Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 2

Prahlāda Instructs the Sons of Demons: Begin Bhakti from Childhood; Household Attachment as Bondage; Nārāyaṇa as the All-Pervading Supersoul

Devanagari script

यथा हि पुरुषस्येह विष्णो: पादोपसर्पणम् । यदेष सर्वभूतानां प्रिय आत्मेश्वर: सुहृत् ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

yathā hi puruṣasyeha viṣṇoḥ pādopasarpaṇam yad eṣa sarva-bhūtānāṁ priya ātmeśvaraḥ suhṛt

Translation

لأن في هذه الحياة الإنسانية يليق بالمرء أن يقترب من قدمي فيشنو اللوتسيتين ويلتجئ إليهما؛ فهو أحبّ الجميع، وسيّد الروح، والصديق المُحسن لكل الكائنات.

Synonyms

• यथा: just as / as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/just as)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेतौ/निश्चये (indeed/for)

• पुरुषस्य: of a person
• पुरुषस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देश/कालवाचक (here/in this world)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• पाद-उपसर्पणम्: approaching (taking refuge at) the feet
• पाद-उपसर्पणम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + उपसर्पण (प्रातिपदिक; उप+सृप् धातु-नम्)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘पादस्य उपसर्पणम्’ (approaching the feet); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun) referring to ‘पादोपसर्पणम्’

• एषः: this (Viṣṇu)
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्व-भूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्व-भूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘सर्वेषां भूतानाम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• प्रियः: dear
• प्रियः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘एषः’

• आत्म-ईश्वरः: the Lord within
• आत्म-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘आत्मनः ईश्वरः’ (Lord of the self); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सुहृत्: well-wisher/friend
• सुहृत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; apposition to ‘एषः’

Purport

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (5.29) :

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about taking shelter of Vishnu’s lotus feet?

This verse states that approaching Viṣṇu’s lotus feet is the essential path because He is the indwelling Lord and the well-wisher who is dear to all living beings.

Why did Prahlada Maharaja emphasize Vishnu as ‘suhrit’ (well-wisher)?

Prahlāda highlights that Viṣṇu seeks the true benefit of every soul, so devotion to Him is not sectarian—it is the universal good for all beings.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Center daily choices around devotion—remembering Viṣṇu, praying, chanting His names, and acting with trust that the Lord in the heart guides one toward lasting welfare.