Vishnu Purana 5.11.8 — Krishna Avatara, Amsha 5, Adhyaya 11, Shloka 8

इन्द्रक्रोधः, संवर्तक-वर्षणम्, गोवर्धनधारण-लीला

Devanagari script

विद्युल्लताकषाघातत्रस्तैर् इव घनैर् घनम् नादापूरितदिक्चक्रैर् धारासारम् अपात्यत

Transliteration

vidyullatākaṣāghātatrastair iva ghanair ghanam nādāpūritadikcakrair dhārāsāram apātyata

Translation

ಮಿಂಚಿನ ಚಾವಟಿಯಂತ ಹೊಡೆತಗಳಿಗೆ ಭಯಪಟ್ಟಂತೆ, ಗುಡುಗಿನ ನಾದದಿಂದ ದಿಕ್ಕುಚಕ್ರವನ್ನು ತುಂಬುತ್ತಾ, ಘನಮೇಘಗಳು ನಿರಂತರ ಮಳೆಯ ಧಾರೆಯನ್ನು ಸುರಿಸಿದವು।

Word by Word

• विद्युत्-लता-कषा-आघात-त्रस्तैः: by (clouds) frightened by the lash-like strikes of lightning
• विद्युत्-लता-कषा-आघात-त्रस्तैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्युत् (प्रातिपदिक) + लता (प्रातिपदिक) + कषा (प्रातिपदिक) + आघात (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रस्त (कृदन्त; √त्रस् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण—घनैः इति पदस्य

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• घनैः: by clouds
• घनैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• घनम्: the cloud-mass
• घनम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• नाद-आपूरित-दिक्-चक्रैः: by (clouds) filling the circle of directions with roaring sound
• नाद-आपूरित-दिक्-चक्रैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक) + आपूरित (कृदन्त; √पूर् धातु, क्त) + दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण—घनैः इति पदस्य

• धारा-सारम्: a torrent/streaming downpour
• धारा-सारम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारा (प्रातिपदिक) + सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• अपात्यत: fell down, poured down
• अपात्यत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To protect the Vraja community and uphold dharma by shielding devotees from destructive forces unleashed by hostile powers.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of the innocent and preservation of pastoral order (go-raksha, vraja-dharma).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

FAQs

What is the significance of storm imagery in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse uses thunder, lightning, and overwhelming rain to portray nature’s immense, ordered power—often functioning as a narrative marker of impending change within the cosmos governed by Vishnu.

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic order through such descriptions?

Parāśara frames even violent phenomena as part of a structured universe: the directions are “filled” with sound and the clouds act in a patterned way, suggesting an intelligible order rather than chaos.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s theology treats the world-process—including weather and its rhythms—as operating under the Supreme Reality, with Vishnu as the sustaining ground of universal order.