Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

श्रीदामानं ततः कृष्णः प्रलम्बं रोहिणीसुतः जितवान् कृष्णपक्षीयैर् गोपैर् अन्ये पराजिताः

Transliteration

śrīdāmānaṃ tataḥ kṛṣṇaḥ pralambaṃ rohiṇīsutaḥ jitavān kṛṣṇapakṣīyair gopair anye parājitāḥ

Translation

Then Śrī Kṛṣṇa overcame Śrīdāman, and Balarāma, Rohiṇī’s son, overcame Pralamba; the other cowherds on Kṛṣṇa’s side defeated the rest. Thus, even in the boys’ pastoral sport, the Lord’s party prevailed.

Word by Word

• श्रीदामानम्: Śrīdāman (name)
• श्रीदामानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीदामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana/Temporal (Time adjunct/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — ‘then/thereafter’

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• प्रलम्बम्: Pralamba (name)
• प्रलम्बम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• रोहिणीसुतः: son of Rohiṇī (Balarāma)
• रोहिणीसुतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोहिणी (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रोहिण्याः सुतः)

• जितवान्: won, conquered
• जितवान्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु) + क्तवतु (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त), परस्मैपदी धातु ‘जि’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतार्थे ‘having conquered/won’ (finite sense with implied ‘अस्ति’)

• कृष्णपक्षीयैः: by those on Kṛṣṇa’s side
• कृष्णपक्षीयैः: Karana/Association (Instrument/Agentive company/करण/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्षीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘कृष्णस्य पक्षीयाः’

• गोपैः: by the cowherds
• गोपैः: Karana/Association (Instrument/Company/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• पराजिताः: were defeated
• पराजिताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पराजि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त) ‘पराजि’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि/भावे ‘were defeated’ (passive participle used predicatively)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa descends to delight Vraja with divine play while subduing emerging demonic threats that disturb dharma.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Safety of Vraja and the divine order wherein the Lord’s side prevails even amid seeming play.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Sakhya

Vyuha Form: Sankarshana

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Balarama
• Shridaman
• Pralamba

FAQs

What is the significance of Pralamba in the Vishnu Purana?

Pralamba represents disguised adharma entering sacred community life; his defeat by Balarāma shows how divine power protects Vraja and restores order even when evil hides behind familiarity.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine action through play in this passage?

Parāśara frames the confrontation as a children’s contest among the gopas, yet within that playful setting the Lord’s side inevitably triumphs—teaching that cosmic protection can operate through ordinary-looking events.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Kṛṣṇa (Vishnu incarnate) is shown as the Supreme Reality whose will prevails naturally; the narrative emphasizes that the preservation of dharma is intrinsic to the Lord’s presence, not dependent on outward display of power.