Shloka 23

Devanagari script

तेनाविष्टं तथात्मानं स बुद्ध्वा दैत्यबालकः हृदयेन महात्मानं दधार धरणीधरम्

Transliteration

tenāviṣṭaṃ tathātmānaṃ sa buddhvā daityabālakaḥ hṛdayena mahātmānaṃ dadhāra dharaṇīdharam

Translation

Realizing that his very self had been pervaded by Him, the young Daitya prince understood the truth and, within his heart, held fast to that great-souled Lord—the Upholder of the earth.

Word by Word

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन

• आविष्टम्: entered/possessed
• आविष्टम्: Karma-visheshana (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + विश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying आत्मानम्)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

• आत्मानम्: himself/self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

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

• बुद्ध्वा: having understood
• बुद्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• दैत्यबालकः: the demon-boy
• दैत्यबालकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + बालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: दैत्यस्य बालकः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• हृदयेन: with (his) heart
• हृदयेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन

• महात्मानम्: the great-souled one
• महात्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• दधार: held/bore
• दधार: Kriya (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• धरणीधरम्: the earth-bearer (Vishnu)
• धरणीधरम्: Karma-visheshana (Object qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणी (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: धरणीं धरति इति); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; महात्मानम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When the Lord is realized as pervading the self, the devotee abides by holding Him inwardly as the heart’s refuge.

Vedantic Theme: Atman

Application: Cultivate daily remembrance (japa/dhyāna) that returns the mind to the indwelling Lord during stress or fear.

Vishishtadvaita: Antaryāmin is intimately present within the jīva while remaining the महान् ईश्वर—supporting both immanence and transcendence.

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Divine-protection

Bhakti Quality: Antaryāmin-realization—holding the Lord in the heart as the sole refuge.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Prahlada

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu being 'Dharaṇīdhara' in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse, 'Dharaṇīdhara' emphasizes Vishnu’s cosmic sovereignty—He is not only worshipped as a personal Lord but also upheld as the sustaining power that supports the world and its order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain inner realization in this context?

Parāśara presents realization as an inward certainty: Prahlada understands that the Lord pervades the self, and this knowledge naturally becomes steady devotion—holding the Supreme within the heart.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is shown as both immanent and supreme—He enters and pervades the devotee’s being, yet remains the transcendent sustainer of the cosmos, aligning with core Vaishnava metaphysics.