Shloka 18

शरद्वर्णनं, योगोपमा, तथा गोवर्धन-यज्ञप्रवर्तनम्

Devanagari script

को ऽयं शक्रमहो नाम येन वो हर्ष आगतः प्राह तं नन्दगोपश् च पृच्छन्तम् अतिसादरम्

Transliteration

ko 'yaṃ śakramaho nāma yena vo harṣa āgataḥ prāha taṃ nandagopaś ca pṛcchantam atisādaram

Translation

“یہ ‘شَکْرَمَہ’ کون ہے جس کے سبب تمہیں اتنی خوشی ہوئی؟”—نند گوپ نے نہایت ادب سے پوچھنے والے سے یوں کہا۔

Word by Word

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• अयम्: this (person)
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying कः)

• शक्रमहः: Indra-festival
• शक्रमहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + महस्/महः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शक्रस्य महः = Indra's festival)

• नाम: called, by name
• नाम: Sambandha (Appositional marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-प्रयोग (quotative/‘called’)

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; करण-भाव (by which/whereby)

• वः: your
• वः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; संबन्ध (your)

• हर्षः: joy
• हर्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• आगतः: has come, arisen
• आगतः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; √गम् (to come)

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु; परस्मैपद)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• नन्दगोपः: Nanda the cowherd
• नन्दगोपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (नन्दः एव गोपः/नन्दनामकः गोपः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पृच्छन्तम्: (him) asking
• पृच्छन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; परस्मैपद-भाव

• अतिसादरम्: very respectfully
• अतिसादरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + सादर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पृच्छन्तम्/तम्)

Speaker

Narrator (Sage Parāśara) reporting the exchange; the direct speaker within the verse is Nanda (Nandagopa)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Identification of Śakra/Indra and the basis of the cowherds’ festival.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: didactic-through-dialogue

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To draw out the rationale of Indra-worship from the elders and then redirect it toward a higher, Bhagavān-centered dharma.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Clarifying the hierarchy between devas and Bhagavān; correcting ritual motivation from fear/utility to right understanding.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Respectful questioning can expose the assumed supremacy of devas and prepare the mind to recognize Bhagavān as the true object of refuge.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Ask what you worship (status, systems, intermediaries) and why; retain courtesy while seeking a clearer hierarchy of values.

Vishishtadvaita: Subordinate devas function within the Lord’s order; devotion becomes properly ordered when directed to the Supreme who includes all as modes (śeṣa) of Himself.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Vatsalya

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Nanda (Nandagopa)

FAQs

What is the significance of Indra (Śakra) in this Vishnu Purana context?

Indra is presented as a powerful but limited celestial ruler whose authority operates under the higher sovereignty of the Supreme; the verse sets up inquiry into why people rejoice in relation to him.

How does the narrative frame the shift from deva-centered worship to devotion to the Supreme?

By questioning who ‘Śakra Mahā’ is and why he causes such joy, the text prepares a theological contrast: devas administer nature, but ultimate worship and refuge belong to the Supreme Reality (Vishnu/Krishna).

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here, even though he is not named in the verse?

The episode belongs to Krishna-Charita, where Krishna embodies Vishnu’s supreme status; Indra’s prominence is contextual and subordinate, highlighting that final sovereignty and protection rest with the Supreme Lord.