Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

ततस् तौ जातहर्षौ तु वसुदेवसुताव् उभौ हत्वा धेनुकदैतेयं भाण्डीरवटम् आगतौ

Transliteration

tatas tau jātaharṣau tu vasudevasutāv ubhau hatvā dhenukadaiteyaṃ bhāṇḍīravaṭam āgatau

Translation

Then the two sons of Vasudeva, their hearts lifted with joy, slew the Daitya Dhenuka and came to Bhāṇḍīra-vata, the sacred banyan.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदनन्तरार्थ — Indeclinable “then”

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन — Nominative dual masculine

• जातहर्षौ: with joy arisen; delighted
• जातहर्षौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जात (कृदन्त) + हर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन — Nominative dual masculine; तत्पुरुष (जातः हर्षः यस्य) “having arisen joy”

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोधार्थ — Particle “indeed/but”

• वसुदेवसुतौ: the two sons of Vasudeva
• वसुदेवसुतौ: Apposition (Samanadhikarana/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुदेव + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन — Nominative dual masculine; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वसुदेवस्य सुतौ)

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन — Nominative dual masculine (both)

• हत्वा: having killed
• हत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हन् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (तुमुन्-समकक्ष); पूर्वकालक्रिया — Gerund “having slain”

• धेनुकदैतेयम्: Dhenuka, the demon
• धेनुकदैतेयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनुक + दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular masculine; कर्मधारय (धेनुकः दैत्यः)

• भाण्डीरवटम्: to the Bhāṇḍīra banyan-tree (place)
• भाण्डीरवटम्: Gati/Karma (Goal/Object of motion/गति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाण्डीर + वट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular masculine; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/नामधेय (भाण्डीर-नामकः वटः)

• आगतौ: they came
• आगतौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपद — Perfect, 3rd person dual, active

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa (with Balarāma) descends to protect the Vraja community by slaying Dhenuka and re-establishing auspicious order in the sacred landscape.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Protection of cows and cowherds; restoration of fearlessness and rightful enjoyment of the dhāma.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhagavān’s protective heroism culminates in joy (harṣa) for His companions; divine power serves intimacy and the flourishing of dharmic life.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Let spiritual practice mature into courageous protection of what is sacred—relationships, community, and ethical livelihood.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s supremacy is expressed as affectionate nearness: the transcendent ruler becomes the companion of devotees, restoring order without losing intimacy.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Sakhya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Balarama
• Vasudeva
• Dhenuka
• Bhāṇḍīra-vata (Bhāṇḍīra banyan)

FAQs

What is the significance of slaying Dhenuka in the Vishnu Purana?

It marks the removal of a disruptive daitya-force so that Vraja’s natural harmony (dharma in daily life) can reassert itself under the Lord’s protection.

How does Sage Parāśara present Krishna and Balarama in this verse?

As the two sons of Vasudeva whose joyful composure follows victory—divine power expressed as effortless restoration of order within the pastoral world.

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

Vishnu’s avatara acts are shown as governance of reality itself: by removing adharma-personified, the Supreme ensures the world’s stability while remaining playfully present among beings.