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Shloka 24

Prahlāda Rejects Material Boons; Forgives His Father; Tripura and the Power of Remembrance

श्रीनारद उवाच प्रह्रादोऽपि तथा चक्रे पितुर्यत्साम्परायिकम् । यथाह भगवान् राजन्नभिषिक्तो द्विजातिभि: ॥ २४ ॥

śrī-nārada uvāca prahrādo ’pi tathā cakre pitur yat sāmparāyikam yathāha bhagavān rājann abhiṣikto dvijātibhiḥ

Шри Нарада сказал: О царь Юдхиштхира, по повелению Бхагавана Прахлада совершил погребальные ведические обряды для своего отца; затем, по указанию двиджей, он был помазан и возведён на престол царства Хираньякашипу.

श्री-नारदःthe venerable Nārada
श्री-नारदः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootश्री + नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘श्रीमान् नारदः’
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√वच् (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्
प्रह्रादःPrahlāda
प्रह्रादः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रह्राद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
अपिalso
अपि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय—समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (particle: ‘also/even’)
तथाthus
तथा:
Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय—प्रकारवाचक (adverb: ‘thus/in that manner’)
चक्रेdid; carried out
चक्रे:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√कृ (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्
पितुःof (his) father
पितुः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन
यत्that which
यत्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)
साम्परायिकम्pertaining to the afterlife; funeral/obsequial (rites)
साम्परायिकम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootसाम्परायिक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘यत्’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्
यथाas
यथा:
Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय—प्रकारवाचक (as)
आहsaid
आह:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√अह्/√ब्रू (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्
भगवान्the Blessed Lord
भगवान्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootभगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
राजन्O king
राजन्:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootराजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन
अभिषिक्तःanointed; consecrated
अभिषिक्तः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootअभिषिक्त (कृदन्त; अभि√सिच् धातु)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘प्रह्रादः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
द्विजातिभिःby the twice-born (brāhmaṇas etc.)
द्विजातिभिः:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootद्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः—द्वि + जाति (‘twice-born’)

It is essential that society be divided into four groups of men — brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras. Here we see that although Prahlāda was perfect in every respect, he nonetheless followed the instructions of the brāhmaṇas who performed the Vedic rituals. Therefore in society there must be a very intelligent class of leaders who are well versed in the Vedic knowledge so that they can guide the entire populace to follow the Vedic principles and thus gradually become most perfect and eligible to return home, back to Godhead.

N
Nārada
P
Prahlāda
H
Hiraṇyakaśipu
N
Nṛsiṁhadeva

FAQs

Yes. This verse states that Prahlāda carried out the proper post-death rites for his father, following the Lord’s instruction.

Because even after the demon’s death, Prahlāda remained fixed in dharma and obedience to Bhagavān—performing the required rites and accepting kingship in a sanctioned, Vedic way.

Maintain righteousness and compassion even toward those who harmed you—fulfill duties without hatred, while keeping devotion to God at the center.