Shloka 43

Nārāyaṇa’s Impartiality, Absorption in Kṛṣṇa, and the Jaya–Vijaya Descent

Prelude to Prahlāda’s History

Devanagari script

तं सर्वभूतात्मभूतं प्रशान्तं समदर्शनम् । भगवत्तेजसा स्पृष्टं नाशक्नोद्धन्तुमुद्यमै: ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ sarva-bhūtātma-bhūtaṁ praśāntaṁ sama-darśanam bhagavat-tejasā spṛṣṭaṁ nāśaknod dhantum udyamaiḥ

Translation

ಪ್ರಭು ಎಲ್ಲ ಜೀವಿಗಳ ಅಂತರ್ಯಾಮಿ, ಶಾಂತ ಮತ್ತು ಸಮದರ್ಶಿ. ಭಕ್ತ ಪ್ರಹ್ಲಾದನು ಭಗವತ್ತೇಜಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ಸ್ಪರ್ಶಿತನಾಗಿ ರಕ್ಷಿತನಾಗಿದ್ದನು; ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಹಿರಣ್ಯಕಶಿಪು ಎಷ್ಟೇ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಿಸಿದರೂ ಅವನನ್ನು ಕೊಲ್ಲಲಾರದೆ ಹೋಯಿತು.

Synonyms

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• सर्व-भूत-आत्म-भूतम्: who had become the Self of all beings
• सर्व-भूत-आत्म-भूतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास; अर्थ: ‘सर्वेषां भूतानाम् आत्मा (आत्मभूतः) यः’ (genitive relation); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with तम्)

• प्रशान्तम्: peaceful
• प्रशान्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-शम् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्) → प्रशान्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (past participle in adjectival use); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सम-दर्शनम्: equal-seeing
• सम-दर्शनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (समं दर्शनं यस्य/समदर्शन); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भगवत्-तेजसा: by the Lord’s splendor
• भगवत्-तेजसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भगवतः तेजः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• स्पृष्टम्: touched
• स्पृष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्) → स्पृष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘touched’ (qualifying तम्)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negative particle)

• अशक्नोत्: was able
• अशक्नोत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हन्तुम्: to kill
• हन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (infinitive); ‘to kill’

• उद्यमैः: by efforts/attempts
• उद्यमैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

Purport

In this verse the word sarva-bhūtātma-bhūtam is very significant. Īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe ’rjuna tiṣṭhati: the Lord is equally situated in the core of everyone’s heart. Thus He cannot be envious of anyone or friendly to anyone; for Him everyone is the same. Although He is sometimes seen to punish someone, this is exactly like a father’s punishing his child for the child’s welfare. The Supreme Lord’s punishment is also a manifestation of the Lord’s equality. Therefore the Lord is described as praśāntaṁ sama-darśanam. Although the Lord has to execute His will properly, He is equipoised in all circumstances. He is equally disposed toward everyone.

Characters & Entities

• Prahlāda Mahārāja
• Hiraṇyakaśipu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about equal vision (sama-darśanam)?

This verse describes a pure devotee as sama-darśana—seeing all beings with spiritual equality, grounded in the understanding that the Lord is present as the inner Self of everyone.

Why could Hiraṇyakaśipu’s men not disturb Prahlāda?

Because Prahlāda was peaceful and fixed in devotion, and he was “touched” (protected/empowered) by the Lord’s own potency (bhagavat-tejas), making their attempts ineffective.

How can I apply Prahlāda’s steadiness in modern life?

Cultivate inner calm through bhakti practices (remembering the Lord, prayer, mantra), and train equal vision—responding without hatred even under pressure—trusting divine protection while acting rightly.