Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 39

Prahlāda Rejects Demonic Diplomacy and Proclaims Navadhā Bhakti

Devanagari script

नैऋर्तास्ते समादिष्टा भर्त्रा वै शूलपाणय: । तिग्मदंष्ट्रकरालास्यास्ताम्रश्मश्रुशिरोरुहा: ॥ ३९ ॥ नदन्तो भैरवं नादं छिन्धि भिन्धीति वादिन: । आसीनं चाहनञ्शूलै: प्रह्रादं सर्वमर्मसु ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

nairṛtās te samādiṣṭā bhartrā vai śūla-pāṇayaḥ tigma-daṁṣṭra-karālāsyās tāmra-śmaśru-śiroruhāḥ

Translation

希兰亚卡西普的仆人罗刹们手持三叉戟，严阵以待。他们长着锋利的牙齿，面目狰狞，头发和胡须呈铜红色，看起来极其可怕。

Synonyms

• nairṛtāḥ: demons/spirits of Nirṛti (nairṛtas)
• nairṛtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nairṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• samādiṣṭāḥ: were ordered
• samādiṣṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-diś (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); passive ‘having been ordered’

• bhartrā: by the master/lord
• bhartrā: Karaṇa (करण/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• śūla-pāṇayaḥ: spear-handed (ones)
• śūla-pāṇayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); bahuvrīhi ‘those whose hands have spears’

• tigma-daṁṣṭra-karāla-āsyāḥ: sharp-fanged, frightful-mouthed
• tigma-daṁṣṭra-karāla-āsyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tigma + daṁṣṭra + karāla + āsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); bahuvrīhi ‘having sharp fangs and terrifying mouths’ qualifying nairṛtāḥ

• tāmra-śmaśru-śiroruhāḥ: with reddish beards and hair
• tāmra-śmaśru-śiroruhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāmra + śmaśru + śiroruhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); bahuvrīhi ‘having copper-colored beards and hair’

• nadantaḥ: roaring
• nadantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nad (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhairavam: terrifying
• bhairavam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhairava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying nādam

• nādam: sound; roar
• nādam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• chindhi: cut!
• chindhi: Kriya (क्रिया/Quoted speech)
• Type: Verb
• Root: chid (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhindhi: split!
• bhindhi: Kriya (क्रिया/Quoted speech)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhid (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• vādinaḥ: speaking; shouting
• vādinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• āsīnam: seated
• āsīnam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āsīna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); past participle from √ās ‘sit’ meaning ‘seated’ qualifying prahrādam

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• ahanan: they struck; they attacked
• ahanan: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śūlaiḥ: with spears
• śūlaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• prahrādam: Prahlāda
• prahrādam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prahrāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva-marmasu: in all vital points
• sarva-marmasu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + marma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘in all vital spots/joints’

Characters & Entities

• Prahlāda
• Nairṛtas
• Hiraṇyakaśipu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about devotees remaining fearless under persecution?

This verse shows Prahlāda being confronted by terrifying agents sent on the order of their master, highlighting that external threats intensify, yet the devotee remains fixed in devotion and is not conquered by fear.

Why did Hiraṇyakaśipu send fierce beings against Prahlāda?

Because Prahlāda’s unwavering devotion to Viṣṇu opposed Hiraṇyakaśipu’s ego and anti-Viṣṇu stance, he ordered his servants to intimidate and harm Prahlāda.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

When pressured or threatened for living by dharma, remain steady, avoid panic, and keep your spiritual practice consistent despite hostile environments.