Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Victory through Bhakti, Shloka 57

Prahlada’s Defeat in Battle and Victory through Bhakti (Nara-Narayana Episode)

Devanagari script

पराजितश्च पुरुषो दैत्य दण्डं प्रयच्छति दण्डार्थं ते प्रदास्यामि वरं वृणु यमिच्छसि

Transliteration

parājitaśca puruṣo daitya daṇḍaṃ prayacchati daṇḍārthaṃ te pradāsyāmi varaṃ vṛṇu yamicchasi

Translation

«Lorsqu’un homme est vaincu, ô Daitya, il offre une peine ou une compensation. À titre de cette compensation, Je t’accorderai une grâce : choisis ce que tu désires.»

Word by Word

• पराजितः: defeated
• पराजितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराजित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (sg.); पुरुषः-विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुरुषः: a person
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• दैत्य: O Daitya
• दैत्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन (Voc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• दण्डम्: punishment
• दण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• प्रयच्छति: gives/bestows
• प्रयच्छति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + यम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.); परस्मैपद

• दण्डार्थम्: for punishment
• दण्डार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दण्ड + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative of purpose), द्वितीया-एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: दण्डस्य अर्थः (for punishment)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/dative), एकवचन (sg.)

• प्रदास्यामि: I will give
• प्रदास्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन (sg.); परस्मैपद

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• वृणु: choose
• वृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन (sg.); परस्मैपद

• यम्: which (boon)
• यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (sg.); सम्बन्धक (relative)

• इच्छसि: you desire
• इच्छसि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन (sg.); परस्मैपद

Speakers

• Bhagavān to the Daitya devotee (Prahlāda replies next)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Bhagavān/Nārāyaṇa)

Key Themes

• Bhakti
• Grace (vara)
• Dharma of reciprocity
• Daitya–Deva narrative ethics

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "vira", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse frames divine grace as a reciprocal response to devotion: the Lord voluntarily binds Himself to a ‘code’ of honoring the devotee’s spiritual victory.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Vamśānucarita / carita: it is a moralizing narrative moment where a devotee’s conduct elicits a doctrinal teaching on bhakti and divine responsiveness.

What is the symbolic significance?

Calling the boon a ‘daṇḍa’ (penalty) is ironic and symbolic: what would be punishment in worldly conquest becomes beneficence in spiritual conquest—power is transmuted into compassion.