Shloka 21

कालियदमना: यमुनाशुद्धिः, करुणा-निग्रहः, स्तुति-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

हा हा क्वासाव् इति जनो गोपीनाम् अतिविह्वलः यशोदया समं भ्रान्तो द्रुतं प्रस्खलितं ययौ

Transliteration

hā hā kvāsāv iti jano gopīnām ativihvalaḥ yaśodayā samaṃ bhrānto drutaṃ praskhalitaṃ yayau

Translation

“Alas, alas—where is He?” cried the people, and the gopīs were utterly overwhelmed. Bewildered, they rushed about with Yaśodā, hurrying so fast that they stumbled as they ran.

Word by Word

• हा: alas!
• हा: Sambodhana/Exclamation (उद्गार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हा (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्गार (interjection), अव्यय

• हा: alas!
• हा: Sambodhana/Exclamation (उद्गार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हा (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्गार (interjection), अव्यय

• क्व: where
• क्व: Adverbial (देश/स्थान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• असौ: that one (he)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/असौ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• इति: thus
• इति: Discourse marker (वाक्य-समाप्ति/उक्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• जनः: the people/person
• जनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• गोपीनाम्: of the cowherd women
• गोपीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अतिविह्वलः: greatly agitated
• अतिविह्वलः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• यशोदया: with Yaśodā
• यशोदया: Sahakāraka/Instrumental associate (सह/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशोदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• समम्: together
• समम्: Adverbial (सहभाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• भ्रान्तः: wandering/confused
• भ्रान्तः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु) → भ्रान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भ्रम्-धातोः क्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Adverbial (रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• प्रस्खलितम्: stumblingly / having stumbled
• प्रस्खलितम्: Adverbial (भाव/रीति)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + स्खल् (धातु) → प्रस्खलित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्खल्-धातोः क्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (accusative of manner)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: vivid, affective narration

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To protect Vraja and manifest divine līlā that draws beings into bhakti and the restoration of dharma through intimate grace.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Safety of Vraja and the sanctity of Yamunā’s waters, re-establishing fearless life under dharma.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Vatsalya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Yashoda
• Gokula/Vraja residents (jana)

FAQs

What is the significance of Krishna’s ‘disappearance’ in this Vishnu Purana verse?

It dramatizes līlā: the Supreme Lord’s playful withdrawal that deepens the devotees’ love, turning ordinary fear into intense bhakti through separation (viraha).

How does Sage Parāśara frame the devotees’ reaction in this scene?

He emphasizes their collective bewilderment and urgency—Yaśodā and the gopīs rush and even stumble—showing that Krishna is the emotional and spiritual center of Vraja’s life.

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

Krishna is portrayed as the Supreme Reality whose presence sustains devotees; even His brief absence reveals His lordship over hearts and the transformative power of devotion.