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Shloka 21

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

भवन्ति पुरुषा लोके मद्भ‍क्तास्त्वामनुव्रता: । भवान्मे खलु भक्तानां सर्वेषां प्रतिरूपधृक् ॥ २१ ॥

bhavanti puruṣā loke mad-bhaktās tvām anuvratāḥ bhavān me khalu bhaktānāṁ sarveṣāṁ pratirūpa-dhṛk

உன் முன்மாதிரியை உலகில் பின்பற்றுவோர் இயல்பாகவே என் தூய பக்தர்களாவர். நீ என் பக்தர்களில் சிறந்த எடுத்துக்காட்டு; பிறர் உன் பாதச்சுவடுகளைப் பின்பற்ற வேண்டும்.

bhavantithere are/become
bhavanti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootbhū (धातु)
FormPresent (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); parasmaipada
puruṣāḥpersons
puruṣāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootpuruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)
lokein the world
loke:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootloka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)
mad-bhaktāḥmy devotees
mad-bhaktāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmad + bhakta (कृदन्त; √bhaj)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (mama bhaktāḥ)
tvāmyou
tvām:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottvad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun (सर्वनाम), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)
anuvratāḥdevoted followers (obedient)
anuvratāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootanu + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); उपपद-तत्पुरुष sense ‘following (your) vow/obedient to’
bhavānyou
bhavān:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
FormHonorific pronoun (भवत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
meof me/my
me:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)
khaluindeed
khalu:
Sambandha (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkhalu (अव्यय)
FormEmphatic particle (निपात)
bhaktānāmof devotees
bhaktānām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootbhakta (कृदन्त; √bhaj)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)
sarveṣāmof all
sarveṣām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeAdjective
Rootsarva (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन); bhaktānām-विशेषण
pratirūpa-dhṛkone who bears the likeness (of all devotees)
pratirūpa-dhṛk:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootprati-rūpa + dhṛk (कृदन्त; √dhṛ ‘to bear’)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); present participial agent-noun (धृक् = धारयिता), tatpurusha ‘bearing a corresponding form’

In this connection, Śrīla Madhvācārya quotes a verse from the Skanda Purāṇa:

N
Nārada Muni
L
Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva

FAQs

This verse says that the Lord recognizes devotees by their faithful following of saintly devotees, and He honors exalted devotees like Nārada as the very embodiment of all devotees.

In the context of Canto 7, the Lord is praising and honoring His devotee, affirming that Nārada’s character and conduct perfectly represent the nature of pure devotion.

Seek guidance from genuine devotees and follow their instructions sincerely; steady discipleship and saintly association are presented here as a practical hallmark of bhakti.