Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 46

Prahlāda’s Prayers Pacify Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva

Prahlāda-stuti and the Lord’s Benediction Offer

Devanagari script

मौनव्रतश्रुततपोऽध्ययनस्वधर्म- व्याख्यारहोजपसमाधय आपवर्ग्या: । प्राय: परं पुरुष ते त्वजितेन्द्रियाणां वार्ता भवन्त्युत न वात्र तु दाम्भिकानाम् ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

mauna-vrata-śruta-tapo-’dhyayana-sva-dharma- vyākhyā-raho-japa-samādhaya āpavargyāḥ prāyaḥ paraṁ puruṣa te tv ajitendriyāṇāṁ vārtā bhavanty uta na vātra tu dāmbhikānām

Translation

ഹേ പരമപുരുഷാ! മൗനം, വ്രതം, വേദശ്രവണം, തപസ്, അധ്യയനം, സ്വധർമ്മാനുഷ്ഠാനം, ശാസ്ത്രവ്യാഖ്യാനം, ഏകാന്തവാസം, രഹോജപം, സമാധി—ഇവ മോക്ഷമാർഗത്തിലെ മാർഗങ്ങൾ. എന്നാൽ ഇന്ദ്രിയങ്ങളെ ജയിക്കാത്തവർക്ക് ഇവ പലപ്പോഴും തൊഴിലും ഉപജീവനമാർഗവും ആയി മാറുന്നു; ദംഭികൾക്ക് ഇവ ഇവിടെ ഫലിക്കുകയില്ല।

Synonyms

• mauna-vrata-śruta-tapaḥ-adhyayana-sva-dharma-vyākhyā-rahaḥ-japa-samādhayaḥ: silence, vows, learning, austerity, study, one’s duty, teaching, solitude, japa, and samādhi
• mauna-vrata-śruta-tapaḥ-adhyayana-sva-dharma-vyākhyā-rahaḥ-japa-samādhayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mauna (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक) + śruta (प्रातिपदिक) + tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + adhyayana (प्रातिपदिक) + sva (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + vyākhyā (प्रातिपदिक) + rahas (प्रातिपदिक) + japa (प्रातिपदिक) + samādhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वसमासः (list compound)

• āpavargyāḥ: leading to liberation
• āpavargyāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āpavargya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्—‘अपवर्गाय’ (leading to liberation)

• prāyaḥ: generally
• prāyaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prāyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘प्रायः’ = generally

• param: O Supreme
• param: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन (हे परम्)

• puruṣa: O Person (Lord)
• puruṣa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन; ‘of you/your’

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• ajita-indriyāṇām: of those whose senses are unconquered
• ajita-indriyāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ajita (प्रातिपदिक) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषः—अजितानि इन्द्रियाणि येषाम्

• vārtāḥ: talk/discussion
• vārtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vārtā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• bhavanti: occur/are
• bhavanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; √भू = to be/become

• uta: indeed/and
• uta: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uta (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; समुच्चय/विस्मयार्थक (and/indeed)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (or)

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (here)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• dāmbhikānām: of the hypocrites/pretenders
• dāmbhikānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāmbhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन

Purport

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.1.15) :

Characters & Entities

• Prahlāda
• Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about hypocrisy in spiritual practice?

This verse says that even if one performs many spiritual disciplines, discussion of the Supreme naturally manifests only in those who have controlled their senses; hypocrites (dāmbhikas) do not truly develop such God-centered speech.

Why did Prahlāda Mahārāja say this to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva?

While offering prayers to pacify the Lord after the slaying of Hiraṇyakaśipu, Prahlāda emphasizes that real devotion is not mere external show; genuine remembrance and glorification of the Lord comes from inner purity and sense control.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Prioritize sincere bhakti—reduce sense-driven distractions, practice steady japa and hearing about the Lord, and avoid spiritual “performance” meant for recognition; let your speech and interests naturally turn toward God through disciplined habits.