With hands and eyes present everywhere, with mighty arms and great tusks, the supreme Lord assumed the wondrous form of a boar and confronted the fierce demon who had stolen the earth. In a single, decisive moment, the Lord slew that demon with one of his tusks. The wicked offspring of Diti, his immense body crushed and lifeless, fell, and as the gods looked on, the Lord saw the earth, which had fallen into the depths. With compassion, he lifted the earth gently upon his tusk, just as he had done before. Having restored and supported the earth upon Śeṣa, the serpent of infinity, the Lord then took the form of a tortoise. All the gods, together with the wise sages, beheld the great Hari in his boar incarnation. Filled with awe and devotion, they bowed their bodies and praised him with reverence. The gods offered their salutations, saying, “Obeisance to the sacrificial boar, to you who possess a hundred arms; salutations to the God of gods, to you who are the universal form. Salutations to you, embodiment of preservation, to you who are the very form of all sacrifices; to you who are time itself, measured in moments, minutes, and hours; salutations to you, who are the very essence of time. Salutations to you, soul of all beings, who are the form of the Ṛg Veda; salutations to you, soul of the gods, who are the Sāma Veda. Salutations to you, embodiment of Om, who are the Yajur Veda; to you who are the Ṛg verses, and to you who are composed of the four Vedas. Salutations to you, who are the Vedas and their limbs, with all their parts and sub-parts; salutations to Govinda, to you who are without beginning or end. Salutations to you, knower of the Vedas, to you who are the unique, supreme form; repeated salutations to the Lord of Śrī and Bhū, to the father of the world.” Thus praised with these hymns, the gods worshipped Hari, the Lord of souls, in his boar form, offering scents, flowers, and other gifts. Pleased with their devotion, Hari granted them the boons they desired. The Gandharvas and Apsarases sang joyfully in his honor, and the great sages raised their voices in praise. Having received their worship, the Lord vanished from their sight. It is said that whoever rises early and praises the Lord’s Varāha form with devotion will be blessed with abundant earth, crops, and fruits. Such is the glory of Varāha, as has been told. Now, listen, O radiant goddess, to the tale of Nārasiṃha. Thus concludes the two hundred thirty-seventh chapter of the glorious Padma Mahāpurāṇa, in the Uttara Khaṇḍa, titled ‘The Story of the Varāha Incarnation.’ Now, hear further. When Hiraṇyakaśipu, the great demon, learned that his brother had been slain, he was filled with rage and resolve. He journeyed to Mount Meru and began severe austerities directed at me, Rudra. For thousands of divine years, subsisting only on air, he chanted the five-syllable mantra with unwavering strength and worshipped me. Pleased with his devotion, I appeared before him and said, “Choose a boon, O Daitya, whatever you desire.” Hiraṇyakaśipu replied, “Grant me invulnerability—from the gods, asuras, humans, gandharvas, serpents, rākṣasas, cattle, birds, wild animals, the great perfected beings, yakṣas, vidyādharas, kinnaras, from all diseases and weapons, and from all the foremost sages.” I granted his wish, saying, “So be it.” Empowered by this boon, Hiraṇyakaśipu conquered Indra and the gods, becoming lord of the three worlds. He seized by force all shares of the sacrifices for himself. The gods, defeated and bereft of a protector, became his servants, as did the gandharvas and dānavas. The yakṣas, nāgas, siddhas, and sādhyas also fell under his sway. In time, the mighty Daitya king married Kalyāṇī, daughter of Uttānapāda, according to proper rites. From their union was born Prahlāda, radiant and noble, destined to become king of the Daityas. Even while still in the womb, Prahlāda was devoted to Hṛṣīkeśa, to Hari. In every circumstance and action, by mind, speech, and body, he knew no one but the eternal Lord of the gods, his heart pure and unwavering. Even as a child in his teacher’s house, he was humble and wise. Having mastered the Vedas and many treatises, Prahlāda, accompanied by his teacher, one day came before his father and bowed humbly. Hiraṇyakaśipu embraced his son with both arms, seated him on his lap, and asked in amazement, “Prahlāda, you have long dwelt in the house of your teacher. Tell me, steadfast one, what knowledge has your teacher imparted to you?” Thus questioned, Prahlāda, born of the Vaiṣṇava line, spoke words full of affection and purity, saying, “He who is the essence of all the Upaniṣads, the Supreme Person, the Lord—I bow to that all-pervading Viṣṇu and speak to you.” Hearing his son praise Viṣṇu, Hiraṇyakaśipu was astonished and filled with anger. He turned to the teacher and demanded, “Why have you taught such words to my son? Why have you uttered this praise of Hari? This is improper, unworthy of a brāhmaṇa, and pointless. This praise of my enemy should not be heard before me. Even if spoken by a child, it must be your influence, O lowest of the twice-born!” Overcome with wrath, he ordered a demon, “Bind this lowest of Brahmins!” At the king’s command, the teacher was bound. Seeing this, Prahlāda, who cherished Brahmins, spoke gently to his father, “Father, my teacher has not taught me this. Out of compassion for the Lord of gods, I have been instructed by Hari, the master. No other is my teacher; only Hari guides me. He is the listener, the thinker, the speaker, the seer, the all-knowing Lord. Hari alone is the eternal creator and controller of all embodied beings. Therefore, O master, the Brahmin is innocent and should be released.” Hearing these words, Hiraṇyakaśipu released the Brahmin and, still astonished, questioned his son, “Child, why do you wander in such confusion, uttering false words from a Brahmin’s mouth? Who is Viṣṇu? What is his form? Where is Hari established?” Thus the story unfolds, as told in the sacred Padma Purāṇa.