tasyavacanād rājā prahlādaśca prajāpatiḥ
“The king and Prahlada, the Lord of creatures, listened to his words.”
Structure
tasyavacanād rājā prahlādaśca prajāpatiḥ
tasyavacanād (from his words) rājā (the king) prahlādaḥ (Prahlada) ca (and) prajāpatiḥ (the Lord of creatures)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tasyavacanād | tasyavacanād | compound | tatpuruṣa · "tasya vacanāt" | from his words |
| rājā | rājā | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | the king |
| prahlādaśca | prahlādaśca | compound | dvandva · "prahlādaḥ ca" | and Prahlāda |
| prajāpatiḥ | prajāpatiḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | the lord of creatures |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse highlights the significance of listening and understanding the words of wisdom. Śaṅkarācārya, in his Brahmasūtrabhāṣya, emphasizes the importance of śravaṇa (listening) as a means to attain knowledge of Brahman. In the context of this verse, the king and Prahlada, representing the individual self (jīva), listen to the words of wisdom, symbolizing the quest for Self-realization. The verse points to the non-dual nature of reality, where the listener and the speaker are ultimately one with Brahman. Śaṅkarācārya's commentary on the Brahmasūtras (1.1.2) explains that the individual self, through the process of listening and contemplation, recognizes its true nature as Brahman, thus realizing the identity of Brahman-ātman. This verse, in the Advaita tradition, serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking knowledge and understanding the ultimate reality.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, this verse is seen as an example of the devotee's reverence for the words of the Lord or His representative. Rāmānujācārya, in his Śrībhāṣya, emphasizes the relationship between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the Lord), highlighting the importance of bhakti (devotion) and prapatti (surrender). The king and Prahlada, in this verse, embody the ideal devotees, who listen with humility and devotion to the words of wisdom. Madhvācārya, in his Mahābhārata Tatparya Nirnaya, explains that the jīva, through devotion and surrender, achieves a state of dependence on Īśvara, ultimately attaining liberation. This verse, in the Vaiṣṇava tradition, underscores the significance of devotion and surrender in the pursuit of spiritual growth and liberation.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse, in the context of modern Vedānta, highlights the importance of receptive listening and open-mindedness in the pursuit of knowledge and self-discovery. Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures on 'The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda', emphasizes the need for individuals to listen with an open mind, free from preconceptions and biases, in order to grasp the deeper truths of existence. S. Rādhākrishnan, in his 'Indian Philosophy', explains that the verse represents the universal quest for knowledge and understanding, where the individual, through listening and contemplation, can gain insight into the human condition and the ultimate reality. This verse, in the modern context, serves as a reminder of the importance of cultivating receptive listening, empathy, and understanding in our personal and social lives, leading to greater harmony and cooperation among individuals and nations.