Shloka 6

विषप्रयोगः कृत्योत्पादनं च (प्रह्लादस्य अवध्यता, कृत्याविनाशः, पुरोहितानां रक्षणम्)

Devanagari script

अविकारं स तद् भुक्त्वा प्रह्लादः स्वस्थमानसः अनन्तख्यातिनिर्वीर्यं जरयाम् आस दुर्विषम्

Transliteration

avikāraṃ sa tad bhuktvā prahlādaḥ svasthamānasaḥ anantakhyātinirvīryaṃ jarayām āsa durviṣam

Translation

Having consumed that terrible poison, Prahlada remained wholly unchanged. By the boundless power of his sacred repute, he caused that deadly venom to lose its strength.

Word by Word

• अविकारम्: without any change (unaffectedly)
• अविकारम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (अविकारम् = विकारं विना)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्: that (poison)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘विषम्’ इत्यर्थे

• भुक्त्वा: having eaten
• भुक्त्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• प्रह्लादः: Prahlāda
• प्रह्लादः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वस्थ-मानसः: of steady/healthy mind
• स्वस्थ-मानसः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वस्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वस्थं मानसः यस्य)

• अनन्त-ख्याति-निर्वीर्यम्: rendered powerless by (the) fame/name of Ananta
• अनन्त-ख्याति-निर्वीर्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + ख्याति (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (अनन्तस्य ख्यात्या निर्वीर्यम्)

• जरयाम्: caused to decay/digest
• जरयाम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जॄ (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त धातुसाधित-नाम (causative verbal noun) ‘जरया’ इत्यस्य द्वितीया एकवचनरूपं; ‘जरयाम् आस’ इति परिप्रयोगः = जरयामास (causative past)

• आस: did/was (auxiliary)
• आस: Kriya (Auxiliary/सहायकक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; सहायकक्रिया (periphrastic construction)

• दुर्विषम्: the dreadful poison
• दुर्विषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + विष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (दुष्टं विषम्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The devotee’s unwavering mind (svastha-manas) grounded in Bhagavat-bhakti renders hostile karmic/physical forces ineffectual.

Vedantic Theme: Atman

Application: Train equanimity through daily remembrance and ethical living so adversity ‘wears away’ without shaking the mind.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhakti as a real relationship where the Lord’s grace protects the individual self while the self remains distinct yet dependent (śeṣa) on Him.

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Divine-protection

Bhakti Quality: Acalā-bhakti: mind unmodified (avikāra), resting in Hari so that external harm cannot disturb inner steadiness.

Persecution: Poison

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Prahlada

FAQs

What is the significance of Prahlāda remaining unchanged after drinking poison in the Vishnu Purana?

It demonstrates that unwavering devotion and inner steadiness make hostile forces powerless; the poison loses its potency in the presence of a mind anchored in Vishnu.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the devotee’s protection in this episode?

Through the narrative logic that Prahlāda’s composed mind and the spiritual force of his devotion (expressed as ‘boundless renown’) neutralize what is otherwise deadly.

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

Vishnu is implied as the supreme refuge whose grace safeguards the bhakta; the devotee’s fearlessness reflects dependence on the Supreme Reality rather than on worldly conditions.