Shloka 52

प्रह्लादचरितम् (हिरण्यकशिपोः स्वर्गापहरणं, प्रह्लादस्य विष्णुभक्तिः, उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

न त्यक्ष्यति हरेः पक्षम् अस्माकं वचनाद् यदि ततः कृत्यां वधायास्य करिष्यामो ऽनिवर्तिनीम्

Transliteration

na tyakṣyati hareḥ pakṣam asmākaṃ vacanād yadi tataḥ kṛtyāṃ vadhāyāsya kariṣyāmo 'nivartinīm

Translation

If, even at our command, he will not abandon the side of Hari, then we shall unleash against him a kṛtyā—unerring and returning-not—crafted solely for his destruction.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Negation
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• त्यक्ष्यति: will abandon
• त्यक्ष्यति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हरेः: of Hari (Vishnu)
• हरेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• पक्षम्: side; allegiance
• पक्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अस्माकम्: of us; our
• अस्माकम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• वचनात्: from (our) word; due to (our) instruction
• वचनात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Condition
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (conditional particle ‘if’)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Discourse link
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-अर्थे (then/thereupon)

• कृत्याम्: a kṛtyā (malevolent magical creation)
• कृत्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अभिचारकर्म-विशेषः (a magical rite/fiend)

• वधाय: for killing
• वधाय: Sampradana (Recipient/Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose of killing)

• अस्य: of him; his
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; अस्य)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• करिष्यामः: we will do/make
• करिष्यामः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अनिवर्तिनीम्: irresistible; not to be turned back
• अनिवर्तिनीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिवर्तिनी (प्रातिपदिक; अ-निवर्तिन् + ङीप्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying कृत्याम्)

Speaker

Antagonistic courtiers/plotters (unnamed) speaking within Sage Parāśara’s narration to Maitreya

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Escalation of Hiraṇyakaśipu’s attempts to kill Prahlāda for devotion to Hari

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Persecution

Bhakti Quality: Uncompromising loyalty to Hari even under coercion

Persecution: Weapons

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the significance of taking “Hari’s side” in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse, loyalty to Hari represents steadfast dharma that cannot be overridden by political command, highlighting Vishnu as the ultimate refuge beyond royal power.

How does Sage Parāśara explain conflict between devotion and worldly authority?

Through narrative dialogue, Parāśara shows that when persuasion and command fail to break devotion, antagonists resort to adharma (here, kṛtyā), underscoring the moral contrast central to dynastic episodes.

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

Hari is the axis of rightful allegiance: the threat arises specifically because devotion to Vishnu is portrayed as non-negotiable, implying Vishnu’s superior sovereignty over fear, coercion, and courtly schemes.