Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 31

Prahlāda Rejects Material Boons; Forgives His Father; Tripura and the Power of Remembrance

Devanagari script

श्रीनारद उवाच इत्युक्त्वा भगवान् राजंस्ततश्चान्तर्दधे हरि: । अद‍ृश्य: सर्वभूतानां पूजित: परमेष्ठिना ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-nārada uvāca ity uktvā bhagavān rājaṁs tataś cāntardadhe hariḥ adṛśyaḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ pūjitaḥ parameṣṭhinā

Translation

Nārada Muni continued: O King Yudhiṣṭhira, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is not visible to an ordinary human being, spoke in this way, instructing Lord Brahmā. Then, being worshiped by Brahmā, the Lord disappeared from that place.

Synonyms

• śrī-nāradaḥ: Śrī Nārada
• śrī-nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; honorific name

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-sūcaka (वाक्यार्थसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, quotative particle (इति-निपात) marking end of speech

• uktvā: having spoken
• uktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having said’

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘then/thereupon’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• antardadhe: disappeared
• antardadhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: antar-dhā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd person, Singular; ‘disappeared/withdrew’

• hariḥ: Hari
• hariḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• adṛśyaḥ: invisible; unseen
• adṛśyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-dṛśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective of hariḥ

• sarva-bhūtānām: of all beings
• sarva-bhūtānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; कर्मधारयः—‘all beings’

• pūjitaḥ: worshipped; honored
• pūjitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/क्तः), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with hariḥ

• parameṣṭhinā: by Parameṣṭhin (Brahmā)
• parameṣṭhinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameṣṭhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; epithet of Brahmā

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Lord Viṣṇu)
• Parameṣṭhī (Lord Brahmā)

FAQs

Why does Lord Hari disappear after speaking in Srimad Bhagavatam 7.10.31?

The verse shows that after completing His purpose—speaking and bestowing mercy—the Lord may withdraw His visible form, remaining beyond material perception while still supreme and worshipable.

Who is Parameṣṭhī mentioned in Bhagavatam 7.10.31, and why does he worship Hari?

Parameṣṭhī refers to Lord Brahmā. He worships Hari because Viṣṇu is the Supreme Lord, the source and master even of the cosmic creator.

What is the practical lesson of 'the Lord becomes invisible' for modern devotees?

Divine help may not always be seen outwardly; devotees continue worship and remembrance with faith, recognizing the Lord’s presence beyond the senses.