Shloka 20

Prahlāda Rejects Demonic Diplomacy and Proclaims Navadhā Bhakti

Devanagari script

पादयो: पतितं बालं प्रतिनन्द्याशिषासुर: । परिष्वज्य चिरं दोर्भ्यां परमामाप निर्वृतिम् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

pādayoḥ patitaṁ bālaṁ pratinandyāśiṣāsuraḥ pariṣvajya ciraṁ dorbhyāṁ paramām āpa nirvṛtim

Translation

ಹಿರಣ್ಯಕಶಿಪು ತನ್ನ ಮಗನು ತನ್ನ ಪಾದಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿದ್ದು ನಮಸ್ಕರಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವುದನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ, ಸ्नेಹಭರಿತ ತಂದೆಯಂತೆ ಆಶೀರ್ವದಿಸಿ, ಎರಡೂ ಭುಜಗಳಿಂದ ದೀರ್ಘವಾಗಿ ಅಪ್ಪಿಕೊಂಡನು. ಹೀಗೆ ಅವನು ಪರಮ ಸಂತೋಷವನ್ನು ಪಡೆದನು.

Synonyms

• पादयोः: at (his) feet
• पादयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी/षष्ठी विभक्ति (locative/genitive), द्विवचन (dual); अत्र अधिकरणे (locative): ‘at the feet’

• पतितम्: fallen
• पतितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; धातु: पत् (to fall)

• बालम्: the boy
• बालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रतिनन्द्य: having welcomed
• प्रतिनन्द्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-नन्द् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), धातु: नन्द् (to rejoice/approve) with उपसर्ग प्रति; अर्थ: having welcomed/approved

• आशिषा: with a blessing
• आशिषा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशिष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• असुरः: the Asura (Hiraṇyakaśipu)
• असुरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परिष्वज्य: having embraced
• परिष्वज्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-स्वज् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), धातु: स्वज् (to embrace) with उपसर्ग परि; अर्थ: having embraced

• चिरम्: for a long time
• चिरम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time/duration)

• दोर्भ्याम्: with (his) two arms
• दोर्भ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोर्/दोस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (or common usage), तृतीया विभक्ति, द्विवचन; अर्थ: with (his) two arms

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आप: attained
• आप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: आप् (to obtain/attain)

• निर्वृतिम्: contentment/bliss
• निर्वृतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्वृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyakaśipu
• Prahlāda

FAQs

What is the meaning of Bhagavatam 7.5.20?

It describes Hiraṇyakaśipu’s momentary affection: he blesses and embraces Prahlāda, feeling great satisfaction—setting a contrast with his later intolerance toward Prahlāda’s devotion.

Why did Hiranyakashipu embrace Prahlada in Canto 7 Chapter 5?

Prahlāda had bowed at his father’s feet; pleased by the child’s outward humility and return, Hiraṇyakaśipu responded with blessings and a long embrace, unaware of how firmly Prahlāda’s heart was fixed in bhakti.

What is the practical lesson of this verse for modern life?

External warmth and family affection can coexist with deep ideological conflict; the verse encourages steadiness in devotion and values, even when relationships appear supportive only on the surface.