of the cracking sound heard by the Vrajavāsīs in the Vishnu Purana?

It signals a divine intervention in Krishna’s līlā—an outward, audible sign that an extraordinary act has occurred, drawing the community to witness the aftermath.

How does Sage Parashara explain the unfolding of Krishna’s childhood deeds here?

He narrates events in a cause-and-effect flow: a startling sign (the cracking sound) leads the Vrajajana to arrive and see the two great trees, preparing the listener for the miracle’s meaning.

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

Vishnu, appearing as Krishna, demonstrates supreme lordship through effortless action within a seemingly ordinary pastoral setting—showing that the Absolute can act freely in compassionate, accessible līlā.