Shloka 24
Means to Attain Vaikuṇṭha: The Glory of House-Donation and the Viṣṇudūtas–Yamadūtas Episode
विष्णुदूता ऊचुः । के यूयं विकृताकारा लक्ष्यंते कर्बुरा इव । इमां विष्णोः प्रियतमां नीत्वा क्व व्रजथोत्तमाम् । इदं वचनमाकर्ण्य तेषां ते तु द्रुतं ययुः
viṣṇudūtā ūcuḥ | ke yūyaṃ vikṛtākārā lakṣyaṃte karburā iva | imāṃ viṣṇoḥ priyatamāṃ nītvā kva vrajathottamām | idaṃ vacanamākarṇya teṣāṃ te tu drutaṃ yayuḥ
Utusan Vishnu berkata: "Siapakah kamu, yang mempunyai bentuk yang herot, kelihatan bertompok-tompok? Setelah mengambil wanita yang paling mulia ini, yang dikasihi oleh Vishnu, ke manakah kamu hendak pergi?" Mendengar kata-kata ini, makhluk-makhluk itu segera pergi.
Viṣṇudūtas (messengers of Viṣṇu)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: vira
Sandhi Resolution Notes: viṣṇu-dūtāḥ (compound); vrajatha + uttamām → vrajathottamām; vacanam + ākarṇya → vacanamākarṇya.
FAQs
The speakers are the Viṣṇudūtas, the divine messengers of Viṣṇu, who challenge hostile beings taking away a noble woman dear to Viṣṇu.
It highlights divine intervention and protection: Viṣṇu’s messengers confront ominous-looking beings and prevent the wrongful carrying away of one who is precious to Viṣṇu.
The verse implies that adharma—such as abducting or harming the innocent—invites immediate challenge and correction, and that righteousness is upheld by divine agency.