Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

गोपवृद्धास् ततः सर्वे नन्दगोपपुरोगमाः मन्त्रयाम् आसुर् उद्विग्ना महोत्पातातिभीरवः

Transliteration

gopavṛddhās tataḥ sarve nandagopapurogamāḥ mantrayām āsur udvignā mahotpātātibhīravaḥ

Translation

Then all the elder cowherds—led by Nanda, chief among the gopas—sat down in anxious counsel, their hearts shaken with fear at the great and dreadful omens.

Word by Word

• गोपवृद्धाः: the elder cowherds
• गोपवृद्धाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप-वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गोपानां वृद्धाः)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (then/thereafter)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (गोपवृद्धाः)

• नन्दगोपपुरोगमाः: with Nandagopa at the forefront
• नन्दगोपपुरोगमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नन्दगोप-पुरोगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नन्दगोपः पुरोगमः येषाम्) बहुवचन-विशेषणम् (सर्वे/गोपवृद्धाः)

• मन्त्रयाम्: consulted, deliberated
• मन्त्रयाम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्त्रय् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्; धातुः: मन्त्रय् (to consult/deliberate)

• आसुः: were (did)
• आसुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्; धातुः: अस् (to be) — सहायकक्रिया (periphrastic perfect)

• उद्विग्नाः: disturbed, anxious
• उद्विग्नाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-√विज् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (सर्वे)

• महोत्पातातिभीरवः: very fearful of great portents
• महोत्पातातिभीरवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मह-उत्पात-अति-भीरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (महोत्पातेषु अतिभीरवः) विशेषणम् (सर्वे)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Krishna’s early Vraja-līlā and the protection of the cowherds amid portents and dangers.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To protect Vraja and destroy the asuric threats attacking the cowherd community while delighting devotees through pastoral līlā.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Safety of the sādhus (gopas) and the sanctity of Vraja-dharma (pastoral life centered on Hari).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Vatsalya

Characters & Entities

• Nanda
• Gopas (cowherd elders)

FAQs

What is the significance of ominous portents (utpāta) in the Vishnu Purana’s Krishna narrative?

They function as narrative signals that adharma-driven danger is approaching, prompting the righteous community to act protectively around the Lord’s avatāra.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the cowherds’ response to fear in this episode?

Parāśara presents them as responsible guardians—disturbed by signs in the cosmos yet turning to collective counsel (mantraṇa) rather than panic.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context, even though He is not named in the verse?

Within Book 5, the child in Gokula is Vishnu’s descent as Krishna; the surrounding omens and protective deliberations underscore that cosmic order bends around the Supreme’s līlā and its safeguarding.