Shloka 4

कालियदमना: यमुनाशुद्धिः, करुणा-निग्रहः, स्तुति-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

विषाग्निना विसरता दग्धतीरमहातरुम् वाताहताम्बुविक्षेपस्पर्शदग्धविहंगमम्

Transliteration

viṣāgninā visaratā dagdhatīramahātarum vātāhatāmbuvikṣepasparśadagdhavihaṃgamam

Translation

It was as though a spreading fire of poison had swept through: the great trees along the banks were scorched, and birds, struck by wind-driven sprays of water, were burned by that touch alone.

Word by Word

• विषाग्निना: by poisonous fire
• विषाग्निना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष; 'विषस्य अग्निः'), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (instr. sg.)

• विसरता: spreading
• विसरता: Karana (Instrument qualifier/करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सृ (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (agreeing with विषाग्निना: 'spreading')

• दग्धतीरमहातरुम्: having great trees on the bank burnt
• दग्धतीरमहातरुम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दग्ध (कृदन्त; √दह्) + तीर (प्रातिपदिक) + महातरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष; 'दग्धं तीरं यस्य सः महातरुः'—great tree with burnt bank/shore), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies implied 'ह्रदम्' or its surroundings)

• वाताहताम्बुविक्षेपस्पर्शदग्धविहंगमम्: where birds were burnt by the touch of wind-driven splashing water
• वाताहताम्बुविक्षेपस्पर्शदग्धविहंगमम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक) + आहत (कृदन्त; √हन् + आ) + अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक) + स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक) + दग्ध (कृदन्त; √दह्) + विहंगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समासः; अर्थः: 'वातेन आहतस्य अम्बुनः विक्षेपस्य स्पर्शेन दग्धाः विहंगमाः यस्मिन्'—in which birds are burnt by contact with splashed water driven by wind; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: graphic

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To end the cascading destruction caused by Kāliya’s venom that scorches flora and fauna, preserving the balance of Vraja.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of innocent life and the natural order supporting pastoral dharma.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When the environment becomes a vehicle of harm, compassion and protection of the vulnerable become immediate dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate ahiṃsā and responsibility toward animals and habitats; respond to harm with protective action, not indifference.

Vishishtadvaita: Sentient and insentient beings form the Lord’s body; their suffering calls forth divine and devotee compassion.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

FAQs

What is the significance of poisonous fire imagery in the Vishnu Purana?

It dramatizes how quickly the natural world can be overturned when destructive forces spread—an echo of pralaya-style motifs that highlight the world’s dependence on higher cosmic order.

How does Sage Parashara explain destruction in this passage?

By vivid, sensory detail: poison becomes fire, wind drives water into burning spray, and even innocent life like birds perishes—showing devastation as pervasive and inescapable.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s framework implies that such collapse underscores the contingent nature of creation and the need for the Supreme Lord’s sustaining sovereignty.