Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

संस्तूयमानो गोपैस् तु रामो दैत्ये निपातिते प्रलम्बे सह कृष्णेन पुनर् गोकुलम् आययौ

Transliteration

saṃstūyamāno gopais tu rāmo daitye nipātite pralambe saha kṛṣṇena punar gokulam āyayau

Translation

Praised by the cowherds, Balarāma—after the demon Pralamba had been struck down—returned once more to Gokula together with Kṛṣṇa.

Word by Word

• संस्तूयमानः: being praised
• संस्तूयमानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+स्तु (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• गोपैः: by the cowherds
• गोपैः: Karana (Agent in passive/कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd case), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/अनुवाद-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• रामः: Rāma (Balarāma)
• रामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• दैत्ये: when/with regard to the demon
• दैत्ये: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th case), एकवचन — Locative singular

• निपातिते: having been felled
• निपातिते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — Locative singular; agreeing with ‘प्रलम्बे’

• प्रलम्बे: when Pralamba (was)
• प्रलम्बे: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — Locative singular (सप्तमी-absolute with ‘निपातिते’)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakaraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सहार्थक-उपसर्गसदृश (prepositional indeclinable; governs तृतीया)

• कृष्णेन: with Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णेन: Sahakaraka (Companion/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Instrumental singular (with सह)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, काल/पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again)

• गोकुलम्: to Gokula
• गोकुलम्: Karma (Goal/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular

• आययौ: returned/came
• आययौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — 3rd person singular

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The aftermath of asura-slaying and the return to the pastoral settlement, showing normalcy restored by divine guardianship.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: compassionate

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To continue the Vraja-līlā in safety after the removal of Pralamba, returning with Balarāma to Gokula to sustain devotees’ joy and protection.

Leela: Bala

Dharma Restored: Peaceful order in the cowherd settlement and continuity of the Lord’s childhood sports.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When adharma is removed, the devotee-community returns to settled harmony, recognizing divine protection as the ground of ordinary life.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: After overcoming crises, re-establish steady sādhana and community gratitude rather than remaining in agitation.

Vishishtadvaita: The Supreme remains accessible in daily life (returning to Gokula) while being the transcendent protector who defeats asuric forces.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Sakhya

Vyuha Form: Sankarshana

Characters & Entities

• Balarama (Rama)
• Krishna
• Pralamba
• Gokula

FAQs

What is the significance of Pralamba’s death in the Vishnu Purana?

It marks the removal of an asuric threat to Vraja and highlights how the Lord’s incarnate associates (Balarama with Krishna) actively protect devotees and uphold dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the protection of Gokula in this episode?

Through a narrative of divine intervention: the cowherd community praises Balarama after the demon is slain, and the brothers’ return to Gokula signals restored safety and order.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even in a simple return to Gokula, the Purana frames avatara activity as the Supreme Reality’s governance—Vishnu’s will operating through Krishna (and Balarama) to secure the world and His devotees.