Shloka 1

प्रह्लादचरितम् (हिरण्यकशिपोः स्वर्गापहरणं, प्रह्लादस्य विष्णुभक्तिः, उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

मैत्रेय श्रूयतां सम्यक् चरितं तस्य धीमतः प्रह्लादस्य सदोदारचरितस्य महात्मनः

Transliteration

maitreya śrūyatāṃ samyak caritaṃ tasya dhīmataḥ prahlādasya sadodāracaritasya mahātmanaḥ

Translation

O Maitreya, makinig nang buong pag-iingat; isasalaysay ko ang buhay ni Prahlāda, ang marunong at dakilang kaluluwa, na ang asal ay laging marangal at mapagbigay.

Word by Word

• मैत्रेय: O Maitreya
• मैत्रेय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• श्रूयताम्: let it be heard
• श्रूयताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सम्यक्: properly, well
• सम्यक्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• चरितम्: the story/deeds
• चरितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √चर्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• धीमतः: of the wise
• धीमतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• प्रह्लादस्य: of Prahlāda
• प्रह्लादस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• सदोदारचरितस्य: of him whose conduct is ever noble
• सदोदारचरितस्य: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदा (अव्यय) + उदार + चरित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-समासभाव (सदा उदारं चरितं यस्य)

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled
• महात्मनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (addressing Maitreya)

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Parāśara
• Prahlāda

FAQs

What is the significance of Prahlāda’s story in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse formally introduces Prahlāda’s sacred biography as an exemplary model of noble conduct and steadfast devotion, setting the stage for bhakti-centered teaching.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the teaching for Maitreya here?

Parāśara begins with an invitation to attentive listening (śrūyatām samyak), indicating that the narrative is not mere history but a deliberate spiritual instruction through Prahlāda’s character.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

By elevating Prahlāda as “mahātman” and “ever-noble,” the text signals that devotion to Vishnu produces the highest ethical and spiritual stature—bhakti as a path aligned with Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty.