Shloka 7

Śakaṭa-bhañjana, Naming by Garga, Dāmodara and Yamala-arjuna, and the Move to Vṛndāvana

Devanagari script

यशोदा शकटारूढभग्नभाण्डकपालिकाः शकटं चार्चयाम् आस दधिपुष्पफलाक्षतैः

Transliteration

yaśodā śakaṭārūḍhabhagnabhāṇḍakapālikāḥ śakaṭaṃ cārcayām āsa dadhipuṣpaphalākṣataiḥ

Translation

యశోద బండిపై ఉన్న పగిలిన కుండలు, ముక్కలను ఏరుకొని, పెరుగు, పూలు, ఫలాలు, అక్షతలతో అదే బండిని పూజించింది।

Word by Word

यशोदाYaśodā

शकटारूढभग्नभाण्डकपालिकाःbroken pot-sherds that had been on the cart

शकटम्the cart

चand

अर्चयाम्worshipped

आसdid/was (aux.)

दधिपुष्पफलाक्षतैःwith curd, flowers, fruits, and unbroken grains (akṣata)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Characters & Entities

Yaśodā

Śakaṭa (cart)

FAQs

What is the significance of Yaśodā worshipping the cart in the Vishnu Purana?

It shows the Vraja household’s instinct to restore auspicious order after danger—using customary offerings—while the narrative hints that the true protection ultimately rests with the divine presence of the avatāra.

How does Sage Parāśara frame everyday ritual in the Krishna narrative?

Parāśara presents common domestic rites (pūjā with curds, flowers, fruit, akṣata) as part of lived dharma, set against extraordinary events surrounding Vishnu’s descent, where human action and divine providence intersect.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu here if Vishnu is not named in the verse?

Even without explicit naming, the episode belongs to the avatāra narrative: the apparent cause (cart, mishap) is secondary, and the Purāṇic intent is to point to Vishnu’s supreme governance operating through ordinary scenes.