Shloka 17
Adhyāya 70: Sātyaki’s Arrow-Display and the Bhūriśravas Engagement; Twilight Withdrawal
तात! मधुका वध करनेके कारण ही देवता, दानव, मनुष्य तथा ऋषिगण श्रीजनार्दनको मधुसूदन कहते हैं ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | tāta madhukā-vadha-kāraṇād eva devatā dānava manuṣyā ṛṣayaś ca śrījanārdanaṃ madhusūdanaṃ vadanti || varāhaś caiva siṃhaś ca trivikrama-gatiḥ prabhuḥ | eṣa mātā pitā caiva sarveṣāṃ prāṇināṃ hariḥ ||
Bhishma disse: “Meu filho, porque ele abateu Madhu, os deuses, os asuras, os homens e os rishis chamam Sri Janardana de ‘Madhusudana’. Ele é, de fato, o Senhor que se manifestou como Varaha, como Narasimha e como Trivikrama, o de três passos. Este Hari é a mãe e o pai de todos os seres vivos.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the Supreme Lord (Hari/Janardana) is universally acknowledged across all orders of beings and is the ultimate source and protector of life; his names and forms (avatars) arise from his acts of safeguarding dharma and removing threats.
Bhishma addresses his listener and explains why Krishna/Vishnu is called ‘Madhusudana’ (because he killed the demon Madhu), then recalls well-known divine manifestations—Varaha, Narasimha, and Trivikrama—to affirm Hari’s lordship and parental care for all creatures.