Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

श्रीभगवानुवाच मैवं विभोऽसुराणां ते प्रदेय: पद्मसम्भव । वर: क्रूरनिसर्गाणामहीनाममृतं यथा ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

śrī-bhagavān uvāca maivaṁ vibho ’surāṇāṁ te pradeyaḥ padma-sambhava varaḥ krūra-nisargāṇām ahīnām amṛtaṁ yathā

Translation

至上主说道：亲爱的莲华生梵天啊，切莫把恩赐赐给阿修罗；对天性凶残嫉妒者施予恩典，如同喂蛇以乳，极其危险。我告诫你，今后不要再给任何恶魔这样的赐福。

Synonyms

• śrī-bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• śrī-bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; honorific title; कर्मधारयः (śrīmān bhagavān)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्/परोक्षभूत), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• mā: do not
• mā: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), prohibitive particle (निषेध-निपात) used with imperative sense

• evam: thus; in this way
• evam: Prakāra-adhikaraṇa (प्रकाराधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• vibho: O mighty one
• vibho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• asurāṇām: of the demons
• asurāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; enclitic pronoun

• pradeyaḥ: should be granted
• pradeyaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-dā (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive/obligatory participle (कृत्य—यत्), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘to be given/should be granted’

• padma-sambhava: O lotus-born (Brahmā)
• padma-sambhava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + sambhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; तत्पुरुषः—‘padmāt sambhavaḥ’ (born from the lotus)

• varaḥ: a boon
• varaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• krūra-nisargāṇām: of cruel-natured (beings)
• krūra-nisargāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krūra (प्रातिपदik) + nisarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; कर्मधारयः—‘krūraḥ nisargaḥ yeṣām’ (of those of cruel nature)

• ahīnām: of snakes
• ahīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• amṛtam: nectar; ambrosia
• amṛtam: Upamāna/Dr̥ṣṭānta (उपमान/दृष्टान्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) / Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; here Nominative as predicate

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, comparative particle (उपमा-निपात) ‘as/just as’

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (Padma-sambhava)
• Asuras

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about giving boons to demons?

This verse warns that granting boons to those with a cruel, demoniac nature is dangerous—like giving nectar to serpents—because such power is likely to be misused.

Why did Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva say this to Brahmā (Padma-sambhava)?

The Lord cautions Brahmā not to empower asuras through extraordinary benedictions, since demoniac tendencies often lead them to harm others and oppose dharma despite receiving divine gifts.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Be discerning about whom you empower with resources, authority, or influence; without character and devotion, power can magnify harmful tendencies rather than produce good.