Shloka 13

भाण्डीरवट-क्रीडा: प्रलम्बासुरवधः, मानुष्यलीला, एक-कारण-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

श्रीदाम्ना सह गोविन्दः प्रलम्बेन तथा बलः गोपालैर् अपरैश् चान्ये गोपालाः सह पुप्लुवुः

Transliteration

śrīdāmnā saha govindaḥ pralambena tathā balaḥ gopālair aparaiś cānye gopālāḥ saha pupluvuḥ

Translation

Govinda, accompanied by Śrīdāman, and Bala (Balarāma) along with Pralamba—together with the other cowherd boys as well—leapt about in play as one joyous band.

Word by Word

• श्रीदाम्ना: with Śrīdāman (by/along with)
• श्रीदाम्ना: Sahakari (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीदामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• सह: with
• सह: Sahakari (Association/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक उपपद (postposition governing instrumental)

• गोविन्दः: Govinda (Kṛṣṇa)
• गोविन्दः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• प्रलम्बेन: with Pralamba
• प्रलम्बेन: Sahakari (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in like manner/also)

• बलः: Bala (Balarāma)
• बलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• गोपालैः: with cowherd boys
• गोपालैः: Sahakari (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• अपरैः: with other (ones)
• अपरैः: Sahakari (Association/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• गोपालाः: cowherd boys
• गोपालाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• सह: together/with
• सह: Sahakari (Association/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक उपपद

• पुप्लुवुः: leapt/jumped
• पुप्लुवुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्लु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्काल), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदी

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To participate in intimate friendship-līlā with the gopālas while orchestrating the imminent defeat of Pralamba who has infiltrated their play.

Leela: Bala

Dharma Restored: Safeguarding the community of devotees and the sanctity of Vraja companionship.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord allows devotees to relate to Him as a friend (sakhya), showing that intimacy with God is a valid and exalted mode of worship.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Practice personal devotion—speak to God as companion while maintaining ethical vigilance against harmful influences.

Vishishtadvaita: Personal relationship (sambandha) with the Supreme Person is central; the Lord’s nearness does not diminish His supremacy.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Sakhya

Characters & Entities

• Govinda (Krishna)
• Śrīdāman
• Balarāma
• Pralamba
• Gopālas (cowherd boys)

FAQs

What is the significance of Krishna’s playful sports (līlā) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Krishna’s divinity through intimate, joyful companionship—līlā that makes the Supreme approachable while still guiding the narrative toward the protection of dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the presence of companions like Śrīdāman and Balarāma?

Parāśara narrates Krishna’s Vraja circle as a lived setting for divine action—companions are not incidental; they form the relational stage on which Vishnu’s sovereignty and safeguarding power will be revealed.

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

Vishnu as Govinda appears as the Supreme Reality who freely enters the world in a tender, humanlike mode—yet remains the ultimate protector and ruler of cosmic order.