Vishnu Purana 5.31.2 — Krishna Avatara, Amsha 5, Adhyaya 31, Shloka 2

पारिजातहरणम्, द्वारकाप्रवेशः, षोडशसहस्रविवाहः

Pārijāta, Return to Dvārakā, and the Lord’s Many Forms

Devanagari script

देवराजो भवान् इन्द्रो वयं मर्त्या जगत्पते क्षन्तव्यं भवतैवैतद् अपराधकृतं मम

Transliteration

devarājo bhavān indro vayaṃ martyā jagatpate kṣantavyaṃ bhavataivaitad aparādhakṛtaṃ mama

Translation

Engkau ialah Indra, raja para dewa; kami hanyalah manusia fana, wahai Penguasa alam. Maka, kesalahan yang telah kulakukan ini hanya Engkau yang patut mengampuninya.

Word by Word

• देवराजः: king of the gods
• देवराजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + राज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (देवानां राजा)

• भवान्: you
• भवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; आदरार्थक-प्रयोग (honorific ‘you’)

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Apposition (Samānādhikaraṇa/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• मर्त्याः: mortals
• मर्त्याः: Apposition (Samānādhikaraṇa/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• जगत्पते: O lord of the world
• जगत्पते: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (जगतः पतिः)

• क्षन्तव्यम्: should be forgiven
• क्षन्तव्यम्: Vidhi-predicate (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्षम (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (ought to be forgiven)

• भवता: by you
• भवता: Kartr (Agent of gerundive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• एव: indeed, alone
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (Avadhāraṇa/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• अपराधकृतम्: done as an offense
• अपराधकृतम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपराध + कृत (√कृ, क्त; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अपराधं कृतम् = committed as an offense)

• मम: by me / of me
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

A mortal supplicant addressing Indra (Devaraja) in a plea for forgiveness (as narrated within the Vishnu Purana’s ongoing discourse).

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He receives the surrender of even Indra, teaching that forgiveness and protection flow from the Lord of the worlds.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Humility (amanitva), confession of fault, and restoration of right conduct toward Bhagavan.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True devotion includes humility and seeking forgiveness from the Jagatpati, recognizing the limits of deva-status and the primacy of Bhagavan’s grace.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Admit faults without defensiveness, seek pardon through prayer and corrective action, and cultivate humility regardless of status or achievement.

Vishishtadvaita: Dependence (śeṣatva) of all beings—even devas—upon the Lord’s grace, consistent with Vishnu as supreme ruler.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Indra

FAQs

What is the significance of appealing to Indra as 'Devaraja' in the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights cosmic hierarchy—Indra governs the devas, while mortals acknowledge their lesser station and seek protection or pardon through rightful authority.

How does the Vishnu Purana frame the idea of forgiveness (kṣamā/kṣānti) in this verse?

Forgiveness is presented as a mark of true lordship: the higher power is asked to restrain anger and restore order by pardoning an admitted offense.

What is the theological takeaway about divine authority in this context?

Even when addressing a deva like Indra, the Purana’s worldview treats governance as part of a larger sacred order—where rightful power is measured by dharma, including mercy and restraint.