Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 42

Prahlāda Rejects Demonic Diplomacy and Proclaims Navadhā Bhakti

Devanagari script

प्रयासेऽपहते तस्मिन्दैत्येन्द्र: परिशङ्कित: । चकार तद्वधोपायान्निर्बन्धेन युधिष्ठिर ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

prayāse ’pahate tasmin daityendraḥ pariśaṅkitaḥ cakāra tad-vadhopāyān nirbandhena yudhiṣṭhira

Translation

Ô roi Yudhiṣṭhira, lorsque toutes les tentatives des daityas pour tuer Prahlāda furent vaines, leur roi Hiraṇyakaśipu, saisi de crainte, se mit avec acharnement à imaginer d’autres moyens de le faire périr.

Synonyms

• प्रयासे: in (his) effort
• प्रयासे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• अपहते: being thwarted/defeated
• अपहते: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप-हन् (धातु) → अपहत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter) — ‘प्रयासे’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तस्मिन्: then; in that (situation)
• तस्मिन्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter) — ‘तस्मिन् (काले/विषये)’

• दैत्येन्द्रः: the lord of the Daityas (Hiraṇyakaśipu)
• दैत्येन्द्रः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य-इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa: ‘दैत्यानाम् इन्द्रः’), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• परिशङ्कितः: apprehensive; suspicious
• परिशङ्कितः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-शङ्क् (धातु) → परिशङ्कित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) — कर्तृविशेषणम्

• चकार: did; devised
• चकार: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्: his/that (boy’s)
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive sense in compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण (as prior member), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — ‘तस्य (प्रह्लादस्य)’ अर्थे

• वधोपायान्: means of killing
• वधोपायान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध-उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa: ‘वधस्य उपायाः’), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• निर्बन्धेन: with insistence; resolutely
• निर्बन्धेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• युधिष्ठिर: O Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिर: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधि-स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (Bahuvrīhi: ‘युधि स्थिरः यस्य’), सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyakaśipu
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Prahlāda

FAQs

Why did Hiranyakashipu try to kill Prahlada in Srimad Bhagavatam?

Because Prahlāda’s exclusive devotion to Lord Viṣṇu threatened Hiraṇyakaśipu’s atheistic pride and authority; when persuasion failed, he resolved to eliminate him by force.

Who is speaking this verse to whom in Canto 7 Chapter 5?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates to King Parīkṣit, addressing him as “O Yudhiṣṭhira,” while describing Hiraṇyakaśipu’s determined plans to kill Prahlāda.

What is the practical lesson of this verse for modern life?

When devotion and integrity face opposition, remain steady; resistance may intensify when ego feels threatened, but perseverance in dharma and bhakti is the devotee’s path.