Shloka 40
विषप्रयोगः कृत्योत्पादनं च (प्रह्लादस्य अवध्यता, कृत्याविनाशः, पुरोहितानां रक्षणम्)
तेष्व् अहं मित्रपक्षे च समः पापो ऽस्मि न क्वचित् यथा तेनाद्य सत्येन जीवन्त्व् असुरयाजकाः
teṣv ahaṃ mitrapakṣe ca samaḥ pāpo 'smi na kvacit yathā tenādya satyena jīvantv asurayājakāḥ
వారిలో—మిత్రపక్షాన నిలిచినా—నేను సమభావుడనే; నాలో ఎక్కడా పాపదోషం లేదు. కనుక నేడు పలికిన ఈ సత్యబలంతో అసురులకు యజ్ఞం చేసే వారు జీవించుగాక।
Likely Indra (or a Deva leader) speaking within the Deva–Asura conflict narrative, as recounted by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Account of Prahlada’s steadfast devotion and the failure of hostile rites against him.
Teaching: Devotional
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Satyavāk (truthful speech) joined with inner equanimity becomes a protective force that can avert harm even toward opponents.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Practice truthfulness without partisan malice—use speech to de-escalate and protect life rather than to triumph over rivals.
Vishishtadvaita: Bhakti expresses itself as dharmic virtues (satya, dayā) grounded in the Lord’s order; devotion does not license cruelty but aligns conduct with divine governance.
Phase: Divine-protection
Bhakti Quality: Satya (truthfulness) and unwavering Vishnu-bhakti that nullifies hostile rites without retaliation.
Vishnu Form: Hari
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
Truth is presented as an operative spiritual power: a truthful declaration itself becomes a protective force capable of granting life and safety.
The speaker claims even-handedness despite being aligned with “friends,” highlighting dharma as neutrality toward justice rather than mere factional loyalty.
Even when Vishnu is not named, the verse reflects a Vishnu Purana hallmark: cosmic order is upheld through dharma—here expressed as satya—under the supreme sovereignty that ultimately belongs to Vishnu.