Shloka 24

प्रह्लादचरितम् (हिरण्यकशिपोः स्वर्गापहरणं, प्रह्लादस्य विष्णुभक्तिः, उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

न केवलं तात मम प्रजानां स ब्रह्मभूतो भवतश् च विष्णुः धाता विधाता परमेश्वरश् च प्रसीद कोपं कुरुषे किमर्थम्

Transliteration

na kevalaṃ tāta mama prajānāṃ sa brahmabhūto bhavataś ca viṣṇuḥ dhātā vidhātā parameśvaraś ca prasīda kopaṃ kuruṣe kimartham

Translation

O dear one, that Vishnu is not only the Brahman-natured source of my created beings—He is also yours: the Upholder, the Ordainer, the Supreme Lord. Be gracious; why do you fashion anger at all?

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• केवलम्: only, merely
• केवलम्: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; क्रियाविशेषण ‘only/merely’

• तात: dear one, child
• तात: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• मम: of me, my
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• प्रजानाम्: of (my) creatures/subjects
• प्रजानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मभूतः: having become Brahmā; as Brahmā
• ब्रह्मभूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्म भूतो) ‘become Brahmā/being Brahmā’

• भवतः: of you (honorific)
• भवतः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; आदरार्थ-प्रयोग (honorific ‘your’)

• च: and
• च: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धाता: creator, sustainer (the establisher)
• धाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धा (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (agent noun); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विधाता: ordainer, disposer
• विधाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि + धा (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परमेश्वरः: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• च: and
• च: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• प्रसीद: be gracious, calm down
• प्रसीद: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + सद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कोपम्: anger
• कोपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुरुषे: you do/make
• कुरुषे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• किमर्थम्: why, for what reason
• किमर्थम्: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तत्पुरुष-समास (किम् अर्थम्) प्रश्नार्थक क्रियाविशेषण ‘for what reason’

Speaker

Unspecified in the provided excerpt (spoken within the Parasara–Maitreya narrative frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu is simultaneously Brahman, creator-ordainer, and indwelling ruler of all—including the hostile; anger is therefore irrational and self-defeating.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When provoked, recall shared dependence on the same Lord; respond with composure and goodwill rather than reactive anger.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord is both transcendent Brahman and the immanent supporter/inner ruler of all beings (including opponents).

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Teaching (Prahlada's schools)

Bhakti Quality: Universal devotion: recognizing Viṣṇu as the Lord of oneself and one’s enemies, urging compassion and calm.

Narasimha: Frames the asura’s relationship to Viṣṇu as dependent, preparing the theological basis for his defeat by the Supreme Lord.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahman

FAQs

What is the significance of calling Vishnu both Brahman and Parameshvara in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse identifies Viṣṇu as the ultimate metaphysical reality (Brahman) and also the personal Supreme Lord (Parameśvara), uniting absolute principle with sovereign divinity.

How does the Vishnu Purana present the idea of universal order and sovereignty here?

By naming Viṣṇu as dhātā (upholder) and vidhātā (ordainer), the verse frames cosmic and moral order as functions of one supreme governing reality.

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

Viṣṇu is portrayed as the shared supreme ground of all beings—belonging to none exclusively—so anger and possessiveness are shown as contrary to recognizing divine sovereignty.