Shloka 17

Yajña-bhāga-vyavasthā and the Pravṛtti–Nivṛtti Framework (यज्ञभागव्यवस्था तथा प्रवृत्तिनिवृत्तिधर्मविवेचनम्)

Devanagari script

तां कम्पयित्वा भगवान प्रह्लादमिदमब्रवीत्‌

Transliteration

tāṁ kampayitvā bhagavān prahlādam idam abravīt

Translation

Having shaken him, the Blessed Lord then addressed Prahlāda with these words.

Word by Word

• ताम्: her/that (f.)
• ताम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• कम्पयित्वा: having shaken/agitated
• Type: Verb
• Root: कम्प्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रह्लादम्: Prahlada
• प्रह्लादम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इदम्: this (speech/words)
• इदम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (the Blessed Lord)
• Prahlāda

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse functions as a narrative hinge: it emphasizes that divine or authoritative instruction may begin by jolting a person out of complacency or error, preparing the listener (Prahlāda) to receive a consequential teaching aligned with dharma and ethical clarity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma reports that the Blessed Lord physically or metaphorically ‘shakes’ Prahlāda—causing him to tremble or be stirred—and then begins to speak, introducing the next portion of the discourse.