Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 9

Bali Liberated, Prahlāda Blessed, and Vāmana Accepted as Universal Protector

Devanagari script

श्रीभगवानुवाच वत्स प्रह्लाद भद्रं ते प्रयाहि सुतलालयम् । मोदमान: स्वपौत्रेण ज्ञातीनां सुखमावह ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-bhagavān uvāca vatsa prahrāda bhadraṁ te prayāhi sutalālayam modamānaḥ sva-pautreṇa jñātīnāṁ sukham āvaha

Translation

The Supreme Lord said: My dear son Prahlāda, may all auspiciousness be yours. For the present, go to Sutala; there rejoice with your grandson and your other kinsmen and friends, and bring happiness to your relatives.

Synonyms

• श्री-भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• श्री-भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + भगवान् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (श्रीमान् भगवान्)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वत्स: dear child
• वत्स: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रह्लाद: O Prahlāda
• प्रह्लाद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भद्रम्: auspiciousness/welfare
• भद्रम्: Bhāva (भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; आशीर्वादार्थे (benedictive usage)

• ते: to you/for you
• ते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (enclitic)

• प्रयाहि: go forth
• प्रयाहि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु) with प्र-
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुतल-आलयम्: the abode of Sutala
• सुतल-आलयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुतल (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सुतलस्य आलयम्)

• मोदमानः: rejoicing
• मोदमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोदमान (कृदन्त, √मुद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त/शतृ (present participle, Ātmanepada sense)

• स्व-पौत्रेण: with your own grandson
• स्व-पौत्रेण: Instrument/Association (करण/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पौत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वः पौत्रः)

• ज्ञातीनाम्: of (your) kinsmen
• ज्ञातीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आवह: bring/procure
• आवह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वह् (धातु) with आ-
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Prahlāda
• Bali
• Śrī Bhagavān (Vāmana)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Sutala-loka and who lives there?

This verse states that Sutala is an abode where Prahlāda is sent to live joyfully with his grandson Bali, indicating Sutala as a divinely sanctioned residence blessed by the Lord in the Vāmana līlā.

Why did Lord Vāmana tell Prahlāda to go to Sutala?

In the narrative, the Lord establishes Bali in Sutala and then directs Prahlāda to join him there, so that Prahlāda may rejoice with Bali and bring well-being to their family—showing the Lord’s favor to His devotees and their lineage.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life for a devotee?

It teaches that sincere devotion invites the Lord’s protection and auspicious outcomes, encouraging devotees to live with gratitude, strengthen family harmony, and bring genuine happiness to their community.