Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

यद् अत्र साम्प्रतं कार्यं मया मधुनिषूदन तत् कथ्यतां प्रयात्य् एष दुरात्मातित्वरान्वितः

Transliteration

yad atra sāmprataṃ kāryaṃ mayā madhuniṣūdana tat kathyatāṃ prayāty eṣa durātmātitvarānvitaḥ

Translation

O Madhusūdana, tell me what must be done by me right now, for this wicked-souled one is departing, driven on by excessive haste.

Word by Word

• यत्: what (that which)
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• साम्प्रतम्: now; at present
• साम्प्रतम्: Kala-adhikarana (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साम्प्रतम् (अव्यय/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• कार्यम्: to be done; task
• कार्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृ-धातोः कृत्य-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3), एकवचन — Instrumental, Singular

• मधुनिषूदन: O slayer of Madhu
• मधुनिषूदन: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + निषूदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8/सम्बोधन), एकवचन — Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular

• कथ्यताम्: let it be told
• कथ्यताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Imperative, Passive, 3rd person, Singular

• प्रयाति: goes away; departs
• प्रयाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) उपसर्ग-प्र (प्र+या)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद — Present Indicative, 3rd person, Singular

• एषः: this (one)
• एषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दुरात्मा: the wicked one
• दुरात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अतित्वर-अन्वितः: endowed with great haste
• अतित्वर-अन्वितः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतित्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक; √इ 'अनु' + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; विशेषण (qualifying दुरात्मा/एषः)

Speaker

Uncertain from verse-only input (likely a devotee/king addressing Lord Vishnu as Madhusūdana within the narrative dialogue)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To safeguard His companions and re-establish safety in Vraja by directing immediate action against asuric aggression.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Timely protection (rakṣā) and right response to adharma through decisive intervention.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In peril, the devotee turns to Bhagavān as the immediate guide, seeking right action rather than acting from panic alone.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When facing sudden crisis, pause, seek higher counsel (scriptural/teacher/God-centered discernment), and act promptly without confusion.

Vishishtadvaita: Dependence (śeṣatva) of the jīva on the Lord’s will and guidance, even amid worldly action.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Madhusūdana)

FAQs

What is the significance of calling Vishnu “Madhusūdana” in the Vishnu Purana?

It invokes Vishnu as the decisive remover of hostile forces—one who destroys the “Madhu” of disorder—so the speaker seeks swift, authoritative guidance.

How does the Vishnu Purana frame right action (kārya) during urgent conflict?

Even amid haste and threat, the text emphasizes asking the Supreme Lord for the proper course, placing dharma above impulse and fear.

What is Vishnu’s theological importance in this context?

Vishnu appears as the supreme refuge and ruler of order, the one who clarifies duty and restores moral balance when evil-minded forces act rashly.