Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 7

Prologue to the Śivaśarmā Narrative with the Prahlāda Tradition

Variant-Resolution Frame

Devanagari script

जातमात्रः सर्वसुखं वैष्णवं मार्गमाश्रितः । महाभागवतश्रेष्ठः प्रह्लादो देवपूजितः

Transliteration

jātamātraḥ sarvasukhaṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ mārgamāśritaḥ | mahābhāgavataśreṣṭhaḥ prahlādo devapūjitaḥ

Translation

ಜನ್ಮಿಸಿದ ಕ್ಷಣದಿಂದಲೇ ಅವನು ಸರ್ವಮಂಗಳಕರವಾದ, ಪರಮಸুখದ ವೈಷ್ಣವ ಮಾರ್ಗವನ್ನು ಆಶ್ರಯಿಸಿದನು. ಮಹಾಭಾಗವತರಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠನಾದ ಪ್ರಹ್ಲಾದನು ದೇವತೆಗಳಿಂದಲೂ ಪೂಜಿತನಾದನು।

Word by Word

• जातमात्रः: just born
• जातमात्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जात (√जन्, धातु) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘जात’ + तत्पुरुषसमास ‘जातमात्र’ (just born)

• सर्वसुखम्: all happiness
• सर्वसुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयसमास (all happiness)

• वैष्णवम्: Vaiṣṇava
• वैष्णवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (मर्गम् इति)

• मार्गम्: path
• मार्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आश्रितः: having taken refuge (in)
• आश्रितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√श्रि (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘आश्रित’ = having taken refuge (predicate participle)

• महाभागवतश्रेष्ठः: the best of great devotees
• महाभागवतश्रेष्ठः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā (प्रातिपदिक) + भागवत (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (among great devotees, the best)

• प्रह्लादः: Prahlāda
• प्रह्लादः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• देवपूजितः: worshipped by the gods
• देवपूजितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘पूजित’ + तत्पुरुषसमास (worshipped by the gods)

Speaker

Unspecified (narratorial voice within the Adhyaya)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: मार्गमाश्रितः = मार्गम् + आश्रितः (म् + आ → मा).

Characters & Entities

• Prahlāda
• Viṣṇu
• Devas

FAQs

How does this verse characterize Prahlāda’s devotion?

It portrays Prahlāda as a natural-born devotee who takes refuge in the Vaiṣṇava path from birth and is regarded as the foremost among great bhaktas.

What does “devapūjitaḥ” imply in this context?

It indicates that Prahlāda’s devotion is so exemplary that even the gods honor or revere him, highlighting the supremacy of bhakti over status or power.

What ethical lesson does the verse emphasize?

It emphasizes steadfast refuge in the devotional path (Vaiṣṇava-mārga) as a source of true well-being, presenting Prahlāda as an ideal of unwavering faith.