Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 34

Prahlāda Rejects Demonic Diplomacy and Proclaims Navadhā Bhakti

Devanagari script

आहामर्षरुषाविष्ट: कषायीभूतलोचन: । वध्यतामाश्वयं वध्यो नि:सारयत नैर्ऋताः ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

āhāmarṣa-ruṣāviṣṭaḥ kaṣāyī-bhūta-locanaḥ vadhyatām āśv ayaṁ vadhyo niḥsārayata nairṛtāḥ

Translation

Empört und mit Augen rot wie geschmolzenes Kupfer sagte Hiraṇyakaśipu zu seinen Dienern: 'O Dämonen, schafft diesen Jungen weg! Er verdient den Tod. Tötet ihn so schnell wie möglich!'

Synonyms

• āha: said
• āha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• amarṣa-ruṣā-āviṣṭaḥ: overcome by fury and anger
• amarṣa-ruṣā-āviṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amarṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ruṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + ā-viṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; समासः—अमर्षरुषाविष्टः = अमर्षेण रुषया च आविष्टः (possessed by intolerance and anger)

• kaṣāyī-bhūta-locanaḥ: whose eyes had turned dark-red
• kaṣāyī-bhūta-locanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṣāyin (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः—कषायीभूतानि लोचनानि यस्य सः (whose eyes had become reddish/brown with rage)

• vadhyatām: let (him) be killed
• vadhyatām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vadh (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; ‘let him be killed’

• āśu: quickly
• āśu: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/शीघ्रार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: quickly)

• ayam: this (one)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• vadhyaḥ: to be killed
• vadhyaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vadhya (प्रातिपदिक; from √vadh)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; विधेय-विशेषणम् (predicate adjective): ‘fit to be killed’

• niḥsārayata: drive out/remove
• niḥsārayata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nis-sṛ (धातु; causative sense ‘to drive out’)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; causative/ṇij sense: ‘drive out!’

• nairṛtāḥ: O demons/guards
• nairṛtāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nairṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; संबोधनार्थे प्रयुक्तम् (vocative sense though form = nominative)

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyakaśipu
• Prahlāda
• Nairṛtas (Rākṣasa attendants)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.34 say about Hiranyakashipu’s response to Prahlada?

It describes Hiraṇyakaśipu becoming overwhelmed by rage and ordering that Prahlāda be killed immediately and expelled by his demonic attendants.

Why did Hiranyakashipu order Prahlada to be killed in Canto 7 Chapter 5?

Prahlāda’s unwavering devotion to Viṣṇu directly opposed Hiraṇyakaśipu’s demand to be worshiped as supreme, provoking intense envy and fear of losing control.

Practical application: what can we learn from this verse in modern life?

It warns that uncontrolled anger and envy—especially toward sincere faith—lead to cruelty and poor judgment; cultivating self-control and respect for devotion prevents harm.