Shloka 13

स्वाध्याय-योगोपदेशः तथा केशिध्वज-खाण्डिक्य-उपाख्यानम्

Yoga through Study and Restraint; The Keśidhvaja–Khāṇḍikya Narrative Frame

Devanagari script

एकदा वर्तमानस्य यागे योगविदां वर धर्मधेनुं जघानोग्रः शार्दूलो विजने वने

Transliteration

ekadā vartamānasya yāge yogavidāṃ vara dharmadhenuṃ jaghānograḥ śārdūlo vijane vane

Translation

Once, while a sacrifice was in progress—O best of those who know yoga—in a lonely forest a fierce tiger struck down Dharmadhenu, the cow of righteousness.

Word by Word

• एकदा: once
• एकदा: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time: once)

• वर्तमानस्य: while (he) was present
• वर्तमानस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्त् (धातु) + शतृ (प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle) "वर्तमान"; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; पुं/नपुंसक-सम्भव; here genitive: "of (him) being present"

• यागे: in the sacrifice
• यागे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative

• योगविदाम्: of the knowers of yoga
• योगविदाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु) + क्विप्/विद्-प्रातिपदिक (विद्/विद्वस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; योगं विदन्ति इति उपपद-तत्पुरुषः; "of the knowers of yoga"

• वर: O best one
• वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; address

• धर्मधेनुम्: the cow of righteousness
• धर्मधेनुम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: धर्मरूपा धेनुः; object

• जघान: killed, struck down
• जघान: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada

• उग्रः: fierce
• उग्रः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies शार्दूलः)

• शार्दूलः: a tiger
• शार्दूलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विजने: in a lonely (place)
• विजने: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies वने)

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: A dharma-allegory within a forest sacrifice: the ‘cow of righteousness’ struck down, prompting inquiry into dharma’s protection and true means.

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The slaying of ‘Dharmadhenu’ dramatizes how dharma can be imperiled, calling for discernment about what truly sustains righteousness beyond outward rites.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat dharma as living practice—protect the vulnerable, uphold truthfulness, and ensure spiritual practice does not become mere formality.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is upheld as service to the Lord; when dharma is harmed, the devotee seeks refuge in the Supreme who is the ground of righteousness.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Dharmadhenu (cow of righteousness)
• Tiger (śārdūla)

FAQs

What is the significance of Dharmadhenu (the cow of righteousness) in the Vishnu Purana?

Dharmadhenu symbolizes dharma itself—sustaining sacrifice, social order, and prosperity—so her harm signals a rupture in the moral and ritual fabric that the narrative must address.

How does Sage Parāśara frame this event for Maitreya in the dynastic sections?

Parāśara presents it as a consequential incident within royal-history storytelling, where violations against dharma (even in the wilderness) become catalysts for action and for reaffirming righteous rule.

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

Even when not named in the verse, the Purana’s worldview treats dharma and yajna as upheld under Vishnu’s sovereignty; restoring disrupted order ultimately reflects the Supreme Lord’s governance of the cosmos through dharma.