Previous Verse
Next Verse

Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 26

Prahlāda’s Prayers Pacify Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva

Prahlāda-stuti and the Lord’s Benediction Offer

क्व‍ाहं रज:प्रभव ईश तमोऽधिकेऽस्मिन् जात: सुरेतरकुले क्व‍ तवानुकम्पा । न ब्रह्मणो न तु भवस्य न वै रमाया यन्मेऽर्पित: शिरसि पद्मकर: प्रसाद: ॥ २६ ॥

kvāhaṁ rajaḥ-prabhava īśa tamo ’dhike ’smin jātaḥ suretara-kule kva tavānukampā na brahmaṇo na tu bhavasya na vai ramāyā yan me ’rpitaḥ śirasi padma-karaḥ prasādaḥ

ഹേ ഈശാ! ഞാൻ രജോഗുണത്തിൽ നിന്നു ജനിച്ച് തമോഗുണം അധികമുള്ള അസുരകുലത്തിൽ പിറന്നവൻ—എന്റെ സ്ഥാനം എന്ത്? നിങ്ങളുടെ നിർഹേതുക കരുണ എത്ര മഹത്തരം! ബ്രഹ്മാവിനും ശിവനുമും ലക്ഷ്മീദേവിക്കും പോലും ലഭിക്കാത്ത പ്രസാദം—അവരുടെ തലയിൽ നിങ്ങൾ പദ്മഹസ്തം വെച്ചില്ല—അതേ അനുഗ്രഹം എന്റെ തലയിൽ നിങ്ങൾ വെച്ചു।

kvawhere (am) I?
kva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkva (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, प्रश्नवाचक
ahamI
aham:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुष, प्रथमा एकवचन
rajaḥ-prabhavaḥborn of rajas
rajaḥ-prabhavaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootrajas (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhava (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; समासः—रजःप्रभवः = रजसः प्रभवः (born of passion)
īśaO Lord
īśa:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootīśa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन
tamaḥ-adhikein (a state) dominated by tamas
tamaḥ-adhike:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Roottamas (प्रातिपदिक) + adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; समासः—तमोऽधिके = तमसि अधिके (in a place dominated by darkness)
asminin this
asmin:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootidam (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन
jātaḥborn
jātaḥ:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootjan (धातु) + ta (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
Formकृदन्त (भूतकर्मणि क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘born’
suretare-kulein an asura clan
suretare-kule:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootsura (प्रातिपदिक) + itara (प्रातिपदिक) + kula (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; समासः—सुरेतरकुले = सुरेभ्यः इतराणां कुले (in the family of non-gods/asuras)
kvawhere (is)
kva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkva (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, प्रश्नवाचक
tavayour
tava:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Roottvad (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, मध्यमपुरुष, षष्ठी एकवचन
anukampācompassion
anukampā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootanukampā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, निषेध
brahmaṇaḥof Brahmā
brahmaṇaḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootbrahman (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन
nanor
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, निषेध
tuindeed/also
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, निपात
bhavasyaof Bhava (Śiva)
bhavasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (Śiva)
nanor
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, निषेध
vaiindeed
vai:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvai (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, निपात (emphasis)
ramāyāḥof Ramā (Lakṣmī)
ramāyāḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootramā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (Lakṣmī)
yatwhich
yat:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; correlates to prasādaḥ; ‘that which’
meto me
me:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुष, चतुर्थी/षष्ठी एकवचन; here dative ‘to me’
arpitaḥhas been bestowed
arpitaḥ:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootarp (धातु) + ta (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
Formकृदन्त (भूतकर्मणि क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; agrees with prasādaḥ
śirasion (my) head
śirasi:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootśiras (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन
padma-karaḥthe lotus-handed (Lord)
padma-karaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootpadma (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; समासः—पद्मकरः = पद्मं करः यस्य (lotus-hand; epithet of the Lord)
prasādaḥgrace/favor
prasādaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootprasāda (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

Prahlāda Mahārāja was surprised at the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead, for although Prahlāda was born in a demoniac family and although the Lord had never before placed His lotus hand on the head of Brahmā, Śiva, or the goddess of fortune, His constant companion, Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva kindly placed His hand on the head of Prahlāda. This is the meaning of causeless mercy. The causeless mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead may be bestowed upon anyone, regardless of his position in this material world. Everyone is eligible to worship the Supreme Lord, irrespective of his material position. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (14.26) :

L
Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva
B
Brahmā
Ś
Śiva (Bhava)
L
Lakṣmī (Ramā)

FAQs

It teaches that the Lord’s grace is not limited by birth, social status, or family; pure devotion can attract a mercy so extraordinary that even great cosmic deities may not receive the same personal favor.

Prahlāda highlights his asura birth and the dominance of passion and ignorance around him to emphasize that his blessing came solely from the Lord’s compassion, not from his material qualifications.

Cultivate humility and gratitude: instead of relying on external credentials, focus on sincere devotion, prayer, and ethical living, trusting that genuine bhakti invites divine guidance and transformation.