Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Victory through Bhakti, Shloka 65

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

Devanagari script

गच्छस्व दैत्यशार्दूल स्वमावासं क्रियारतः न कर्मबन्धो भवतो मच्चित्त्स्य भविष्यति

Transliteration

gacchasva daityaśārdūla svamāvāsaṃ kriyārataḥ na karmabandho bhavato maccittsya bhaviṣyati

Translation

“Go, O tiger among Daityas, to your own abode, devoted to righteous action. For you—whose mind is fixed on Me—there will not arise bondage from action.”

Word by Word

• गच्छस्व: go
• गच्छस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद; रूपम्: गच्छ + स्व (enclitic imperative ending)

• दैत्यशार्दूल: O tiger among Daityas
• दैत्यशार्दूल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन (singular)

• स्वम्: one's own
• स्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषणम् (adjective)

• आवासम्: dwelling, abode
• आवासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• क्रियारतः: engaged in proper action
• क्रियारतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषणम् (adjective) — ‘engaged in action/rites’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• कर्मबन्धः: bondage of karma
• कर्मबन्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• भवतः: of you
• भवतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन (singular); आदरार्थ-प्रयोग (honorific pronoun)

• मत्: my
• मत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन (singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun) — enclitic stem ‘मत्’

• चित्तस्य: of (the) mind
• चित्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन (singular)

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/भविष्यत्काल), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

Speakers

• Likely the Lord (Vishnu
• in the Vamana narrative frame) addressing a Daitya leader (context suggests Prahlada/Bali-related instruction); narrative layer later confirmed by Pulastya’s reporting

Primary Deities

• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Bhakti
• Karma-yoga (action without bondage through God-centeredness)
• Daitya–Deva Conflict (aftermath/settlement)
• Rajadharma

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse teaches that action (kriyā/karma) need not bind when performed with the mind anchored in the Lord (mat-citta). It aligns with the broader dharmic ethic: fulfill one’s station and duties, but with devotion and surrender, thereby avoiding ego-driven attachment that generates karmic bondage.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Primarily Vamśānucarita/Carita (narrative of eminent figures and dynastic/royal conduct) within the Vamana–Daitya cycle; it also functions as dharma-upadeśa embedded in the story rather than cosmological Sarga/Pratisarga.

What is the symbolic significance?

A Daitya being instructed in non-binding action symbolizes the Purana’s ethical universality: even those outside the Deva fold can attain purity through devotion and right conduct. The ‘tiger among Daityas’ epithet underscores redirected power—strength disciplined by dharma and God-remembrance.