Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Victory through Bhakti, Shloka 69

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

Devanagari script

नारायणेनैवमुक्तः स तदा दैत्यनायकः प्रणिपत्य विभुं तुष्टो जगाम नगरं निजम्

Transliteration

nārāyaṇenaivamuktaḥ sa tadā daityanāyakaḥ praṇipatya vibhuṃ tuṣṭo jagāma nagaraṃ nijam

Translation

Assim instruído por Nārāyaṇa, então ele —o líder entre os Daityas— prostrou-se diante do Senhor; satisfeito, foi para a sua própria cidade.

Word by Word

• नारायणेन: by Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन (singular)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus’)

• उक्तः: (having been) told
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि — ‘having been told’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb: ‘then’)

• दैत्यनायकः: leader of the Daityas
• दैत्यनायकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• प्रणिपत्य: having prostrated
• प्रणिपत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नि + पत् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (absolutive/क्त्वान्त, ल्यप्-प्रत्यय), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable participle): ‘having bowed down’

• विभुम्: the mighty one, the Lord
• विभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• तुष्टः: pleased
• तुष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies सः/दैत्यनायकः)

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• नगरम्: city
• नगरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• निजम्: his own
• निजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies नगरम्)

Speakers

• Narrator reporting Nārada’s response to Nārāyaṇa

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa)

Key Themes

• Bhakti (reverence/prostration)
• Obedience to divine mandate
• Counsel as cosmic instrument

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "bhakti", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Right action begins with humility before the divine source of order; even a figure associated with asura politics is portrayed as capable of reverence and disciplined compliance.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Vamśānucarita/Carita: it advances the narrative mechanics of the Deva–Asura histories by positioning Nārada as an agent whose counsel influences the daitya lineage’s decisions.

What is the symbolic significance?

The motif of “returning to one’s city” after receiving divine instruction symbolizes the re-entry of dharmic insight into the sphere of power, where it must be tested in real governance.