Shloka 19

Devanagari script

ततो भगवता तस्य रक्षार्थं चक्रम् उत्तमम् आजगाम समाज्ञप्तं ज्वालामालि सुदर्शनम्

Transliteration

tato bhagavatā tasya rakṣārthaṃ cakram uttamam ājagāma samājñaptaṃ jvālāmāli sudarśanam

Translation

Dann entsandte der Höchste Herr zu seinem Schutz sein erhabenstes Rad; dem Befehl des Herrn folgend, kam Sudarśana, von einem Kranz aus Flammen umwunden.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = 'then'

• भगवता: by the Lord
• भगवता: Karana (Instrument/Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him (Prahlāda)
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• रक्षार्थम्: for protection
• रक्षार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रक्षा + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग (purpose adverbial): रक्षायाः अर्थम्; द्वितीया एकवचन रूपेण अव्ययवत्

• चक्रम्: the discus
• चक्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र कर्तृरूपेण (आगमनस्य)

• उत्तमम्: excellent, supreme
• उत्तमम्: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; चक्रम् विशेषणम्

• आजगाम: came, arrived
• आजगाम: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; धातु: गम्, उपसर्ग: आ

• समाज्ञप्तम्: duly commanded, dispatched
• समाज्ञप्तम्: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आज्ञा (धातु/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; चक्रम् विशेषणम्; अर्थः 'duly commanded/sent'

• ज्वालामालि: garlanded with flames
• ज्वालामालि: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वाला + मालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; चक्रम् विशेषणम्; समास: ज्वालानां मालिन् (बहुवचन-षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• सुदर्शनम्: Sudarśana (the discus)
• सुदर्शनम्: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; चक्रस्य नाम; समास: सु-दर्शनम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s will (ājñā) manifests as protective divine power—Sudarśana—when the devotee is threatened.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Anchor faith in the principle of bhagavat-prapatti: respond to danger with remembrance and ethical steadiness rather than panic.

Vishishtadvaita: Grace and agency: the Supreme Person exercises intentional, responsive lordship (śeṣin) over divine energies (śeṣa) for the devotee’s welfare.

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Divine-protection

Bhakti Quality: Trust in the Lord’s immediate guardianship

Persecution: Weapons

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Bhagavān)

FAQs

What is the significance of Sudarśana in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents Sudarśana as the Lord’s commanded, flame-bright power that enforces protection—symbolizing divine sovereignty that preserves dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine protection in this context?

Parāśara depicts protection as immediate and personal: Bhagavān issues a command, and the supreme discus arrives to safeguard the intended person, showing preservation as an active function of the Supreme.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is shown as the Supreme Reality who governs through will and command; His protective agency (Sudarśana) is not merely a weapon but the expression of cosmic rule maintaining order.