Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

भोगेन पुण्यं कुशलेन पापं कलेवरं कालजवेन हित्वा । कीर्तिं विशुद्धां सुरलोकगीतां विताय मामेष्यसि मुक्तबन्ध: ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

bhogena puṇyaṁ kuśalena pāpaṁ kalevaraṁ kāla-javena hitvā kīrtiṁ viśuddhāṁ sura-loka-gītāṁ vitāya mām eṣyasi mukta-bandhaḥ

Translation

噢，普罗诃罗陀，在此世间你将以受乐而消尽善业之果，并以正行而平息罪业。因时力迅疾，你终将舍身；然你清净的功德名声将为天界所歌咏。脱离一切系缚后，你将归返我之圣境。

Synonyms

• भोगेन: by enjoyment/experience
• भोगेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन — by means of enjoyment

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन — merit as object

• कुशलेन: by virtuous conduct/skill
• कुशलेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (कुशलम्), तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन — by skill/virtuous conduct

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• कलेवरम्: body
• कलेवरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलेवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• कालजवेन: by time’s swiftness
• कालजवेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालजव (प्रातिपदिक: काल + जव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन — with the speed of time

• हित्वा: having given up
• हित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), परस्मैपदी — having abandoned

• कीर्तिम्: fame/glory
• कीर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• विशुद्धाम्: pure
• विशुद्धाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — qualifying कीर्तिम्

• सुरलोकगीताम्: sung in the gods’ world
• सुरलोकगीताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरलोकगीत (प्रातिपदिक: सुर + लोक + गीत)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — qualifying कीर्तिम्; ‘sung in the world of the gods’

• विताय: having spread
• विताय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + तन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund) — having spread/extended

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• एष्यसि: you will come/attain
• एष्यसि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• मुक्तबन्धः: (you) freed from bondage
• मुक्तबन्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्तबन्ध (प्रातिपदिक: मुक्त + बन्ध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन — ‘one whose bonds are released’ (vocative sense possible in address)

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura says: evaṁ prahlādasyāṁśena sādhana-siddhatvaṁ nitya-siddhatvaṁ ca nāradādivaj jñeyam. There are two classes of devotees — the sādhana-siddha and the nitya-siddha. Prahlāda Mahārāja is a mixed siddha; that is, he is perfect partly because of executing devotional service and partly because of eternal perfection. Thus he is compared to such devotees as Nārada. Formerly, Nārada Muni was the son of a maidservant, and therefore in his next birth he attained perfection ( sādhana-siddhi ) because of having executed devotional service. Yet he is also a nitya-siddha because he never forgets the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Characters & Entities

• Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva
• Prahlāda Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about how karma is exhausted on the path of devotion?

This verse explains that past piety is spent through experiencing its fruits, while sinful reactions are diminished by virtuous, auspicious conduct—leading the devotee to become free from bondage and attain the Lord.

Why did Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva say this to Prahlāda Mahārāja?

After being pacified by Prahlāda’s prayers, Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva reassures him of his liberated destiny: his remaining karmic balance will be finished, his pure fame will spread, and he will ultimately return to the Lord.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Live virtuously, accept life’s outcomes as the unfolding of past karma, and remain steady in devotion; over time, attachments loosen, reputation becomes purified by service, and one progresses toward inner freedom and God-realization.