Shloka 56
ततश् चचाल चलता प्रह्लादेन महार्णवः उद्वेलो ऽभूत् परं क्षोभम् उपेत्य च समन्ततः
tataś cacāla calatā prahlādena mahārṇavaḥ udvelo 'bhūt paraṃ kṣobham upetya ca samantataḥ
Then the great ocean began to heave; stirred by Prahlāda’s movement, it rose into swelling waves, entering into supreme agitation on every side.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Teaching: Devotional
Quality: revealing
Concept: Even when the devotee is seemingly overpowered, the cosmos itself responds—hinting that dharma is upheld by the Lord through all forces of nature.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Hold steady in practice during upheaval; interpret disturbances as occasions to deepen surrender rather than abandon faith.
Vishishtadvaita: Implied immanence: the Lord’s order pervades nature, so the cosmos ‘moves’ in relation to the devotee within His governance.
Phase: Divine-protection
Bhakti Quality: Devotional steadiness that remains unmoved though the world is shaken
Vishnu Form: Narayana
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
In this verse, the surging ocean functions as a cosmic indicator: when a great devotee like Prahlāda is in motion, nature itself mirrors the intensity of the event, signaling a turning point in the narrative order.
Parāśara presents Prahlāda’s very movement as causative—his presence and action are so spiritually charged that they translate into physical upheaval, showing devotion as an active force within the cosmos.
Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the implication is Vaishnava: Prahlāda’s potency arises from unwavering refuge in Vishnu, the Supreme Lord, whose sovereignty is reflected in the extraordinary influence granted to His devotee.