Shloka 21
प्रह्लादचरितम् (हिरण्यकशिपोः स्वर्गापहरणं, प्रह्लादस्य विष्णुभक्तिः, उपदेशः)
को ऽयं विष्णुः सुदुर्बुद्धे यं ब्रवीषि पुनः पुनः जगताम् ईश्वरस्येह पुरतः प्रसभं मम
ko 'yaṃ viṣṇuḥ sudurbuddhe yaṃ bravīṣi punaḥ punaḥ jagatām īśvarasyeha purataḥ prasabhaṃ mama
“Who is this ‘Vishnu’ of whom you keep speaking again and again, you dull-witted one? Here, right before me, you brazenly proclaim him—while I stand present—as the Lord and sovereign of the worlds!”
An arrogant worldly ruler/antagonist figure addressing a devotee or interlocutor (as narrated by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya)
Concept: Egoic power refuses to acknowledge the true Lordship of Viṣṇu and derides devotion as folly.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Notice and relinquish the impulse to belittle faith or truth spoken by others, especially when it threatens one’s pride.
Vishishtadvaita: Contrast of finite lordship (jīva/āsuric ego) versus the sole supreme īśvara over all worlds.
Phase: Persecution
Bhakti Quality: Fearless nāma-smaraṇa and unwavering confession of the Lord’s supremacy despite intimidation.
Vishnu Form: Hari
FAQs
It asserts Vishnu’s universal lordship—his authority is not regional or temporary, but cosmic, transcending all worldly rulers and powers.
Through episodes where an arrogant figure challenges the very idea of Vishnu’s supremacy, the text exposes ego as ignorance and sets up the vindication of the Supreme Lord’s rule.
Vishnu is presented as the true Ishvara—ultimate reality and ruler of the worlds—before whom human authority is secondary and dependent.