Shloka 17
Adhyāya 70: Sātyaki’s Arrow-Display and the Bhūriśravas Engagement; Twilight Withdrawal
तात! मधुका वध करनेके कारण ही देवता, दानव, मनुष्य तथा ऋषिगण श्रीजनार्दनको मधुसूदन कहते हैं ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | tāta madhukā-vadha-kāraṇād eva devatā dānava manuṣyā ṛṣayaś ca śrījanārdanaṃ madhusūdanaṃ vadanti || varāhaś caiva siṃhaś ca trivikrama-gatiḥ prabhuḥ | eṣa mātā pitā caiva sarveṣāṃ prāṇināṃ hariḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“孩子啊，正因为他诛灭了摩度（Madhu），诸天、阿修罗、人类与诸仙圣都称圣者阇那尔达那为‘摩度苏陀那’（Madhusūdana，诛摩度者）。他确是那位主宰，曾示现为野猪（Varāha）、人狮（Narasiṃha），又示现为三步者（Trivikrama）。此哈利（Hari）乃一切众生之母亦之父。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the Supreme Lord (Hari/Janardana) is universally acknowledged across all orders of beings and is the ultimate source and protector of life; his names and forms (avatars) arise from his acts of safeguarding dharma and removing threats.
Bhishma addresses his listener and explains why Krishna/Vishnu is called ‘Madhusudana’ (because he killed the demon Madhu), then recalls well-known divine manifestations—Varaha, Narasimha, and Trivikrama—to affirm Hari’s lordship and parental care for all creatures.