Shloka 21
Prahlāda Rejects Demonic Diplomacy and Proclaims Navadhā Bhakti
आरोप्याङ्कमवघ्राय मूर्धन्यश्रुकलाम्बुभि: । आसिञ्चन् विकसद्वक्त्रमिदमाह युधिष्ठिर ॥ २१ ॥
āropyāṅkam avaghrāya mūrdhany aśru-kalāmbubhiḥ āsiñcan vikasad-vaktram idam āha yudhiṣṭhira
ನಾರದ ಮುನಿ ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಓ ರಾಜ ಯುಧಿಷ್ಠಿರ! ಹಿರಣ್ಯಕಶಿಪು ಪ್ರಹ್ಲಾದನನ್ನು ತನ್ನ ಮಡಿಲಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಳ್ಳಿರಿಸಿ ಅವನ ಶಿರಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಘ್ರಾಣಿಸಿದನು. ಪ್ರೇಮಾಶ್ರುಗಳು ಹರಿದು ಬಾಲಕನ ಅರಳಿದ ಮುಖವನ್ನು ತೋಯಿಸುತ್ತಾ, ಮಗನಿಗೆ ಹೀಗೆಂದನು.
If a child or disciple falls at the feet of the father or spiritual master, the superior responds by smelling the head of the subordinate.
FAQs
This verse shows devotional tenderness through Yudhiṣṭhira’s affectionate embrace and tears—natural signs of deep love, compassion, and purity of heart.
Śukadeva describes Yudhiṣṭhira’s loving, overwhelmed response—his face brightening and tears flowing—before he speaks, highlighting the depth of his affectionate, dharmic nature in the narrative.
It teaches that genuine spiritual character expresses itself through empathy, warmth, and heartfelt emotion—especially when meeting or caring for devotees and loved ones.