Shloka 17

प्रह्लादचरितम् (हिरण्यकशिपोः स्वर्गापहरणं, प्रह्लादस्य विष्णुभक्तिः, उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मबन्धो किम् एतत् ते विपक्षस्तुतिसंहितम् असारं ग्राहितो बालो माम् अवज्ञाय दुर्मते

Transliteration

brahmabandho kim etat te vipakṣastutisaṃhitam asāraṃ grāhito bālo mām avajñāya durmate

Translation

O brahmabandhu—Brahmin only in name—what is this you have taken up: a hollow composition stitched together as praise of my opponents? In childish folly you have accepted what is without substance, and, O perverse-minded one, you have done so by scorning me.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्म-बन्धो: O kinsman of Brahmins (brahmabandhu)
• ब्रह्म-बन्धो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः बन्धुः)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive), एकवचन

• विपक्ष-स्तुति-संहितम्: composed of praise of the enemy
• विपक्ष-स्तुति-संहितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तुति (प्रातिपदिक) + संहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विपक्षस्य स्तुत्या संहितम् = विपक्षस्तुतिसंहितम्)

• असारम्: worthless
• असारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ग्राहितः: (he) has been made to learn / taught
• ग्राहितः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु) → ग्राहि (णिच् causative) → ग्राहित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः ‘(त्वया) ग्राहितः’ = ‘made to learn/caused to grasp’

• बालः: the boy
• बालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अवज्ञाय: having disregarded/insulted
• अवज्ञाय: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अव-√ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• दुर्मते: O evil-minded one
• दुर्मते: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (दुष्टा मतिः यस्य/दुर्मतिः)

Speaker

A king or courtly authority figure rebuking a brahmin/poet (dynastic narrative voice within Ansha 4)

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Persecution

Bhakti Quality: Innocent, uncompromising faith contrasted with tyrannical contempt

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Characters & Entities

• Brahmin (brahmabandhu)
• Opponents (vipakṣa)

FAQs

What is the significance of the term “brahmabandhu” in the Vishnu Purana?

It is a sharp censure meaning “Brahmin only by lineage,” implying the person lacks the learning, conduct, and restraint expected of a true brahmin.

How does the Vishnu Purana portray the misuse of praise or poetry in royal contexts?

This verse frames praise as ethically weighty: celebrating an adversary against one’s rightful patron/authority is presented as “asāra” (essenceless) and socially disruptive.

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

Even in dynastic episodes, the Purana’s larger frame is dharma upheld under Vishnu’s sovereignty; moral order in speech and allegiance is treated as part of the cosmic order ultimately grounded in Vishnu.