Shloka 18

अक्रूरस्य यमुनादर्शनम्, मथुराप्रवेशः, रजकवधः, माल्यजीवकवरदानम्

Devanagari script

विकासिनेत्रयुगलो मालाकारो ऽपि विस्मितः एतौ कस्य कुतो वैतौ मैत्रेयाचिन्तयत् ततः

Transliteration

vikāsinetrayugalo mālākāro 'pi vismitaḥ etau kasya kuto vaitau maitreyācintayat tataḥ

Translation

మాలాకారుడూ కళ్లను విప్పి ఆశ్చర్యంతో నిలిచెను. అప్పుడు మైత్రేయుడు ఆలోచించెను: “ఈ ఇద్దరు ఎవరివారు, ఎక్కడి నుండి వచ్చారు?”

Word by Word

विकासि-नेत्र-युगलःhaving a pair of wide-open eyes

मालाकारःthe garland-maker

अपिalso

विस्मितःastonished

एतौthese two

कस्यof whom

कुतःfrom where

वाor

एतौthese two

मैत्रेयO Maitreya

अचिन्तयत्thought/pondered

ततःthen

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating); the inner thought is attributed to Maitreya in the verse

Characters & Entities

Maitreya

Garland-maker (Mālākāra)

FAQs

What is the significance of Maitreya’s questioning in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights the Purāṇic method of teaching through curiosity—Maitreya’s inquiry becomes the trigger for the next revelation in the narrative.

How does Sage Parāśara explain events through dialogue structure here?

Parāśara frames the story by reporting reactions (astonishment) and inner questioning, using Maitreya’s reflective doubt to transition into further explanation.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purāṇa’s narrative assumes a Vishnu-governed order in which surprising encounters and destinies unfold under supreme sovereignty.