Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Victory through Bhakti, Shloka 47
Prahlada’s Defeat in Battle and Victory through Bhakti (Nara-Narayana Episode)
तमुवाच महातेजा वाक्यं नारायणो ऽव्ययः किमर्थं प्रणतो ऽसीह मामजित्वा महासुर
tamuvāca mahātejā vākyaṃ nārāyaṇo 'vyayaḥ kimarthaṃ praṇato 'sīha māmajitvā mahāsura
L’impérissable Nārāyaṇa, d’un grand éclat, lui adressa ces paroles : «Ô grand Asura, pour quelle raison te prosternes-tu ici devant moi, sans m’avoir vaincu ?»
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FAQs
True reverence is not contingent on worldly victory; Nārāyaṇa’s question highlights that devotion (praṇāma) arises from recognition of the Supreme, not from power or conquest.
This belongs to Vamśānucarita/Carita-style narrative material (accounts of divine–asura interactions and exemplary devotees), rather than sarga/pratisarga or manvantara catalogues.
“Having not conquered me” underscores the unconquerability of the Absolute; even a ‘mahāsura’ is positioned as a potential bhakta when he recognizes the Lord’s transcendence.