Shloka 31

प्रह्लादस्य विष्णुमयता, विष्णोः दर्शनं, वरदानं, तथा चरितश्रवण-फलम्

Devanagari script

प्रीतिमांश् चाभवत् तस्मिन्न् अनुतापी महासुरः गुरुपित्रोश् चकारैवं शुश्रूषां सो ऽपि धर्मवित्

Transliteration

prītimāṃś cābhavat tasminn anutāpī mahāsuraḥ gurupitroś cakāraivaṃ śuśrūṣāṃ so 'pi dharmavit

Translation

Như vậy, đại A-tu-la ấy, lòng mềm lại vì hối hận, tràn đầy tình thương đối với người kia; và vì hiểu rõ dharma, hắn đã tận tâm phụng sự cả thầy lẫn cha theo cách như thế.

Word by Word

प्रीतिमान्affectionate, pleased

चand

अभवत्became

तस्मिन्in him / in that (person)

अनुतापीwithout remorse, unrepentant

महासुरःthe great asura (demon)

गुरुपित्रोःof (his) teacher and father

चकारdid, performed

एवम्thus

शुश्रूषाम्service, attendance

सःhe

अपिalso

धर्मवित्knower of dharma

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even a powerful asura becomes ennobled when remorse ripens into dharmic service to elders and teachers.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice daily acts of respectful service and accountability—especially after wrongdoing—so repentance becomes character-change.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhakti is expressed through concrete kainkarya (service) in the world, not merely inward sentiment.

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Teaching (Prahlada's schools)

Bhakti Quality: Humility and dharmic obedience expressed as devoted service (śuśrūṣā) even within an asuric household.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

Mahāsura (a great asura)

Guru (teacher)

Pitṛ (father)

FAQs

What is the significance of serving the guru and father in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents service to one’s teacher and father as a concrete expression of dharma, showing that right order is upheld through reverence, obedience, and disciplined conduct.

How does Sage Parāśara explain moral transformation in this context?

By highlighting anutāpa (remorse) followed by śuśrūṣā (active service), the narrative frames inner change as proven through sustained dharmic action, not mere regret.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s framework treats dharma as aligned with Vishnu’s sustaining sovereignty—ethical restoration supports the cosmic order Vishnu preserves.