Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

शयानौ युधि निर्भिन्नहृदयौ रामशायकै: । तच्चित्तौ जहतुर्देहं यथा प्राक्तनजन्मनि ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

śayānau yudhi nirbhinna- hṛdayau rāma-śāyakaiḥ tac-cittau jahatur dehaṁ yathā prāktana-janmani

Translation

Transpercés au combat par les flèches de Śrī Rāmacandra, le cœur fendu, ils gisaient à terre ; l’esprit absorbé en le Seigneur, ils quittèrent leur corps, comme lors de leurs vies passées.

Synonyms

• शयानौ: lying (down)
• शयानौ: कर्ता (Subject—descriptive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present participle) 'शयान', पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• युधि: in battle
• युधि: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युध् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• निर्भिन्न-हृदयौ: with pierced hearts
• निर्भिन्न-हृदयौ: कर्ता (Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्भिन्न (भिद्-धातु, क्त) + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; कर्मधारय: निर्भिन्नं हृदयम् यस्य (whose hearts are pierced)

• राम-शायकैः: by Rāma's arrows
• राम-शायकैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + शायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; 'रामशायक' = रामस्य शायकाः (Rāma's arrows)

• तत्-चित्तौ: with minds fixed on Him
• तत्-चित्तौ: कर्ता (Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; कर्मधारय: तत् (तस्मिन्/तद्) चित्तं यस्य—'having their minds fixed on Him/that'

• जहतुः: abandoned, gave up
• जहतुः: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन; धातु: हा (to abandon/leave)

• देहम्: the body
• देहम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• यथा: just as
• यथा: उपमान (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative indeclinable): 'as/just as'

• प्राक्तन-जन्मनि: in the former birth
• प्राक्तन-जन्मनि: अधिकरण (Locative—time/state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राक्तन + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: प्राक्तनं जन्म (former birth)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Rāma

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about attaining liberation by remembering the Lord at death?

This verse states that even while slain in battle, those whose minds become fixed on the Lord (here, Rāma) can give up the body in God-consciousness, leading to spiritual deliverance.

Why are Lord Rāma’s arrows mentioned in a chapter about Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva and Prahlāda?

Śukadeva illustrates a broader Bhagavata principle: intense absorption in the Supreme Lord—whether through devotion or even through enmity that fixes the mind—can bring liberation; he cites Rāma-līlā as an example while narrating Nṛsiṁha-līlā.

How can I apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

Practice daily remembrance (smaraṇa)—chanting, hearing, and meditating on the Lord—so that at life’s final moment your mind naturally turns toward Bhagavān rather than fear or confusion.