Shloka 51
प्रह्लादचरितम् (हिरण्यकशिपोः स्वर्गापहरणं, प्रह्लादस्य विष्णुभक्तिः, उपदेशः)
बालत्वं सर्वदोषाणां दैत्यराजास्पदं यतः ततो ऽत्र कोपम् अत्यर्थं योक्तुम् अर्हसि नार्भके
bālatvaṃ sarvadoṣāṇāṃ daityarājāspadaṃ yataḥ tato 'tra kopam atyarthaṃ yoktum arhasi nārbhake
For childhood is the very seat where every fault readily takes root, O king of the Daityas; therefore in this matter you should not fasten excessive anger upon a mere child.
Narratorial voice within the Parasara–Maitreya frame (a counsel-like utterance addressed to the Daitya king in the embedded story)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Prahlāda’s unwavering devotion and Hiraṇyakaśipu’s hostility toward Hari
Teaching: Devotional
Quality: revealing
Concept: Do not direct excessive anger toward a child, since childish faults arise easily and are corrigible.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Practice proportionate response and compassionate correction, especially with the young or inexperienced.
Vishishtadvaita: Implicitly upholds dharma as service to Bhagavān’s order, where compassion toward the vulnerable is a divine-aligned virtue.
Phase: Persecution
Bhakti Quality: Steadfast, fear-free single-point devotion (ananyabhakti) despite intimidation
Vishnu Form: Hari
FAQs
The verse treats childhood as a vulnerable stage where errors arise easily, so harsh judgment—especially excessive anger—is portrayed as adharma.
It emphasizes proportion and discernment: correction should not be driven by extreme krodha, particularly when the subject is a child.
Though Vishnu is not named here, the verse supports the Purana’s Vaishnava ethic: compassion and dharma align with the higher order ultimately protected by Vishnu.