Shloka 48

प्रह्लादचरितम् (हिरण्यकशिपोः स्वर्गापहरणं, प्रह्लादस्य विष्णुभक्तिः, उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

अथ दैत्येश्वरं प्रोचुर् भार्गवस्यात्मजा द्विजाः पुरोहिता महात्मानः साम्ना संस्तूय वाग्मिनः

Transliteration

atha daityeśvaraṃ procur bhārgavasyātmajā dvijāḥ purohitā mahātmānaḥ sāmnā saṃstūya vāgminaḥ

Translation

Then the Brahmins, sons of Bhṛgu—priests, great-souled and eloquent—first praised the lord of the Daityas with Sāman hymns and gentle words, and then addressed him.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• दैत्येश्वरम्: the lord of the Daityas
• दैत्येश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रोचुः: they said/spoke
• प्रोचुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र (उपसर्ग) + √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• भार्गवस्य: of Bhārgava (descendant of Bhṛgu)
• भार्गवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आत्मजाः: sons
• आत्मजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• द्विजाः: Brahmins (twice-born)
• द्विजाः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पुरोहिताः: priests
• पुरोहिताः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• महात्मानः: great-souled
• महात्मानः: Karta (Qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• साम्ना: with Sāman-chants (conciliatory hymns)
• साम्ना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संस्तूय: having praised
• संस्तूय: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग) + √स्तु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund) = ‘संस्तूय/after praising’

• वाग्मिनः: eloquent
• वाग्मिनः: Karta (Qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाग्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Persecution

Bhakti Quality: Quiet endurance amid hostile counsel and political manipulation

Characters & Entities

• Daitya-king (Daityeśvara)
• Bhṛgu (Bhārgava lineage)
• Brahmin priests (Dvijāḥ, Purohitāḥ)
• Sāma Veda (Sāman)

FAQs

What is the significance of Bhārgava priests in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights the Bhṛgu-line Brahmins as authoritative purohitas who use Vedic praise and counsel to influence rulers, showing how priestly dharma steers political power.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the use of sāman (conciliatory chant) in dialogue and governance?

Parāśara presents sāman as both sacred chant and tactful persuasion—speech sanctified by Vedic tradition that can restrain or redirect a king’s actions toward order.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named, the scene assumes his sovereignty as the unseen regulator of cosmic and social order: Vedic speech and dharma function within Vishnu’s overarching governance of the world.