Shloka 143

Pracetās, Māriṣā, Dakṣa’s Re-manifestation, and the Brahma-parastava; Cyclic Creation and Genealogies

Devanagari script

तेषां मध्ये महाभागः सर्वत्र समदृग् वशी प्रह्लादः परमां भक्तिं य उवाह जनार्दने

Transliteration

teṣāṃ madhye mahābhāgaḥ sarvatra samadṛg vaśī prahlādaḥ paramāṃ bhaktiṃ ya uvāha janārdane

Translation

Among them was the greatly blessed Prahlāda—self-controlled, master of himself, and equal-sighted toward all—who held within him the highest devotion to Janārdana.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन — ‘of them’

• मध्ये: in the midst
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन — ‘in the midst’

• महाभागः: most fortunate
• महाभागः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — ‘महान् भागः यस्य’ (highly fortunate/noble)

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Desha-adhikarana (Locative sense/देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place)

• समदृक्: equal-sighted
• समदृक्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम + दृश् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — ‘समं पश्यति’ (equal-seeing); कृदन्त (दृश् धातोः क्विप्/क्-प्रत्ययान्त)

• वशी: self-controlled
• वशी: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — ‘self-controlled’

• प्रह्लादः: Prahlāda
• प्रह्लादः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन — ‘supreme’

• भक्तिम्: devotion
• भक्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• उवाह: bore/held
• उवाह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘carried/bore/held’

• जनार्दने: in Janārdana (Vishnu)
• जनार्दने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक; विष्णुनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन — ‘in/for Janārdana’ (object of devotion)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Supreme devotion to Janārdana is compatible with (and expressed through) self-control and equal-sightedness toward all beings.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate steadiness (vaśitā) and non-reactive goodwill while anchoring daily remembrance of the Lord through japa, study, and service.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhakti is a concrete mode of the jīva’s dependence (śeṣatva) upon the personal Supreme, not an abstract absorption; devotion transforms character (samatā, dama).

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Teaching

Bhakti Quality: Paramā-bhakti marked by self-control and equal vision (samadṛṣṭi).

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Samatā (equal-sightedness)

Key Kings: Prahlāda

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Prahlada

FAQs

What is the significance of Prahlāda’s devotion in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents Prahlāda as the standout among his people because he embodies parama-bhakti—supreme devotion—to Janārdana, showing that devotion to Vishnu transcends birth and lineage.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the traits of an ideal devotee here?

Parāśara highlights three traits alongside devotion: samadṛk (equal vision toward all), vaśī (self-control), and steadfast inner commitment—suggesting bhakti is inseparable from ethical and spiritual discipline.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu (Janārdana) in this context?

By naming Vishnu as Janārdana, the verse frames him as the Supreme sovereign who guides and upholds cosmic order, and whose grace is accessed through the highest devotion.