Vishnu Purana 5.11.6 — Krishna Avatara, Amsha 5, Adhyaya 11, Shloka 6

इन्द्रक्रोधः, संवर्तक-वर्षणम्, गोवर्धनधारण-लीला

Devanagari script

इत्य् आज्ञप्ताः सुरेन्द्रेण मुमुचुस् ते बलाहकाः वातवर्षं महाभीमम् अभावाय गवां द्विज

Transliteration

ity ājñaptāḥ surendreṇa mumucus te balāhakāḥ vātavarṣaṃ mahābhīmam abhāvāya gavāṃ dvija

Translation

Assim ordenadas pelo senhor dos deuses, ó duas-vezes-nascido, aquelas nuvens portadoras de chuva soltaram uma tempestade terrível de vento e água, destinada a arruinar o gado.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• आज्ञप्ताः: having been commanded
• आज्ञप्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ज्ञप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘commanded/ordered’

• सुरेन्द्रेण: by Indra, lord of the gods
• सुरेन्द्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) = सुर + इन्द्र
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सुराणाम् इन्द्रः)

• मुमुचुः: they released/let loose
• मुमुचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; बलाहकाः इत्यस्य विशेषण/निर्देश

• बलाहकाः: clouds
• बलाहकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलाहक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• वातवर्षम्: wind-and-rain (storm)
• वातवर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात-वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) = वात + वर्ष
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वातेन सह/वातस्य वर्षः)

• महाभीमम्: very terrible
• महाभीमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभीम (प्रातिपदिक) = महा + भीम
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अत्यन्तं भीमम्)

• अभावाय: for the destruction/non-existence
• अभावाय: Sampradana/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (purpose)

• गवाम्: of the cows
• गवाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• द्विज: O twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna’s impending intervention is highlighted as Indra’s commanded clouds unleash a devastating storm intended to destroy Vraja’s cattle, prompting divine protection.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Safeguarding of Vraja’s dependents and correction of Indra’s misuse of cosmic functions.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When worldly supports collapse under overwhelming forces, the surrendered soul turns to Bhagavān as the unfailing protector.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: In crisis, pair practical action with inner surrender—remember the Lord as the steady refuge rather than panicking at external turbulence.

Vishishtadvaita: Śaraṇāgati: the jīva, dependent by nature, is protected by the Supreme who responds to the devotee-community’s vulnerability.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Balāhaka clouds
• Cows (Gāvaḥ)
• Dvija (addressed sage)

FAQs

What is the significance of Indra commanding the clouds in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse shows the devas’ administrative power over nature (rain and storm), while also hinting that such power can be misused—setting up the Purāṇic theme that cosmic functions ultimately operate under a higher moral order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the disruption of natural balance here?

Parāśara frames the event as a consequence of Indra’s command: the clouds act as instruments, and the resulting violent storm becomes a narrative sign of imbalance that demands restoration through dharma and higher governance.

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

Even when not named in the verse, the Vishnu Purana’s theology implies that the devas’ powers are subordinate; the episode reinforces that true sovereignty and the re-establishment of order rest with Viṣṇu as the supreme regulator of the cosmos.