Shloka 6

प्रह्लादचरितम् (हिरण्यकशिपोः स्वर्गापहरणं, प्रह्लादस्य विष्णुभक्तिः, उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

जित्वा त्रिभुवनं सर्वं त्रैलोक्यैश्वर्यदर्पितः उद्गीयमानो गन्धर्वैर् बुभुजे विषयान् प्रियान्

Transliteration

jitvā tribhuvanaṃ sarvaṃ trailokyaiśvaryadarpitaḥ udgīyamāno gandharvair bubhuje viṣayān priyān

Translation

Having conquered the three worlds, swollen with pride in sovereignty over the three realms, he—praised in song by the Gandharvas—indulged in the pleasures he loved, enjoying the objects of the senses.

Word by Word

• जित्वा: having conquered
• जित्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having conquered’

• त्रिभुवनम्: the three worlds
• त्रिभुवनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + भुवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रीणि भुवनानि)

• सर्वम्: entire
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of त्रिभुवनम्)

• त्रैलोक्यैश्वर्यदर्पितः: puffed up by sovereignty over the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यैश्वर्यदर्पितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रैलोक्य + ऐश्वर्य + दर्पित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (त्रैलोक्यस्य ऐश्वर्येण दर्पितः)

• उद्गीयमानः: being sung/praised
• उद्गीयमानः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-गै (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः

• गन्धर्वैः: by the Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वैः: Karana (करण/Instrument; agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• बुभुजे: he enjoyed
• बुभुजे: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, आत्मनेपदी

• विषयान्: objects of enjoyment
• विषयान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• प्रियान्: dear, pleasing
• प्रियान्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of विषयान्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the Daitya established supremacy and what followed from his arrogance

Teaching: Historical

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sovereignty without dharma collapses into sense-indulgence and pride, becoming self-destructive adharma.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat power as stewardship; cultivate humility and disciplined senses to avoid ethical decline.

Vishishtadvaita: All lordship in the worlds is derivative; true aiśvarya belongs to the Supreme (Viṣṇu), and misuse of delegated power is adharma.

Characters & Entities

• Gandharvas
• Three worlds (Trailokya)

FAQs

What is the significance of conquering the three worlds (tribhuvana/trailokya) in the Vishnu Purana?

It symbolizes peak worldly sovereignty, but the verse frames it as spiritually precarious—such power easily turns into darpa (pride) and attachment to viṣayas, threatening dharma and stability.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the danger of pride (darpa) in royal narratives?

Through genealogy-centered storytelling: a king’s ascent is often followed by moral testing; when conquest produces darpa, the ruler shifts from protection of order to self-indulgence, setting up later downfall or correction.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purāṇic frame implies that worldly aiśvarya is subordinate to the Supreme Lord’s order; kings flourish or falter according to alignment with dharma upheld by Vishnu.