Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

वृन्दावनं भगवता कृष्णेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा शुभेन मनसा ध्यातं गवां वृद्धिम् अभीप्सता

Transliteration

vṛndāvanaṃ bhagavatā kṛṣṇenākliṣṭakarmaṇā śubhena manasā dhyātaṃ gavāṃ vṛddhim abhīpsatā

Translation

Bhagavān Krishna—whose deeds are effortless and untroubled—contemplated the forest of Vṛndāvana with an auspicious, benevolent mind, desiring the increase and well-being of the cows.

Word by Word

• वृन्दावनम्: Vṛndāvana
• वृन्दावनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृन्दावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• भगवता: by the Lord
• भगवता: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; instrumental of agent

• कृष्णेन: by Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णेन: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; apposition to भगवता

• अक्लिष्टकर्मणा: whose deeds are effortless
• अक्लिष्टकर्मणा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + क्लिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: अक्लिष्टं कर्म यस्य = 'whose actions are untroubled'; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of कृष्णेन

• शुभेन: auspicious
• शुभेन: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (मनसा सह), तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of मनसा

• मनसा: with (his) mind
• मनसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental = 'with/by mind'

• ध्यातम्: was contemplated/visualized
• ध्यातम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; passive participle = 'meditated upon/visualized'

• गवाम्: of the cows
• गवाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• वृद्धिम्: increase/prosperity
• वृद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अभीप्सता: desiring
• अभीप्सता: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप्/ईप्स् (धातु) (ईप्स् = desire) + अभि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'desiring/wishing' (agreeing with कृष्णेन)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: compassionate

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To bless Vṛndāvana and ensure the prosperity of the cows and Vraja through his effortless divine will.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Go-rakṣā and the flourishing of dharmic pastoral life centered on Bhagavān.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhagavān’s ‘akliṣṭa-karma’ (effortless action) shows that divine governance is spontaneous and benevolent toward those under his care.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice remembrance (smaraṇa) of Kṛṣṇa as protector; model leadership and care that seeks others’ well-being without egoic strain.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s immanence: his will pervades and directs prakṛti for the good of his dependents (śeṣa-śeṣi-bhāva).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Vrindavana
• Cows (Go)

FAQs

What is the significance of Vrindavana in the Vishnu Purana?

Here Vrindavana is presented as the divinely contemplated setting for Krishna’s protection and flourishing of dharmic life, especially centered on the cows and pastoral community.

How does Sage Parashara explain Krishna’s intention in this verse?

Parashara frames Krishna’s action as deliberate divine contemplation—motivated by an auspicious will—aimed at increasing the prosperity and well-being of the cows.

What is the theological importance of calling Krishna “Bhagavan” and “aklishta-karma” here?

The verse emphasizes Krishna’s supreme lordship: his deeds are effortless and sovereign, yet directed toward sustaining and blessing the world, aligning divine transcendence with compassionate governance.