Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 25

Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Austerities and Brahmā’s Boons

The Architecture of ‘Conditional Immortality’

Devanagari script

उत्थाय प्राञ्जलि: प्रह्व ईक्षमाणो द‍ृशा विभुम् । हर्षाश्रुपुलकोद्भ‍ेदो गिरा गद्गदयागृणात् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

utthāya prāñjaliḥ prahva īkṣamāṇo dṛśā vibhum harṣāśru-pulakodbhedo girā gadgadayāgṛṇāt

Translation

Then the leader of the Daityas rose from the ground, folded his hands, and gazed upon Lord Brahmā before him. Overwhelmed with joy—tears in his eyes, his body trembling with rapture—he began to pray humbly in a faltering voice to please Brahmā.

Synonyms

• utthāya: having risen
• utthāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut-sthā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √स्था with उपसर्ग ut-, ‘having risen’

• prāñjaliḥ: with folded hands
• prāñjaliḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāñjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); adjective ‘with joined palms’

• prahvaḥ: bowed down
• prahvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prahva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; ‘bowed, humble’

• īkṣamāṇaḥ: looking (at)
• īkṣamāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकाले शतृ), Masculine Nominative Singular; from √ईक्ष् ‘to see’

• dṛśā: with (his) eyes
• dṛśā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular; ‘with (his) sight/eyes’

• vibhum: the all-powerful Lord
• vibhum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; object of seeing

• harṣāśru-pulaka-udbhedaḥ: (he) whose outburst was of joyful tears and horripilation
• harṣāśru-pulaka-udbhedaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: harṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + aśru (प्रातिपदिक) + pulaka (प्रातिपदिक) + udbheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; compound expressing ‘outburst (udbheda) of horripilation (pulaka) and tears (aśru) due to joy (harṣa)’

• girā: with (his) voice
• girā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gir (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental Singular; ‘by voice/speech’

• gadgadayā: stammering
• gadgadayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gadgada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental Singular agreeing with girā; ‘stammering, choked’

• agṛṇāt: praised
• agṛṇāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gṛ (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada; from √गृ/गॄ ‘to praise, to sing’

Characters & Entities

• Prahlāda
• Nṛsiṁhadeva (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about symptoms of pure devotion (bhakti)?

This verse describes classic sāttvika-bhāvas—tears, horripilation, and a choked voice—arising naturally when a pure devotee beholds the Supreme Lord with humility and folded hands.

Why did Prahlada begin praying with a choked voice after seeing Lord Nrsimha?

Because he directly beheld the all-powerful Lord; the intensity of devotion and relief at the Lord’s protection overwhelmed him, making his voice falter as he offered prayers.

How can this verse be applied in modern spiritual practice?

Approach God with humility, reverence, and steady remembrance; genuine devotion expresses itself through sincerity and inner transformation rather than mere display.