Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

संकर्षणस् तु तं दृष्ट्वा दग्धशैलोपमाकृतिम् स्रग्दामलम्बाभरणं मुकुटाटोपिमस्तकम्

Transliteration

saṃkarṣaṇas tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā dagdhaśailopamākṛtim sragdāmalambābharaṇaṃ mukuṭāṭopimastakam

Translation

But Saṅkarṣaṇa, seeing him—his body like a mountain scorched by fire, adorned with garlands and hanging ornaments, his head crowned with a towering diadem—beheld that awe-inspiring form with solemn gaze.

Word by Word

• संकर्षणः: Saṅkarṣaṇa (Balarāma)
• संकर्षणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संकर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (क्त्वा) — ‘having seen’

• दग्धशैलोपमाकृतिम्: having a form like a burnt mountain
• दग्धशैलोपमाकृतिम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दग्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + शैल (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक) + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (उपमा-सम्बन्ध) — ‘दग्धशैलस्य उपमा यस्याः सा आकृतिः’ (describing ‘तम्’ by implied ‘आकृतिमन्तम्’)

• स्रग्दामलम्बाभरणम्: wearing ornaments hanging by garland-strings
• स्रग्दामलम्बाभरणम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्रज् (प्रातिपदिक) + दामन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अलम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष — ‘स्रग्दाम्ना अलम्बं आभरणं यस्य’ (ornament hanging by garland-strings)

• मुकुटाटोपिमस्तकम्: with head adorned by a lofty crown
• मुकुटाटोपिमस्तकम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुकुट (प्रातिपदिक) + आटोपिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष — ‘मुकुटेन आटोपि (शोभित/उन्नत) मस्तकं यस्य’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Through the Vraja-līlā, the Lord’s associate Saṅkarṣaṇa confronts the asura’s terrifying revelation, preparing for his destruction and the protection of the cowherds.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Exposure of deceit and readiness to eliminate the threat to Vraja’s peace.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: What appears as terrifying magnitude and glittering power is still a perceived form—seen steadily by the divine, and thus ultimately subordinate.

Vedantic Theme: Maya

Application: Practice steadiness (dhairya) when confronted by intimidating displays—observe clearly, do not be ruled by appearances.

Vishishtadvaita: The world’s forms have real dependence (śeṣatva) on the Lord; even ‘terrible’ power is contained within divine sovereignty.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Sakhya

Vyuha Form: Sankarshana

Characters & Entities

• Saṅkarṣaṇa (Balarāma)
• A formidable/crowned figure (tam)

FAQs

What is the significance of the “burnt mountain” comparison in the Vishnu Purana?

It conveys overwhelming, fearsome radiance and immovable power—an image used to signal a superhuman (often divine) presence that commands awe.

How does Sage Parāśara frame this scene for Maitreya?

Parāśara narrates it as a visual revelation: Balarāma (Saṅkarṣaṇa) recognizes the extraordinary nature of the figure through unmistakable royal-divine insignia—garlands, ornaments, and a towering crown.

What is the theological importance of such descriptions in Vaishnava Purāṇas?

They emphasize aiśvarya (sovereign majesty): divinity is not only intimate and compassionate but also transcendent, formidable, and worthy of reverent fear and surrender.