Shloka 15

प्रह्लादचरितम् (हिरण्यकशिपोः स्वर्गापहरणं, प्रह्लादस्य विष्णुभक्तिः, उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

अनादिमध्यान्तम् अजम् अवृद्धिक्षयम् अच्युतम् प्रणतो ऽस्म्य् अन्तसंतानं सर्वकारणकारणम्

Transliteration

anādimadhyāntam ajam avṛddhikṣayam acyutam praṇato 'smy antasaṃtānaṃ sarvakāraṇakāraṇam

Translation

I bow to the Imperishable Lord Acyuta—without beginning, middle, or end; unborn; beyond increase and decline; unfailing. I prostrate to the innermost continuum within all beings, the Cause of all causes.

Word by Word

• अनादि-मध्य-अन्तम्: having no beginning, middle, or end
• अनादि-मध्य-अन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादि (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (आदि-मध्य-अन्त), उपपदपूर्वकः ‘अनादि’

• अजम्: unborn
• अजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अ-वृद्धि-क्षयम्: without increase or decay
• अ-वृद्धि-क्षयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (निषेध-उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (वृद्धि-क्षय) नञ्-पूर्वकः (अवृद्धिक्षय)

• अच्युतम्: Acyuta (the infallible one)
• अच्युतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विष्णोः नाम

• प्रणतः: bowed down
• प्रणतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√नम् (धातु) → प्रणत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्तः (क्त)

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अन्त-संतानम्: the inner continuum/lineage (inmost essence)
• अन्त-संतानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + संतान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः (अन्तस्य संतानम्/अन्तरङ्ग-संतानम्)

• सर्व-कारण-कारणम्: the cause of all causes
• सर्व-कारण-कारणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां कारणानां कारणम्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya; voiced as a devotional-stotra within the narration)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu is beginningless, changeless Para-Brahman, the antaryāmin within all beings and the cause of all causes.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Cultivate daily remembrance and surrender (praṇati) to the indwelling Lord, especially amid fear or hostility.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms the Lord as both transcendent (anādi, aja, acyuta) and immanent as the inner continuum (antaryāmin) of all beings.

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Teaching (Prahlada's schools)

Bhakti Quality: Unshakable remembrance and surrender to the unborn, imperishable Lord

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of calling Vishnu “sarvakāraṇakāraṇam” in the Vishnu Purana?

It asserts Vishnu as the ultimate source behind every proximate cause in creation—establishing him as the supreme metaphysical ground of the cosmos.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the idea of the Lord being beyond growth and decay?

By describing him as “avṛddhikṣaya,” Parāśara presents Vishnu as changeless and complete, unlike created beings who undergo increase, decline, and transformation.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu being “anādimadhyāntam” and “ajam” here?

These terms frame Vishnu as beginningless and unborn—transcending time and origin—supporting the Purana’s portrayal of him as the eternal Supreme Lord worthy of surrender and praise.