Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

एषा ब्रह्मण्यदेवस्य कृष्णस्य च महात्मन: । अवतारकथा पुण्या वधो यत्रादिदैत्ययो: ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

eṣā brahmaṇya-devasya kṛṣṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ avatāra-kathā puṇyā vadho yatrādi-daityayoḥ

Translation

This is the sacred narration of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the great Brahmaṇya-deva—the Supreme Personality of Godhead—wherein the Lord’s various expansions and incarnations are described, and also the slaying of the two primeval demons Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu is recounted.

Synonyms

• एषा: this
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एषद्/एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• ब्रह्मण्य-देवस्य: of the brāhmaṇa-protecting Lord
• ब्रह्मण्य-देवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (‘ब्रह्मण्यः देवः’ = the deity devoted to brāhmaṇas); पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• कृष्णस्य: of Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connecting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय (conjunction: and)

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one
• महात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• अवतार-कथा: the narrative of the incarnation
• अवतार-कथा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार (प्रातिपदिक) + कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी: ‘अवतारस्य कथा’); स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• पुण्या: holy/meritorious
• पुण्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कथा इति विशेषणम्

• वधः: the killing
• वधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• यत्र: wherein
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; सम्बन्ध/अधिकरण-वाचक (relative adverb: wherein/where)

• आदि-दैत्ययोः: of the two primeval demons
• आदि-दैत्ययोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (कर्मधारयार्थः: ‘आद्यौ दैत्यौ’); पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनम्

Purport

Avatāras, or incarnations, are expansions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead — Kṛṣṇa, Govinda.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the purifying power of avatāra-kathā?

This verse calls the Lord’s incarnation narrative “puṇyā”—inherently sacred and purifying—indicating that hearing and remembering the Lord’s descent and līlā cleanses the heart and nourishes devotion.

Why is the Lord described as Brahmaṇya-deva in the Bhagavatam?

Brahmaṇya-deva means the Lord who honors and protects brāhmaṇas and dharma; the verse highlights His role as the guardian of sacred order and spiritual culture.

How can I apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

Regularly hear or read the Lord’s avatāra narrations with faith, and support dharmic values—truthfulness, compassion, and respect for spiritual learning—so devotion becomes steady and life becomes purified.