Shloka 36

Kāṣṭhīla-Upākhyāna: Rākṣasī, Spear-Śakti, and Kāśī as Śakti-kṣetra

Devanagari script

विष्णुर्वेश्यासमासक्तः प्रह्लादाद्युपदेशकृत् । श्रीनृसिंहोऽसुरध्वंसी देवदेवाधिदैवतम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

viṣṇurveśyāsamāsaktaḥ prahlādādyupadeśakṛt | śrīnṛsiṃho'suradhvaṃsī devadevādhidaivatam || 36 ||

Translation

ヴィシュヌは—慈悲ゆえに遊女にさえ近しく寄り添い、プラフラーダらに教えを授けたお方—すなわち聖なるナラシンハ、アスラを滅する者であり、神々の神をも超える至上の神性である。

Word by Word

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वेश्या-समासक्तः: attached to a courtesan
• वेश्या-समासक्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेश्या + सम् + आसक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √सञ्ज्/√असञ्ज् भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) 'समासक्त' = attached; समासः: वेश्यायां समासक्तः (locative sense)

• प्रह्लाद-आदि-उपदेश-कृत्: instructor of Prahlāda and others
• प्रह्लाद-आदि-उपदेश-कृत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रह्लाद + आदि + उपदेश + कृ (धातु) → कृत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; 'कृत्' = √कृ + क्विप् (doer); समासः: प्रह्लादादीनाम् उपदेशं करोति इति

• श्री-नृसिंहः: the glorious Narasiṃha
• श्री-नृसिंहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + नृसिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: श्रीमान् नृसिंहः

• असुर-ध्वंसी: destroyer of demons
• असुर-ध्वंसी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असुर + ध्वंसिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: असुराणां ध्वंसी (destroyer)

• देव-देव-अधि-दैवतम्: the supreme deity over the gods
• देव-देव-अधि-दैवतम्: Samanaadhikarana/Predicate (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव + अधि + दैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: देवानां देवः (देवदेव) तस्य अधि दैवतं (supreme deity over)

Speaker

Narada (within a Vishnu-stuti context; standard Narada Purana dialogue frame places Narada as principal narrator/teacher)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Narasimha
• Prahlada
• Asuras
• Devas

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It proclaims Vishnu (especially as Śrī Nṛsiṁha) as the supreme reality—above all divine hierarchies—who protects devotees, destroys adharma (asuras), and teaches bhakti and right understanding to souls like Prahlāda.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By highlighting Vishnu as both compassionate and corrective: he engages even with socially marginal figures to uplift them, and he personally instructs exemplary devotees like Prahlāda—showing that sincere devotion and divine grace, not mere status, lead toward liberation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharmic discernment—seeing the Lord as the highest refuge (śaraṇāgati) and aligning conduct with devotion, which underpins all ritual and scriptural practice.