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

Melihat Śiva, pemegang panji lembu, berdukacita dan kecewa kerana tekadnya patah, Bhagavān Viṣṇu memikirkan cara untuk menghentikan gangguan yang ditimbulkan oleh Maya Dānava.

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.