Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 51

Prahlāda’s Prayers Pacify Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva

Prahlāda-stuti and the Lord’s Benediction Offer

Devanagari script

श्रीनारद उवाच एतावद्वर्णितगुणो भक्त्या भक्तेन निर्गुण: । प्रह्रादं प्रणतं प्रीतो यतमन्युरभाषत ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-nārada uvāca etāvad varṇita-guṇo bhaktyā bhaktena nirguṇaḥ prahrādaṁ praṇataṁ prīto yata-manyur abhāṣata

Translation

圣者那罗陀说：奉献者普罗诃罗陀以超然之境献上如是赞颂，使超越诸德的主——那罗辛哈天——得以安抚。主见普罗诃罗陀俯伏顶礼，便息怒欢喜，遂开口如下。

Synonyms

• श्री-नारदः: Śrī Nārada
• श्री-नारदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (honorific + name), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एतावत्: this much
• एतावत्: Karma (कर्म/Object of implied ‘having been’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक (so much/this much)

• वर्णित-गुणः: whose qualities were described
• वर्णित-गुणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्णित (कृदन्त) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (‘whose qualities are described’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भक्त्या: by devotion
• भक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• भक्तेन: by the devotee
• भक्तेन: Karaṇa (करण/agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• निर्गुणः: quality-less (transcendent)
• निर्गुणः: Pradhāna-nirdeśya (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रह्रादम्: Prahlāda
• प्रह्रादम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्राद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रणतम्: bowed/prostrate
• प्रणतम्: Karma (कर्म; qualifying object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु) → प्रणत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘bowed down’

• प्रीतः: pleased
• प्रीतः: Karta (कर्ता; qualifying subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of the Lord)

• यत-मन्युः: with restrained anger
• यत-मन्युः: Karta (कर्ता; qualifying subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यत (कृदन्त) + मन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास (‘one whose anger is restrained’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अभाषत: spoke
• अभाषत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Purport

The word nirguṇa is important. The Māyāvādī philosophers accept the Absolute Truth as nirguṇa or nirākāra. The word nirguṇa refers to one who possesses no material qualities. The Lord, being full of spiritual qualities, gave up all His anger and spoke to Prahlāda.

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Prahlāda
• Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Bhagavan being nirguṇa (beyond the modes)?

This verse states that the Lord is nirguṇa—transcendental to material qualities—yet He can be glorified and approached through bhakti offered by a devotee.

Why did Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva speak to Prahlāda after the prayers?

After Prahlāda bowed in surrender and offered devotional glorification, the Lord became pleased and restrained His anger, prompting Him to address Prahlāda.

Practical application of Prahlāda’s mood of surrender in modern life?

Cultivate humility, offer sincere prayer and gratitude, and respond to fear or anger by grounding the mind in devotion and self-control, as Prahlāda did before the Lord.