Shloka 62

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

Devanagari script

वत्सश्चासीत्तदा ब्रह्मा स्वयं विष्णुरयं हि गौ: । प्रविश्य त्रिपुरं काले रसकूपामृतं पपौ ॥ ६२ ॥

Transliteration

vatsaś cāsīt tadā brahmā svayaṁ viṣṇur ayaṁ hi gauḥ praviśya tripuraṁ kāle rasa-kūpāmṛtaṁ papau

Translation

Тогда Брахма стал телёнком, а сам Вишну — коровой; в полдень они вошли в Трипуру и выпили весь нектар из того колодца.

Synonyms

• vatsaḥ: a calf
• vatsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vatsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• āsīt: was/became
• āsīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (नाम)

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मवाचक/स्वतन्त्रता-वाचक (reflexive/emphatic adverb)

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ayam: this (one)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; अवधान/हेतु-प्राय (emphatic particle: ‘indeed/for’)

• gauḥ: a cow
• gauḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• praviśya: having entered
• praviśya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund) ‘having entered’; उपसर्ग: प्र

• tripuram: Tripura
• tripuram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tripura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (नगर-नाम)

• kāle: at the time
• kāle: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘at the time’

• rasa-kūpa-amṛtam: the nectar (from the essence-well)
• rasa-kūpa-amṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rasa (प्रातिपदिक) + kūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + amṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (रसस्य कूपः; तस्मात् अमृतम्) = ‘nectar from the well of essence’

• papau: drank
• papau: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Viṣṇu
• Tripura

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam mean by 'rasa-kūpa-amṛta' (nectar from the well of rasa)?

It indicates a concentrated, nectar-like spiritual essence—rasa—experienced in divine līlā, suggesting the Lord’s supreme relish and bestowal of transcendental sweetness.

Why are Brahmā and Viṣṇu described as becoming a calf and a cow in this verse?

The verse presents a symbolic līlā where Brahmā and Viṣṇu assume roles (calf and cow) to enact a divine purpose, emphasizing the Lord’s freedom to take any form to fulfill His plan.

How can a devotee apply the teaching of this verse in modern life?

By seeking genuine spiritual ‘rasa’ through bhakti—hearing, chanting, and remembering the Lord—rather than chasing temporary pleasures, trusting that divine grace acts perfectly “in time.”