Shloka 17

प्रह्लादस्य विष्णुमयता, विष्णोः दर्शनं, वरदानं, तथा चरितश्रवण-फलम्

Devanagari script

कुर्वतस् ते प्रसन्नो ऽहं भक्तिम् अव्यभिचारिणीम् यथाभिलषितो मत्तः प्रह्लाद व्रियतां वरः

Transliteration

kurvatas te prasanno 'haṃ bhaktim avyabhicāriṇīm yathābhilaṣito mattaḥ prahlāda vriyatāṃ varaḥ

Translation

Because you have practiced unwavering, undivided devotion, I am pleased with you. Therefore, Prahlāda, choose from Me the boon you desire, according to your heart’s wish.

Word by Word

• कुर्वतः: of (you) doing / as you do
• कुर्वतः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कुर्वत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), षष्ठी (6/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — genitive singular; ‘(त्वं) कुर्वतः’ = of you who are doing

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — genitive singular

• प्रसन्नः: pleased
• प्रसन्नः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन — nominative singular; विशेषणम् ‘अहम्’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन — nominative singular

• भक्तिम्: devotion
• भक्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन — accusative singular

• अव्यभिचारिणीम्: unwavering, not deviating
• अव्यभिचारिणीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यभिचारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन — accusative singular; विशेषणम् ‘भक्तिम्’

• यथाभिलषितः: as desired
• यथाभिलषितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + अभिलषित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √लष्/लष् ‘इच्छायाम्’ → अभिलषित = desired)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन — nominative singular; अव्ययीभाव-समास (यथा + अभिलषित) = ‘as desired’

• मत्तः: from me
• मत्तः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी (5/अपादान), एकवचन — ablative singular

• प्रह्लाद: O Prahlāda
• प्रह्लाद: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8/सम्बोधन), एकवचन — vocative singular

• व्रियताम्: let (it) be chosen
• व्रियताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — imperative, 3rd person singular; आत्मनेपद (passive/आत्मनेपद-प्रयोगः): ‘let (it) be chosen’

• वरः: a boon
• वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन — nominative singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Narasimha/Vishnu addressing Prahlada, as narrated within Parasara’s discourse to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The fruit of unwavering devotion and the Lord’s response to Prahlāda

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Narasimha

Purpose: He appears to vindicate unwavering devotion and grant boons that establish dharma after slaying the oppressor.

Leela: Moksha-dana

Dharma Restored: Supremacy of bhakti and the Lord’s protective justice

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Undivided devotion (avyabhicāriṇī bhakti) directly pleases the Lord and becomes the basis for divine granting of boons.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice single-pointed remembrance and align choices with devotion rather than bargaining; let ‘boons’ be shaped by spiritual priorities.

Vishishtadvaita: The personal Lord responds relationally to bhakti, affirming a real devotee–Lord distinction within intimate dependence.

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Triumph

Bhakti Quality: Ananya/avyabhicāriṇī bhakti (undivided, unwavering devotion)

Narasimha: The Lord addresses Prahlāda, praising avyabhicāriṇī bhakti and inviting him to choose a boon.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Prahlada

FAQs

What is the significance of ‘avyabhicāriṇī bhakti’ in the Vishnu Purana?

It denotes unwavering, exclusive devotion that does not deviate; this verse presents it as the direct cause of Vishnu’s pleasure and the outpouring of divine grace.

How does the Vishnu Purana frame the relationship between devotion and divine reward?

This verse shows a bhakti-centered ethic: when devotion is steadfast and pure, Vishnu responds personally, inviting the devotee to choose a boon—grace follows surrender rather than mere ritual power.

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

Vishnu appears as the supreme, sovereign giver of boons—one who is moved by devotion and who upholds cosmic and moral order by protecting and honoring His devotee.