Shloka 2

Maitreya’s Inquiry into Prahlāda: The Logic of Bhakti’s Invincibility

Devanagari script

यत् त्व् एतद् भगवान् आह प्रह्लादं दैत्यसत्तमम् ददाह नाग्निर् नास्त्रैश् च क्षुण्णस् तत्याज जीवितम्

Transliteration

yat tv etad bhagavān āha prahlādaṃ daityasattamam dadāha nāgnir nāstraiś ca kṣuṇṇas tatyāja jīvitam

Translation

正如世尊所宣示的那样：在代提耶中最尊贵的普罗诃罗陀，火不能焚，兵刃不能伤。欲毁灭他者，因挫败而崩溃，终至弃命而亡。

Word by Word

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; relative pronoun ‘that which’

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयबोधक अव्यय; particle ‘but/indeed’

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular perfect

• प्रह्लादम्: Prahlāda
• प्रह्लादम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• दैत्यसत्तमम्: the best of the Daityas
• दैत्यसत्तमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैत्य + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular (qualifying प्रह्लादम्)

• ददाह: burned
• ददाह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular perfect

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय; negation

• अग्निः: fire
• अग्निः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• न: nor, not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय; negation

• अस्त्रैः: by weapons
• अस्त्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय; conjunction

• क्षुण्णः: being crushed
• क्षुण्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षुण्ण (कृदन्त; √क्षुद्/√क्षुण्ण् धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; PPP ‘crushed/struck’ (agreeing with implied subject)

• तत्याज: abandoned, gave up
• तत्याज: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular perfect

• जीवितम्: life
• जीवितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Demonstrating the efficacy of Viṣṇu-bhakti through Prahlāda’s invulnerability to hostile ordeals.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s word and protection render the devotee unassailable by ordinary means, and adharma collapses under its own frustration.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: In adversity, practice single-pointed remembrance (smaraṇa) and ethical steadiness rather than reactive fear.

Vishishtadvaita: Highlights prapatti-like dependence: the jīva is protected by the Lord’s grace, not by self-power.

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Divine-protection

Bhakti Quality: Unshakable śraddhā and exclusive refuge in Viṣṇu despite mortal threats.

Persecution: Fire

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Prahlada
• Daityas
• Agni (fire)
• Astra (weapons)

FAQs

What is the significance of Prahlada’s immunity to fire and weapons in the Vishnu Purana?

It signals that divine grace overrides material forces: when the Lord protects a true devotee, even elemental and martial powers cannot prevail.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the outcome of the persecution of Prahlada?

Parāśara frames it as the fulfillment of the Lord’s own declaration—Prahlada remains unharmed, and the persecutor is broken by defeat and despair.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Vishnu is presented as the sovereign Supreme Reality whose will safeguards bhakti and ensures that adharma ultimately destroys itself.