Shloka 45

प्रह्लादचरितम् (हिरण्यकशिपोः स्वर्गापहरणं, प्रह्लादस्य विष्णुभक्तिः, उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

ज्वाल्यताम् असुरा वह्निर् अपसर्पत दिग्गजाः वायो समेधयाग्निं त्वं दह्यताम् एष पापकृत्

Transliteration

jvālyatām asurā vahnir apasarpata diggajāḥ vāyo samedhayāgniṃ tvaṃ dahyatām eṣa pāpakṛt

Translation

Let the fire blaze against the Asuras! Let the Diggajas withdraw! O Wind, fan and kindle this flame; let this evildoer be burned away.

Word by Word

• ज्वाल्यताम्: let (it) be kindled
• ज्वाल्यताम्: Kriya (Command/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; भावे/कर्मणि-आज्ञा ‘let (it) be kindled’

• असुराः: O Asuras
• असुराः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वह्निः: fire
• वह्निः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपसर्पत: move away
• अपसर्पत: Kriya (Command/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + सर्प् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• दिग्गजाः: O elephants of the quarters
• दिग्गजाः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (here addressed)

• वायो: O Wind
• वायो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• समेधय: kindle well
• समेधय: Kriya (Command/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + इध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अग्निम्: the fire
• अग्निम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दह्यताम्: let (him) be burned
• दह्यताम्: Kriya (Command/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-आज्ञा ‘let him be burnt’

• एषः: this one
• एषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पापकृत्: evil-doer
• पापकृत्: Visheshya (Apposition/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पाप-कृत् = पापं करोति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

A righteous agent/party within the narrative (reported by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya) invoking cosmic elements as instruments of dharma

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Persecution

Bhakti Quality: Fearlessness grounded in devotion; the devotee remains unshaken while foes escalate violence.

Persecution: Fire

Characters & Entities

• Asuras
• Vahni (Agni/Fire)
• Vāyu (Wind)
• Diggajas (elephants of the directions)

FAQs

What is the significance of invoking Agni and Vāyu in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents fire and wind as lawful cosmic forces mobilized to restore dharma—nature itself becomes an instrument of moral order under the higher sovereignty that the Purana ultimately attributes to Vishnu.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the operation of cosmic order in such episodes?

Through narrative reporting to Maitreya, Parāśara shows that adharma provokes corrective responses from the world’s guardians and elements, implying a universe structured to defend righteousness.

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

Even when not named in the verse, the Purana’s framework treats devas, directions, and elements as functioning within Vishnu’s overarching rule—reinforcing the idea of a supreme governor sustaining and rebalancing the cosmos.