Shloka 12

प्रह्लादचरितम् (हिरण्यकशिपोः स्वर्गापहरणं, प्रह्लादस्य विष्णुभक्तिः, उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

पादप्रणामावनतं तम् उत्थाप्य पिता सुतम् हिरण्यकशिपुः प्राह प्रह्लादम् अमितौजसम्

Transliteration

pādapraṇāmāvanataṃ tam utthāpya pitā sutam hiraṇyakaśipuḥ prāha prahlādam amitaujasam

Translation

Seeing his son bowed in reverent prostration at his feet, the father raised him up; then Hiraṇyakaśipu spoke to Prahlāda, the child of immeasurable inner power.

Word by Word

• पादप्रणामावनतम्: bowed down in salutation at the feet
• पादप्रणामावनतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पादप्रणामावनत (प्रातिपदिक; पाद + प्रणाम + अवनत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (one bowed in foot-salutation)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• उत्थाप्य: having raised (him) up
• उत्थाप्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत्-स्था (धातु) + उत्थाप्य (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया (having raised)

• पिता: the father
• पिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सुतम्: the son
• सुतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हिरण्यकशिपुः: Hiraṇyakaśipu
• हिरण्यकशिपुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्यकशिपु (प्रातिपदिक; हिरण्य + कशिपु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह्/अह् (धातु; आह इति लिट्-रूपम्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• प्रह्लादम्: to Prahlāda
• प्रह्लादम्: Sampradana (Addressee/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बोधन-लक्ष्य (addressed person as object of speech)

• अमितौजसम्: of immeasurable vigor
• अमितौजसम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमितौजस् (प्रातिपदिक; अमित + ओजस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; the quoted action leads into Hiraṇyakaśipu’s speech)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vinaya and proper conduct can coexist with uncompromising inner conviction; outer respect need not mean inner surrender to adharma.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice humility in relationships while holding firm to conscience and devotion.

Vishishtadvaita: The ‘amitaujas’ inner power hints at grace-supported strength: the jīva’s potency flourishes when aligned (even implicitly) with the Lord.

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Teaching (Prahlada's schools)

Bhakti Quality: Humility (vinaya) and fearlessness born of inner strength; respectful conduct even toward an unrighteous father.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: dasya

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyakaśipu
• Prahlāda

FAQs

What is the significance of Prahlāda bowing at Hiraṇyakaśipu’s feet in the Vishnu Purana?

It shows Prahlāda’s humility and discipline even toward an antagonistic father-king, setting up the contrast between outer authority and inner devotion.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the Prahlāda episode through this verse?

By describing the physical gesture (prostration) and the epithet “amitaujasam,” Parāśara signals that Prahlāda’s real strength is spiritual—preparing the listener for a theological confrontation about the Supreme.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu in this context?

Though Vishnu is not named in this verse, Prahlāda’s “immeasurable radiance” points to the power of Vishnu-bhakti, implying that the Supreme Reality stands above all temporal sovereignty.