Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Victory through Bhakti, Shloka 52

Prahlada’s Defeat in Battle and Victory through Bhakti (Nara-Narayana Episode)

Devanagari script

हिरण्याक्षरिपुः श्रीमान् भगवानथ सूकरः मत्पितुर्नाशनकरो भवानपि नृकेसरी

Transliteration

hiraṇyākṣaripuḥ śrīmān bhagavānatha sūkaraḥ matpiturnāśanakaro bhavānapi nṛkesarī

Translation

നീ ഹിരണ്യാക്ഷന്റെ ശത്രു, ശ്രീമാൻ ഭഗവാൻ—വരാഹസ്വരൂപൻ. എന്റെ പിതാവിനെ നശിപ്പിച്ച നൃകേസരി (നരസിംഹൻ) കൂടിയും നീ തന്നെയാണ്.

Word by Word

• हिरण्याक्षरिपुः: enemy of Hiraṇyākṣa
• हिरण्याक्षरिपुः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्याक्ष + रिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (hiraṇyākṣasya ripuḥ)

• श्रीमान्: glorious, endowed with Śrī
• श्रीमान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन

• अथ: then/and
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/प्रस्ताव-अव्यय (then/now; discourse particle)

• सूकरः: the boar (Varāha)
• सूकरः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन

• मत्पितुः: of my father
• मत्पितुः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् + पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-समासः (mad- + pituḥ = ‘of my father’)

• नाशनकरः: destroyer
• नाशनकरः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाशन + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (nāśanaṃ karoti iti)

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रयोग (honorific pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षा-अव्यय (also/even)

• नृकेसरी: man-lion (Nṛsiṃha)
• नृकेसरी: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ + केसरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (naraḥ eva kesarī)

Speakers

• Not specified in input; internal wording 'my father' suggests a speaker connected to Hiraṇyakaśipu (e.g.
• Prahlāda) in a stuti-context
• but the exact speaker is not given here

Primary Deities

• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Vaishnavism
• Bhakti
• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Avatars
• Protection of devotees

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "vira", "secondaryRasa": "raudra", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Divine justice is portrayed as protective rather than merely punitive: the Lord removes oppressive forces (daityas) to restore dharma and safeguard devotees. The mention of ‘my father’ underscores that righteousness transcends familial attachment when adharma dominates.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

It aligns with Vamśānucarita/Manvantara-style narrative remembrance of avatāra deeds and daitya conflicts (a hallmark of Purāṇic genealogical-historical storytelling across eras).

What is the symbolic significance?

Varāha symbolizes the lifting of the world from chaos (restoring the earth); Narasiṃha symbolizes the breaking of tyranny and the vindication of bhakti. Together they frame Vishnu as both cosmic sustainer and immediate protector.