Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 66
Prahlāda Rejects Material Boons; Forgives His Father; Tripura and the Power of Remembrance
अथासौ शक्तिभि: स्वाभि: शम्भो: प्राधानिकं व्यधात् । धर्मज्ञानविरक्त्यृद्धितपोविद्याक्रियादिभि: ॥ ६५ ॥ रथं सूतं ध्वजं वाहान्धनुर्वर्मशरादि यत् । सन्नद्धो रथमास्थाय शरं धनुरुपाददे ॥ ६६ ॥
athāsau śaktibhiḥ svābhiḥ śambhoḥ prādhānikaṁ vyadhāt dharma-jñāna-virakty-ṛddhi- tapo-vidyā-kriyādibhiḥ
Nārada Muni poursuivit : Ensuite, le Seigneur Kṛṣṇa, par Ses puissances personnelles—dharma, connaissance, renoncement, opulence, austérité, science et action—pourvut Śambhu (Śiva) des principaux équipements : char, cocher, étendard, montures, arc, armure et flèches. Ainsi équipé, Śiva monta sur le char et saisit l’arc et les flèches.
As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (12.13.16) : vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ: Lord Śiva is the best of the Vaiṣṇavas, the devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Indeed, he is one of the mahājanas, the twelve authorities on Vaiṣṇava philosophy ( svayambhūr nāradaḥ śambhuḥ kumāraḥ kapilo manuḥ, etc.). Lord Kṛṣṇa is always prepared to help all the mahājanas and devotees in every respect ( kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati ). Although Lord Śiva is very powerful, he lost a battle to the asuras, and therefore he was morose and disappointed. However, because he is one of the chief devotees of the Lord, the Lord personally equipped him with all the paraphernalia for war. The devotee, therefore, must serve the Lord sincerely, and Kṛṣṇa is always in the background to protect him and, if need be, to equip him fully to fight with his enemy. For devotees there is no scarcity of knowledge or material requisites for spreading the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.
FAQs
This verse groups dharma (righteousness), jñāna (spiritual knowledge), and virakti/vairāgya (detachment) as divine endowments—powers that support true devotion and right action.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this narration to Mahārāja Parīkṣit while describing the events surrounding Prahlāda and the aftermath of Hiraṇyakaśipu’s fall.
Treat integrity, learning, disciplined effort, and inner detachment as sacred strengths—use prosperity and skills in service, without becoming bound by pride or possession.