Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 61

Prahlāda Rejects Material Boons; Forgives His Father; Tripura and the Power of Remembrance

Devanagari script

विलोक्य भग्नसङ्कल्पं विमनस्कं वृषध्वजम् । तदायं भगवान्विष्णुस्तत्रोपायमकल्पयत् ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

vilokya bhagna-saṅkalpaṁ vimanaskaṁ vṛṣa-dhvajam tadāyaṁ bhagavān viṣṇus tatropāyam akalpayat

Translation

വൃഷധ്വജനായ ശിവൻ സംकल्पഭംഗം മൂലം ദുഃഖിതനായി നിരാശനായിരിക്കുന്നതു കണ്ടു, ഭഗവാൻ വിഷ്ണു മയ ദാനവൻ സൃഷ്ടിച്ച ഈ ഉപദ്രവം നിർത്താനുള്ള മാർഗം ആലോചിച്ചു।

Synonyms

• vilokya: having seen
• vilokya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√lok (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund) ‘having seen’; उपसर्ग: वि

• bhagna-saṅkalpam: whose resolve was broken
• bhagna-saṅkalpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagna (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (भग्नः सङ्कल्पः यस्य)

• vimanaskam: dejected
• vimanaskam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘dispirited’

• vṛṣa-dhvajam: Śiva (bull-bannered one)
• vṛṣa-dhvajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (वृषः ध्वजः यस्य) = epithet of Śiva

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• ayam: this (one)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• tatra: there/thereupon
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb: ‘there/in that matter’)

• upāyam: a means/strategy
• upāyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• akalpayat: devised/arranged
• akalpayat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: a-√kḷp (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; causative sense ‘arranged/devised’ in context

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Śiva (Vṛṣadhvaja)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam teach about Lord Vishnu helping Lord Shiva?

This verse shows that Bhagavān Viṣṇu compassionately arranges a remedy even when Lord Śiva becomes disheartened, highlighting divine cooperation and protection.

Who is called Vṛṣadhvaja in the Bhagavatam and why?

Vṛṣadhvaja refers to Lord Śiva, described as having a bull on his banner, an identifying epithet used in Purāṇic literature.

Practical application: what to do when one feels 'bhagna-saṅkalpa' (broken resolve)?

The verse encourages turning toward the Lord’s guidance—trusting that a higher solution can be arranged—and continuing devotional steadiness rather than despair.