Any Sanscrit scholars out there? I need a literal rendering of "Janardana", a name Arjuna calls Krishna.

Question

In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna is called "Janardana". Swami Prabhupada translates this as "friend of all". Ernest Wood, also very credible, tanslates it as "liberator of men". Can you tell me what Janardana means literally, and a little bit about why it means what it does?

Answer 1

Janardana (Sanskrit) [from the verbal root jan to be born, come forth + the verbal root ard to move, agitate] The adored of mankind, exciting or agitating men, besought by mortals; in the Puranas, the one cosmic intelligent life, manifesting in the threefold aspect of fashioner, preserver, and regenerator (Brahma, Vishnu, Siva). Also applied to Krishna in his avataric manifestation of Vishnu.
A philosophical translation is world-mover, signifying the inherent intelligent vitality of a manifested cosmic unit; the ever-born.

Answer 2

Janardana means "One who inflicts suffering on evil men." Alternatively, it means, "He to whom all devotees pray for wordly success and liberation."
It's one of the many names by which God Vishnu is remembered. Krishna was one Avtar of God Vishnu. God Vishnu takes avtar or a human incarnation to eliminate the evil and protect innocent, good people. So, it explains 'Janardana' as the first and also the second meaning given above.
I hope it helps.

Answer 3

I've got Monier-Monier's dictionary here, and a more-than-credible translation by Winthrop Sargeant. Can you tell me where [janardaana] appears? (two minutes later) Alright, Monier-Williams has [janaar-dana] (I had it all wrong ), attested in the Gita and elswhere, rendered as 'exciting or agitating men'. Sargeant will give a blow-by-blow on the etymology and extended contextualized meaning. Please supply reference?

Answer 4

Janardana