Shloka 3

प्रह्लादस्य अव्यभिचारिणी भक्ति, मायाविनाशः, तथा विष्णोः विश्वरूप-स्तुतिः

Devanagari script

एवं पृष्टस् तदा पित्रा प्रह्लादो ऽसुरबालकः प्रणिपत्य पितुः पादाव् इदं वचनम् अब्रवीत्

Transliteration

evaṃ pṛṣṭas tadā pitrā prahlādo 'surabālakaḥ praṇipatya pituḥ pādāv idaṃ vacanam abravīt

Translation

Thus questioned by his father, the young asura Prahlāda bowed at his father’s feet and then spoke these words.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक अव्यय (adverb: 'thus')

• पृष्टः: asked
• पृष्टः: Visheshana (Qualifier of प्रह्लादः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृच्छ् (धातु) → पृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) = 'asked'

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-visheshana (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• पित्रा: by (his) father
• पित्रा: Karana/Agent-in-passive (Instrumental; by father)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• प्रह्लादः: Prahlāda
• प्रह्लादः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• असुर-बालकः: the demon-boy
• असुर-बालकः: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर + बालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (असुराणां बालकः)

• प्रणिपत्य: having bowed down
• प्रणिपत्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु) → प्रणिपत्य (क्त्वान्त अव्यय/कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): 'having bowed'

• पितुः: of (his) father
• पितुः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• पादौ: (his) two feet
• पादौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), द्विवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Prahlāda’s response to his father’s probing about his conduct and devotion.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Teaching (Prahlada's schools)

Bhakti Quality: Humility and obedience in demeanor (vinaya), even toward an antagonistic father.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: dasya

Characters & Entities

• Prahlada
• Hiranyakashipu
• Asuras

FAQs

What is the significance of Prahlada bowing to his father in the Vishnu Purana?

It shows Prahlada’s humility and adherence to filial respect even while he remains unwavering in devotion to Vishnu, setting a dharmic tone before his theological reply.

How does Sage Parashara structure the Prahlada episode in this chapter?

He frames it as a dialogue scene: Hiranyakashipu questions, Prahlada responds—allowing Prahlada’s forthcoming words to function as a direct exposition of devotion and divine sovereignty.

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

Although Vishnu is not named in this verse, it introduces Prahlada’s reply that will affirm Vishnu’s supreme lordship—central to the Purana’s Vaishnava vision of ultimate reality.