Vishnu Purana 5.16.15 — Krishna Avatara, Amsha 5, Adhyaya 16, Shloka 15

केशीवधः तथा ‘केशव’ नामप्रसिद्धिः

Devanagari script

द्विपादपृष्ठपुच्छार्धश्रवणैकाक्षिनासिके केशिनस् ते द्विधाभूते शकले द्वे विरेजतुः

Transliteration

dvipādapṛṣṭhapucchārdhaśravaṇaikākṣināsike keśinas te dvidhābhūte śakale dve virejatuḥ

Translation

Dua bahagian Keśin—bertanda dua kaki, belakang, separuh ekor, telinga, satu mata dan hidung—terbelah dua; lalu kedua-duanya tampak jelas bersinar sebagai wujud yang terpisah.

Word by Word

• द्विपादपृष्ठपुच्छार्धश्रवणैकाक्षिनासिके: in the (two) parts with two feet, back, half-tail, ear, one eye and nose
• द्विपादपृष्ठपुच्छार्धश्रवणैकाक्षिनासिके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + पुच्छ (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (संख्या) + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक) + नासिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), द्विवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ-समासः (enumerative compound) — ‘in the (two) pieces consisting of: two feet, back, half-tail, ear, one eye, and nose’ (locative dual qualifying ‘śakale’)

• केशिनः: of Keśin
• केशिनः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘of Keśin’

• ते: those two
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम—‘those (two)’ (referring to the two pieces)

• द्विधा: in two
• द्विधा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• भूते: having become
• भूते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूत (कृदन्त; √भू ‘to be’ क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त—‘having become’ (agreeing with ‘śakale dve’)

• शकले: two pieces
• शकले: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• विरेजतुः: shone, appeared splendid
• विरेजतुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √राज् (धातु) वि-उपसर्ग; लिट्/परस्मैपद
• Form: लकारः: लिट् (Perfect; past sense), परस्मैपदम्; पुरुषः: प्रथम (3rd), वचनम्: द्विवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Description of Keśin’s defeat and its visible aftermath.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: vivid

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To neutralize the asura Keśin and thereby secure Vraja from Kaṃsa’s assaults.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Protection of the pastoral community and the restoration of order against demonic intrusion.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

FAQs

What is the significance of division into two parts in this Vishnu Purana verse?

It signals differentiation in the creation narrative—forms become distinct and recognizable, expressing the ordered unfolding of the cosmos.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the emergence of distinct beings here?

By describing a prior form splitting into two, Parāśara frames manifestation as a process of separation and clear appearance within the wider creation sequence.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the line, the creation-process described is traditionally understood as occurring under the Supreme Reality’s governance—multiplicity arises without escaping divine order.