Shloka 5

Hari’s Boon to Muchukunda, Security of the Yādus, and Balarāma’s Consolation in Vraja

Viraha-Bhakti

Devanagari script

ततः कलियुगं ज्ञात्वा प्राप्तं तप्तुं नृपस् तपः नरनारायणस्थानं प्रययौ गन्धमादनम्

Transliteration

tataḥ kaliyugaṃ jñātvā prāptaṃ taptuṃ nṛpas tapaḥ naranārāyaṇasthānaṃ prayayau gandhamādanam

Translation

ຕໍ່ມາ ເມື່ອຮູ້ວ່າກະລີຍຸກມາຮອດແລ້ວ ພະຣາຊາຈຶ່ງຕັ້ງໃຈບຳເພັນຕະບະ. ແລະໄດ້ເດີນທາງໄປຫາຄັນທະມາດະນະ ອັນເປັນສະຖານສັກສິດຂອງນະຣ-ນາຣາຍະນະ.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (Adverbial relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर-अर्थे (thereafter)

• kali-yugam: the Kali age
• kali-yugam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kali + yuga (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कलिः यस्य युगम्)

• jñātvā: having known
• jñātvā: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund): 'having known/understood'

• prāptam: having arrived, come
• prāptam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāpta (कृदन्त; pra + √āp (धातु))
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः; 'arrived/come' (agreeing with kaliyugam)

• taptum: to perform austerity
• taptum: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tap (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्तः (infinitive): 'to perform austerity/to heat'

• nṛpaḥ: the king
• nṛpaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• tapaḥ: austerity, penance
• tapaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• nara-nārāyaṇa-sthānam: the abode of Nara-Nārāyaṇa
• nara-nārāyaṇa-sthānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + nārāyaṇa + sthāna (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नरनारायणयोः स्थानम्)

• prayayau: went forth, departed
• prayayau: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + √yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• gandhamādanam: Gandhamādana (mountain)
• gandhamādanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha-mādana (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; नाम (mountain-name)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Yuga: Kali

Manvantara: Vaivasvata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Recognizing Kali-yuga’s arrival, one should turn from worldly pursuits toward tapas at a sanctified refuge of Nara-Nārāyaṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: In times of decline, adopt disciplined practice (japa, vrata, study) and seek uplifting environments/communities.

Vishishtadvaita: Nārāyaṇa is approached through embodied disciplines (tapas) at sacred loci; the Lord’s grace works through dharmic practice in the world.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Nara-Narayana
• Gandhamadana
• King (nṛpa)

FAQs

What is the significance of Kali Yuga in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse treats Kali Yuga as a decisive turning point: as dharma wanes, the king chooses tapas and pilgrimage, showing that spiritual discipline is a primary remedy in the age of decline.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the proper response to an age of degeneration?

Through the narrative example of a king who, upon recognizing Kali’s onset, withdraws from worldly aims and seeks sanctified association—here, the seat of Nara-Nārāyaṇa—Parāśara highlights renunciation and devotion-oriented austerity.

What is the theological importance of Nara-Nārāyaṇa in this context?

Nara-Nārāyaṇa represents the divine ideal of disciplined ascetic power aligned with Viṣṇu’s supreme order; approaching their abode signifies seeking refuge in the highest spiritual authority rather than worldly sovereignty.