Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

चेरतुर् लोकसिद्धाभिः क्रीडाभिर् इतरेतरम् समस्तलोकनाथानां नाथभूतौ भुवं गतौ

Transliteration

ceratur lokasiddhābhiḥ krīḍābhir itaretaram samastalokanāthānāṃ nāthabhūtau bhuvaṃ gatau

Translation

They sported with one another through pastimes celebrated across the worlds; and, having become protectors even to the lords of all realms, those two moved upon the earth.

Word by Word

• चेरतुः: they roamed/moved about
• चेरतुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• लोकसिद्धाभिः: by well-known (popular)
• लोकसिद्धाभिः: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक + सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (लोके सिद्धाः)

• क्रीडाभिः: with sports, games
• क्रीडाभिः: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• इतरेतरम्: mutually, with each other
• इतरेतरम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इतरेतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रायं क्रियाविशेषणम्; परस्परवाचक (reciprocal adverb)

• समस्तलोकनाथानाम्: of the lords of all worlds
• समस्तलोकनाथानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समस्त + लोक + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (समस्तानां लोकानां नाथाः)

• नाथभूतौ: having become protectors/lords
• नाथभूतौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाथ + भूत (कृदन्त; √भू)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘भूत’ = become; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (नाथः भूत्वा)

• भुवम्: the earth
• भुवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुव्/भू (प्रातिपदिक ‘भुव्’ = पृथिवी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• गतौ: having gone, having reached
• गतौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + गत (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘गत’ (past participle) — क्रियासमाप्त्यर्थे

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya in the dynastic section)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How Kṛṣṇa–Balarāma’s play is renowned across the worlds and serves cosmic protection

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative, expansive

Cosmological Context

Manvantara: Vaivasvata

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa descends to safeguard the world-order, delight devotees through celebrated līlās, and uphold even the devas by removing threats to cosmic governance.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Stability of loka-adhikāra (rightful lordship of the worlds) by empowering and protecting cosmic rulers.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s humanlike play is simultaneously a cosmic act of protection, worthy of remembrance across all worlds.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Contemplate līlā not as mere story but as a mode of divine governance and refuge, strengthening trust (śaraṇāgati) amid instability.

Vishishtadvaita: The transcendent Lord freely assumes immanent, accessible modes (līlā) while remaining the sovereign protector of all lokas.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of “lokasiddha krīḍā” (world-renowned pastimes) in the Vishnu Purana?

It signals that the actions described were not private events but widely remembered exemplary deeds, framing the rulers’ lives as models within the Purāṇic memory of dharma and governance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the idea of protection and sovereignty here?

By calling them “nāthabhūta” (become protectors), Parāśara emphasizes that true rulership is defined by guardianship—upholding order for all realms, not merely exercising power.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even in dynastic narration, the Purāṇa frames worldly sovereignty as meaningful when aligned with cosmic order ultimately grounded in Vishnu’s supreme governance; kingship functions as an instrument of that higher order.