Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 44

Prahlāda Rejects Demonic Diplomacy and Proclaims Navadhā Bhakti

Devanagari script

दिग्गजैर्दन्दशूकेन्द्रैरभिचारावपातनै: । मायाभि: सन्निरोधैश्च गरदानैरभोजनै: । हिमवाय्वग्निसलिलै: पर्वताक्रमणैरपि ॥ ४३ ॥ न शशाक यदा हन्तुमपापमसुर: सुतम् । चिन्तां दीर्घतमां प्राप्तस्तत्कर्तुं नाभ्यपद्यत ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

dig-gajair dandaśūkendrair abhicārāvapātanaiḥ māyābhiḥ sannirodhaiś ca gara-dānair abhojanaiḥ

Translation

巨大な象、恐ろしい蛇、呪法と落下、マーヤーの拘束、毒と飢え、寒さ・風・火・水、さらには山のような打撃――それでもアスラは罪なき息子を殺せず、果てしない不安に沈み、次に何をすべきか定められなかった。

Synonyms

• एषः: this (one/plan)
• एषः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• मे: my
• मे: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular) — enclitic

• बहु: much; greatly
• बहु: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग (indeclinable-like use as adverbial qualifier) — ‘अत्यर्थम्’ अर्थे

• असाधु: badly; improperly
• असाधु: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग (adverbial use) — ‘असाधु’ = badly/unsuccessfully

• उक्तः: said; spoken
• उक्तः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) — ‘एषः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वधोपायाः: means of killing
• वधोपायाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध-उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa: ‘वधस्य उपायाः’), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

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

• निर्मिताः: were devised/constructed
• निर्मिताः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-√मा (धातु) → निर्मित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) — ‘वधोपायाः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तैः: by those
• तैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter)

• तैः: by those (very)
• तैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural) — पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• द्रोहैः: by treacheries
• द्रोहैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• असद्धर्मैः: by unrighteous practices
• असद्धर्मैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत्-धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (Karmadhāraya: ‘असन्तः धर्माः’), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• मुक्तः: was freed; escaped
• मुक्तः: क्रियाविशेषण/परिणाम (Result state)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुच् (धातु) → मुक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) — कर्तृविशेषणम् (प्रह्लादः)

• स्वेन: by his own
• स्वेन: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — ‘तेजसा’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• एव: indeed; alone
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• तेजसा: by (his) spiritual power/splendor
• तेजसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

Characters & Entities

• Prahlāda
• Hiraṇyakaśipu

FAQs

How does the Srimad Bhagavatam describe the protection of a pure devotee like Prahlada?

These verses show that even extreme dangers—poison, starvation, fire, water, crushing, and sorcery—cannot destroy a sinless devotee protected by the Lord; Hiraṇyakaśipu’s many methods fail against Prahlāda.

Why was Hiranyakashipu unable to kill Prahlada despite so many deadly attempts?

Prahlāda is described as apāpa (sinless) and steadfast in devotion; the narrative implies the Lord’s unseen protection, so the demon’s material and magical tactics could not succeed.

What is a practical lesson from Prahlada’s persecution in modern life?

Steady devotion and integrity can keep one fearless amid pressure and hostility; the Bhagavatam teaches that spiritual shelter is stronger than external threats.