Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 69

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

Devanagari script

एवं दग्ध्वा पुरस्तिस्रो भगवान्पुरहा नृप । ब्रह्मादिभि: स्तूयमान: स्वं धाम प्रत्यपद्यत ॥ ६९ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ dagdhvā puras tisro bhagavān pura-hā nṛpa brahmādibhiḥ stūyamānaḥ svaṁ dhāma pratyapadyata

Translation

O King Yudhiṣṭhira, thus Lord Śiva is known as Tripurāri, the annihilator of the three dwellings of the demons, because he burnt these dwellings to ashes. Being worshiped by the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva returned to his own abode.

Synonyms

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार-वाचक (adverb of manner)

• दग्ध्वा: having burned
• दग्ध्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having burned)

• पुरः: cities
• पुरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• तिस्रः: three
• तिस्रः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural; संख्याविशेषण (qualifying पुरः)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• पुर-हा: destroyer of the cities (Tripurāntaka)
• पुर-हा: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक) + हन् (धातु/प्रातिपदिक-हा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular; उपाधि/नाम (epithet of Śiva)

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• ब्रह्म-आदिभिः: by Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्म-आदिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• स्तूयमानः: being praised
• स्तूयमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्/मान), आत्मनेपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Present passive participle: 'being praised'

• स्वम्: his own
• स्वम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular; विशेषण (qualifying धाम)

• धाम: abode
• धाम: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• प्रत्यपद्यत: returned/attained
• प्रत्यपद्यत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + पद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular imperfect; आत्मनेपद

Characters & Entities

• Tripurāntaka (Lord Śiva)
• Brahmā

FAQs

Who is called Purahā in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

In this verse, Purahā refers to Lord Śiva as Tripurāntaka—the one who destroyed (burnt) the three cities of the demons.

Why were Brahmā and the other gods praising Lord Śiva after Tripura was destroyed?

Because the destruction of the three cities removed a great demonic threat, and the demigods responded with stuti (praise) acknowledging divine protection and victory.

What is a practical takeaway from this shloka for modern life?

After success, cultivate gratitude and humility—recognize higher guidance, and return to steadiness (one’s “dhāma”) rather than remaining absorbed in triumph.