Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Victory through Bhakti, Shloka 57

Prahlada’s Defeat in Battle and Victory through Bhakti (Nara-Narayana Episode)

Devanagari script

पराजितश्च पुरुषो दैत्य दण्डं प्रयच्छति दण्डार्थं ते प्रदास्यामि वरं वृणु यमिच्छसि

Transliteration

parājitaśca puruṣo daitya daṇḍaṃ prayacchati daṇḍārthaṃ te pradāsyāmi varaṃ vṛṇu yamicchasi

Translation

“When a person is conquered, O Daitya, he offers a penalty (or recompense). As that penalty, I shall grant you a boon—choose whatever you desire.”

Word by Word

• पराजितः: defeated
• पराजितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराजित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (sg.); पुरुषः-विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुरुषः: a person
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• दैत्य: O Daitya
• दैत्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन (Voc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• दण्डम्: punishment
• दण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• प्रयच्छति: gives/bestows
• प्रयच्छति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + यम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.); परस्मैपद

• दण्डार्थम्: for punishment
• दण्डार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दण्ड + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative of purpose), द्वितीया-एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: दण्डस्य अर्थः (for punishment)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/dative), एकवचन (sg.)

• प्रदास्यामि: I will give
• प्रदास्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन (sg.); परस्मैपद

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• वृणु: choose
• वृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन (sg.); परस्मैपद

• यम्: which (boon)
• यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (sg.); सम्बन्धक (relative)

• इच्छसि: you desire
• इच्छसि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन (sg.); परस्मैपद

Speakers

• Bhagavān to the Daitya devotee (Prahlāda replies next)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Bhagavān/Nārāyaṇa)

Key Themes

• Bhakti
• Grace (vara)
• Dharma of reciprocity
• Daitya–Deva narrative ethics

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "vira", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse frames divine grace as a reciprocal response to devotion: the Lord voluntarily binds Himself to a ‘code’ of honoring the devotee’s spiritual victory.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Vamśānucarita / carita: it is a moralizing narrative moment where a devotee’s conduct elicits a doctrinal teaching on bhakti and divine responsiveness.

What is the symbolic significance?

Calling the boon a ‘daṇḍa’ (penalty) is ironic and symbolic: what would be punishment in worldly conquest becomes beneficence in spiritual conquest—power is transmuted into compassion.