Vamana Purana — Prahlada's Victory through Bhakti, Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

भक्त्या यदि हृषीकेश तोषमेषि जगद्गुरो नान्यथा त्वं प्रशक्तो ऽसि जेतुं सर्वगताव्यय

Transliteration

bhaktyā yadi hṛṣīkeśa toṣameṣi jagadguro nānyathā tvaṃ praśakto 'si jetuṃ sarvagatāvyaya

Translation

Лишь преданностью, о Хришикеша, Ты бываешь удовлетворён, о учитель мира. Иначе никто не может одолеть Тебя — о всепроникающий, непреходящий.

Word by Word

• भक्त्या: by devotion
• भक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/करण), एकवचन (sg.)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• हृषीकेश: O Hṛṣīkeśa
• हृषीकेश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृषीकेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन (sg.)

• तोषम्: satisfaction
• तोषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन (sg.)

• एषि: you go/attain
• एषि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (sg.); परस्मैपद

• जगद्गुरो: O teacher of the world
• जगद्गुरो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन (sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): जगतः गुरुः

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन (sg.)

• प्रशक्तः: able/competent
• प्रशक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-शक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण

• असि: you are
• असि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन (sg.); परस्मैपद

• जेतुम्: to conquer
• जेतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थक

• सर्वगत: O all-pervading one
• सर्वगत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + गत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन (sg.); कर्मधारय: सर्वः चासौ गतः (all-pervading)

• अव्यय: O imperishable one
• अव्यय: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन (sg.)

Speakers

• Unspecified in input (devotional address to Vishnu; likely within Pulastya–Nārada frame)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Bhakti
• Grace theology (the Lord is 'won' by devotion)
• Devotional ethics
• Supreme Lord doctrine

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Power, austerity, or argument do not compel the divine; devotion is the relational key. Ethically, it prioritizes sincerity, humility, and loving service over pride in capability or status.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

It fits less in the genealogical categories and more as dharma/upāsanā instruction embedded in the narrative flow—adjacent to Purāṇic teaching aims that accompany Sarga/Vaṃśa accounts rather than constituting Vaṃśānucarita itself.

What is the symbolic significance?

The paradox—'the unconquerable is conquered by bhakti'—is a common Purāṇic motif: the infinite becomes accessible through love. Calling Vishnu 'Hṛṣīkeśa' underscores mastery of senses, implying devotion entails inner discipline and alignment of the senses toward the Lord.