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Shloka 30

Prahlāda Rejects Material Boons; Forgives His Father; Tripura and the Power of Remembrance

श्रीभगवानुवाच मैवं विभोऽसुराणां ते प्रदेय: पद्मसम्भव । वर: क्रूरनिसर्गाणामहीनाममृतं यथा ॥ ३० ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca maivaṁ vibho ’surāṇāṁ te pradeyaḥ padma-sambhava varaḥ krūra-nisargāṇām ahīnām amṛtaṁ yathā

La Personnalité Suprême de Dieu répondit : Mon cher Brahmā, né du lotus, ne donne pas de bénédictions aux asuras ; accorder des dons à ceux qui sont par nature cruels et jaloux, c’est comme donner du lait à un serpent, chose dangereuse. Je t’avertis de ne plus offrir de telles grâces à aucun démon.

śrī-bhagavānthe Blessed Lord
śrī-bhagavān:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootśrī (प्रातिपदिक) + bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; honorific title; कर्मधारयः (śrīmān bhagavān)
uvācasaid
uvāca:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvac (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्/परोक्षभूत), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular
do not
:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootmā (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya (अव्यय), prohibitive particle (निषेध-निपात) used with imperative sense
evamthus; in this way
evam:
Prakāra-adhikaraṇa (प्रकाराधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootevam (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)
vibhoO mighty one
vibho:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootvibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular
asurāṇāmof the demons
asurāṇām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootasura (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural
teto you
te:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Roottvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormDative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; enclitic pronoun
pradeyaḥshould be granted
pradeyaḥ:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-dā (धातु)
FormGerundive/obligatory participle (कृत्य—यत्), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘to be given/should be granted’
padma-sambhavaO lotus-born (Brahmā)
padma-sambhava:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootpadma (प्रातिपदिक) + sambhava (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; तत्पुरुषः—‘padmāt sambhavaḥ’ (born from the lotus)
varaḥa boon
varaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
krūra-nisargāṇāmof cruel-natured (beings)
krūra-nisargāṇām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeAdjective
Rootkrūra (प्रातिपदik) + nisarga (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; कर्मधारयः—‘krūraḥ nisargaḥ yeṣām’ (of those of cruel nature)
ahīnāmof snakes
ahīnām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootahi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural
amṛtamnectar; ambrosia
amṛtam:
Upamāna/Dr̥ṣṭānta (उपमान/दृष्टान्त)
TypeNoun
Rootamṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) / Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; here Nominative as predicate
yathājust as
yathā:
Upamā (उपमा)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyathā (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya, comparative particle (उपमा-निपात) ‘as/just as’
B
Brahmā (Padma-sambhava)
A
Asuras

FAQs

This verse warns that granting boons to those with a cruel, demoniac nature is dangerous—like giving nectar to serpents—because such power is likely to be misused.

The Lord cautions Brahmā not to empower asuras through extraordinary benedictions, since demoniac tendencies often lead them to harm others and oppose dharma despite receiving divine gifts.

Be discerning about whom you empower with resources, authority, or influence; without character and devotion, power can magnify harmful tendencies rather than produce good.