Shloka 52

Tapovana-praveśaḥ — The King’s Entry into the Sacred Grove and Vision of the Āśrama

Devanagari script

य:ः स चक्रगदापाणि: पीतवासा: शितिप्रभ: । पद्मनाभ: सुरारिघ्न: पृथुचार्वज्चितेक्षण:,जो अपने हाथोंमें चक्र और गदा धारण करते हैं, पीताम्बर पहनते हैं, जिनके अंगोंकी कान्ति श्याम रंगकी है, जिनकी नाभिसे कमलका प्रादुर्भाव हुआ है, जो देव-शत्रुओंके नाशक तथा विशाल और मनोहर नेत्रोंसे युक्त हैं

Transliteration

yaḥ sa cakragadāpāṇiḥ pītavāsāḥ śitiprabhāḥ | padmanābhaḥ surārighnaḥ pṛthucārvaciteṣaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: «Он — тот, кто держит в руках диск и палицу, облачён в жёлтые одежды; Его сияние тёмного оттенка, но блистательно; из Его пупка рождается лотос; Он сокрушает врагов богов; и наделён широкими, прекрасными, внимательными очами».

Word by Word

यःwho

सःhe

चक्रगदापाणिःone whose hands bear the discus and mace

पीतवासाḥwearing yellow garments

शितिप्रभःof dark/blue radiance

पद्मनाभःlotus-naveled

सुरारिघ्नःslayer of the enemies of the gods

पृथुचार्वचितेक्षणःhaving broad and beautiful eyes

Speaker

वैशग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Viṣṇu (Padmanābha)

cakra (discus weapon)

gadā (mace weapon)

devas (suras)

enemies of the gods (surāri)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents a devotional-ethical ideal: the divine protector of cosmic order (dharma) is characterized not only by power (discus and mace) but also by auspicious marks (lotus-navel) and benevolent, attentive vision—suggesting that righteous power is guided by awareness and the safeguarding of the gods’ cause.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana is describing Viṣṇu through a string of epithets and visual attributes—his weapons, clothing, radiance, and distinguishing marks—framing him as the slayer of the gods’ enemies and an auspicious, protective presence within the Adi Parva’s unfolding account.