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

«اذهبْ، يا نمرَ الدَّيتْيَة، إلى مقامِكَ، مواظبًا على العملِ الصالح. فإنك—وقد ثَبَتَ قلبُكَ عليَّ—لن ينشأَ لكَ قيدٌ من قِبَلِ العمل.»

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.