Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 40

Prahlāda Rejects Demonic Diplomacy and Proclaims Navadhā Bhakti

Devanagari script

नैऋर्तास्ते समादिष्टा भर्त्रा वै शूलपाणय: । तिग्मदंष्ट्रकरालास्यास्ताम्रश्मश्रुशिरोरुहा: ॥ ३९ ॥ नदन्तो भैरवं नादं छिन्धि भिन्धीति वादिन: । आसीनं चाहनञ्शूलै: प्रह्रादं सर्वमर्मसु ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

nairṛtās te samādiṣṭā bhartrā vai śūla-pāṇayaḥ tigma-daṁṣṭra-karālāsyās tāmra-śmaśru-śiroruhāḥ

Translation

「切り刻め！突き刺せ！」と叫びながら騒々しい音を立て、彼らは静かに座っているプラフラーダの急所を三叉の槍で打ち始めました。

Synonyms

• nairṛtāḥ: nairṛtas (demons)
• nairṛtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nairṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• samādiṣṭāḥ: ordered
• samādiṣṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-diś (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhartrā: by the lord
• bhartrā: Karaṇa (करण/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• śūla-pāṇayaḥ: spear-handed
• śūla-pāṇayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tigma-daṁṣṭra-karāla-āsyāḥ: sharp-fanged, terrifying-mouthed
• tigma-daṁṣṭra-karāla-āsyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tigma + daṁṣṭra + karāla + āsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tāmra-śmaśru-śiroruhāḥ: with reddish beard and hair
• tāmra-śmaśru-śiroruhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāmra + śmaśru + śiroruhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nadantaḥ: roaring
• nadantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nad (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhairavam: terrible
• bhairavam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhairava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• nādam: roar
• nādam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• chindhi: cut!
• chindhi: Kriya (क्रिया/Quoted speech)
• Type: Verb
• Root: chid (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhindhi: pierce!
• bhindhi: Kriya (क्रिया/Quoted speech)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhid (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• vādinaḥ: shouting
• vādinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• āsīnam: seated
• āsīnam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āsīna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• ahanan: they struck
• ahanan: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śūlaiḥ: with spears
• śūlaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• prahrādam: Prahlāda
• prahrādam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prahrāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva-marmasu: in all vital spots
• sarva-marmasu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + marma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Prahlāda
• Nairṛtas

FAQs

Who are the Nairṛtas in Srimad Bhagavatam?

In this verse, the Nairṛtas are fierce demonic beings, commanded by their master, who appear as tormentors armed with tridents.

Why were the Nairṛtas sent against Prahlāda?

In the narrative of Canto 7, Prahlāda’s unwavering devotion provoked hostility from the demoniac side, leading to repeated attempts to terrify and harm him.

Practical application: how to remain steady when threatened or pressured?

Prahlāda’s example teaches steadiness in one’s spiritual principles—remaining internally anchored even when external forces try to intimidate.