Shloka 35

प्रह्लादचरितम् (हिरण्यकशिपोः स्वर्गापहरणं, प्रह्लादस्य विष्णुभक्तिः, उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

दुर्बुद्धे विनिवर्तस्व वैरिपक्षस्तवाद् अतः अभयं ते प्रयच्छामि मातिमूढमतिर् भव

Transliteration

durbuddhe vinivartasva vairipakṣastavād ataḥ abhayaṃ te prayacchāmi mātimūḍhamatir bhava

Translation

O misguided one, turn back at once—for from this moment you stand in the camp of the enemy. Yet I grant you safety; do not let a deluded mind drive you onward.

Word by Word

• दुर्बुद्धे: O wicked-minded one
• दुर्बुद्धे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) = दुर् + बुद्धि
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; विशेष्य-सम्बोधन (O evil-minded one)

• विनिवर्तस्व: turn back, desist
• विनिवर्तस्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विनि√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• वैरिपक्षः: the enemy faction/side
• वैरिपक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैरि (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तव: of you, your
• तव: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu/Reason (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/तस्मात्-अर्थ (therefore/from that)

• अभयम्: fearlessness, safety
• अभयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक) = अ- + भय
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रयच्छामि: I grant, I give
• प्रयच्छामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√यम्/यच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मति-मूढ-मतिḥ: (you) deluded-minded
• मति-मूढ-मतिḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक) + मूढ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (one whose intellect is deluded)

• भव: be
• भव: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Uncertain from verse-only excerpt (likely a king or authority figure addressing an erring person within the dynastic narrative told by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya).

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The power of devotion to Vishnu and the futility of Hiranyakashipu’s assaults on Prahlada.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even amid coercion and threat, one should turn back from adharma and remain aligned to Vishnu, for delusion (moha) drives bondage.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Refuse harmful group-loyalties and choose conscience and devotion over fear-based pressure.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhakti is a real, personal relation to the Supreme Person (Hari), not mere abstraction; the devotee’s orientation determines spiritual alignment.

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Persecution

Bhakti Quality: Steadfastness and fearlessness rooted in exclusive remembrance of Hari (ananya-bhakti).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Dasya

FAQs

What is the significance of granting 'abhaya' (fearlessness) in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse, offering abhaya functions as protective clemency—an ethical act that restrains violence and restores order even while correcting wrongdoing.

How does Sage Parāśara explain moral correction within dynastic history?

Through brief, forceful speeches like this one—warnings to desist, identification of adharma (joining the enemy’s side), and a dharmic remedy (safety granted to enable repentance).

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even in royal and political episodes, the Purana frames dharma as aligned with Vishnu’s sustaining sovereignty—restoring right order is implicitly participation in the divine maintenance of the world.