Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

पित्र्यं च स्थानमातिष्ठ यथोक्तं ब्रह्मवादिभि: । मय्यावेश्य मनस्तात कुरु कर्माणि मत्पर: ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

pitryaṁ ca sthānam ātiṣṭha yathoktaṁ brahmavādibhiḥ mayy āveśya manas tāta kuru karmāṇi mat-paraḥ

Translation

برہمن وادیوں کے کہے مطابق اپنے والد کی سلطنت کا تخت سنبھالو۔ اے بیٹے، اپنا دل و دماغ مجھ میں جما کر، وید کی ہدایات کی خلاف ورزی کیے بغیر، میری رضا کو مقصد بنا کر اپنے فرائض ادا کرو۔

Synonyms

• पित्र्यम्: ancestral, pertaining to the father
• पित्र्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पित्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—‘स्थानम्’ इति विशेष्यस्य

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्थानम्: position; place (throne/office)
• स्थानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आतिष्ठ: assume; take up; occupy
• आतिष्ठ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√स्था (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• यथा: as; according to
• यथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (adverb: ‘as’)

• उक्तम्: said; prescribed
• उक्तम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्त (कृदन्त; √वच् धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘यथा’ इत्यस्य सह—‘as said’

• ब्रह्मवादिभिः: by the expounders of the Veda/Brahman
• ब्रह्मवादिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मवादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• मयि: in me
• मयि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• आवेश्य: having fixed; having absorbed
• आवेश्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ√विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having fixed/placed (it)’

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तात: dear son
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• कुरु: do; perform
• कुरु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• कर्माणि: duties; actions
• कर्माणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मत्परः: having me as the supreme goal; devoted to me
• मत्परः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्-पर (प्रातिपदिक; मत् + पर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘मयि परः/मदर्थपरः’

Purport

When one becomes a devotee, he no longer has any duty to the Vedic regulative principles. One has many duties to perform, but if one becomes fully devoted to the Lord, he no longer has any such obligations. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.41) :

Characters & Entities

• Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva
• Prahlāda Mahārāja
• Hiraṇyakaśipu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about doing duties while remaining devoted to God?

This verse teaches that one may accept worldly responsibility (like rulership) while keeping the mind fixed on the Lord and performing all actions with Him as the supreme goal (mat-paraḥ).

Why did Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva tell Prahlāda to accept his father’s position?

After Hiraṇyakaśipu’s fall, the Lord instructed Prahlāda to restore righteous rule, guided by brāhmaṇical counsel, showing that leadership can be an offering to God when done in devotion.

How can I apply “mayy āveśya manaḥ” in modern life?

Do your responsibilities sincerely, but anchor your attention in remembrance of the Lord—through prayer, mantra, and offering results—so your work becomes devotion rather than ego-driven striving.