Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 26

Prahlāda Rejects Material Boons; Forgives His Father; Tripura and the Power of Remembrance

Devanagari script

श्रीब्रह्मोवाच देवदेवाखिलाध्यक्ष भूतभावन पूर्वज । दिष्टय‍ा ते निहत: पापो लोकसन्तापनोऽसुर: ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-brahmovāca deva-devākhilādhyakṣa bhūta-bhāvana pūrvaja diṣṭyā te nihataḥ pāpo loka-santāpano ’suraḥ

Translation

Lord Brahmā said: O God of gods, Lord of the entire universe, benefactor of all beings, O Ādi-puruṣa—by our good fortune You have slain that sinful asura who was tormenting all the worlds.

Synonyms

• श्री-ब्रह्मा: the venerable Brahmā
• श्री-ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘श्रीमान् ब्रह्मा’

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

• देव-देव: O God of gods
• देव-देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘देवानां देवः’

• अखिल-अध्यक्ष: O overseer of all
• अखिल-अध्यक्ष: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल + अध्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘अखिलस्य अध्यक्षः’

• भूत-भावन: O sustainer of beings
• भूत-भावन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + भावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘भूतानां भावनः’ (nourisher/creator)

• पूर्वज: O primeval one; first-born
• पूर्वज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दिष्ट्या: fortunately; by good luck
• दिष्ट्या: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण निपातवत् (idiomatic instrumental: ‘by good fortune’)

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

• निहतः: slain
• निहतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निहत (कृदन्त; नि√हन् धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘असुरः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पापः: sinful; wicked
• पापः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘असुरः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• लोक-सन्तापनः: tormenter of the worlds
• लोक-सन्तापनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक + सन्तापन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘लोकस्य सन्तापनः’

• असुरः: the demon
• असुरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Purport

The word pūrvaja is described in Bhagavad-gītā (10.8) : ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate. All the demigods, including Lord Brahmā, are manifested from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore the original person, the cause of all causes, is Govinda, the ādi-puruṣam.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva
• Hiraṇyakaśipu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Lord removing suffering caused by demons?

This verse states that the Lord, the supreme overseer and well-wisher of all beings, eliminates the sinful asura who torments the worlds—showing divine intervention to restore dharma and relieve universal distress.

Why did Brahmā praise Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva after Hiraṇyakaśipu was killed?

Brahmā acknowledges the Lord as the primeval controller and benefactor of all beings, and he expresses relief that the world-oppressing demon Hiraṇyakaśipu has been slain by the Lord’s arrangement.

Practical application of trusting divine protection in modern life?

The verse encourages faith that oppressive, harmful forces are not ultimate—align with dharma, cultivate devotion, and trust that protection and restoration come through higher guidance and right action.