Shloka 60

प्रह्लादचरितम् (हिरण्यकशिपोः स्वर्गापहरणं, प्रह्लादस्य विष्णुभक्तिः, उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

क्षुत्तृष्णोपशमं तद्वच् शीताद्युपशमं सुखम् मन्यते बालबुद्धित्वाद् दुःखम् एव हि तत् पुनः

Transliteration

kṣuttṛṣṇopaśamaṃ tadvac śītādyupaśamaṃ sukham manyate bālabuddhitvād duḥkham eva hi tat punaḥ

Translation

وكما يُعَدّ سكون الجوع والعطش سعادة، كذلك يُتَخَيَّل مجرد زوال البرد ونحوه لذّة. غير أنّه بسبب فهمٍ طفوليّ، فإن تلك «السعادة» عينُها ليست إلا ألماً يعود—إنما هو توقّفٌ يسير للوجع، لا سلامٌ مُنال.

Word by Word

• क्षुत्तृष्णोपशमम्: relief of hunger and thirst
• क्षुत्तृष्णोपशमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुत् + तृष्णा + उपशम (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद + तत्पुरुष: क्षुत्तृष्णयोः उपशमम् = 'cessation of hunger and thirst'

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Adhikarana (Manner/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान-निर्देशक (adverb) = 'likewise/in the same way'

• शीताद्युपशमम्: relief of cold etc.
• शीताद्युपशमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीत + आदि + उपशम (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: शीतादीनाम् उपशमम् = 'relief of cold etc.'

• सुखम्: happiness/pleasure
• सुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; predicate object with manyate

• मन्यते: considers/thinks
• मन्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• बालबुद्धित्वात्: due to childish understanding
• बालबुद्धित्वात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल + बुद्धि + त्व (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (ablative of cause): बालबुद्धित्वात् = 'because of childish understanding'

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; predicate noun

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) = emphasis

• हि: for
• हि: Sambandha (Reason marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निपात (particle) = 'for/indeed'

• तत्: that (so-called happiness)
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; refers to the supposed 'sukha'

• पुनः: again/rather
• पुनः: Adhikarana (Discourse/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) = 'again/on the contrary'

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

FAQs

What is the significance of defining happiness as the cessation of pain in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames ordinary pleasure as temporary relief from discomfort, teaching that worldly ‘sukha’ is not a positive, lasting state but an interval within suffering—prompting detachment and the search for liberation.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the mind’s confusion about sukha and duḥkha?

Parāśara says the immature mind mistakes the stopping of hunger, thirst, cold, and similar afflictions as happiness; but since these afflictions return, that supposed happiness is inseparable from the cycle of duḥkha.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

By undermining reliance on sensory relief, the teaching directs the seeker toward the Supreme Reality—Vishnu—as the source of enduring peace, beyond the recurring alternation of bodily pain and momentary comfort.