Prahlada, filled with reverence, began by bowing to the Supreme Person, the essence of all the Upanishads—the all-pervading Lord Vishnu. He spoke with devotion, declaring his homage. Hearing his son’s praise of Vishnu, the mighty Daitya king Hiranyakashipu was astonished and furious. He turned angrily to Prahlada’s teacher and demanded, “Why have you taught my son such words? Why have you, a Brahmin, uttered this praise of Hari to him? This is improper, unworthy, and pointless! Such praise of my enemy should never be spoken in my presence. Even if a child speaks it, it must be your influence, O lowest among the twice-born!” Overcome by anger, Hiranyakashipu looked around and commanded one of his demon attendants, “Bind this lowest of Brahmins!” At the king’s order, the demon seized and bound the son of Bhrigu, Prahlada’s teacher. Witnessing his beloved teacher being bound, Prahlada, who deeply cherished Brahmins, spoke earnestly to his father: “Father, my teacher has not taught me these words. Out of compassion for the Lord of gods, I have been instructed by Hari himself, 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.” Hiranyakashipu, hearing his son’s words, was astonished and released the Brahmin. Turning to Prahlada, he questioned him: “Child, why do you wander in such confusion, uttering false words from a Brahmin’s mouth? Who is Vishnu? What is his form? Where is Hari established? I alone am the Lord of the world, ruler of the three realms. Worship me, Govinda; abandon that difficult enemy. Or worship Shankara, the god Rudra, the teacher of the world, the master, the chief of the demons, Shiva who grants all prosperity. Apply the three lines of ash as the demons do, and worship Mahadeva according to the path taught by Pashupati.” Hearing the words of the demon lord, the demon priests responded, “So be it, O fortunate one. Follow your father’s words. Abandon the enemy who slew Kaitabha and worship the three-eyed one. There is no god higher than Rudra; he grants all to men. Even your father became a lord by his grace.” Prahlada, born in the Vaishnava lineage, listened to their words and responded with wonder: “Ah, how wondrous is the supreme Lord, whose maya has deluded the world! Those learned in Vedanta are honored everywhere. Even Brahmins, out of fickleness and intoxication, speak thus. But Narayana is the supreme Brahman; the essence is Narayana, the highest. Narayana is the supreme object of meditation; meditation itself is Narayana, the highest. He is the eternal, auspicious, unchanging refuge of the universe and the world. Vasudeva, eternal, is the creator and ordainer of the world. This universe is indeed that Person; the world subsists upon him. He is eternal, with a golden form, lotus-like eyes, the lord of Sri and Bhumi, gentle, pure, and possessing an auspicious body.” “In creation, Brahma and Shiva—those two supreme gods—exist by upholding his command; Brahma and Shankara act in accordance with his will. Out of fear of him, the wind blows; out of fear the sun rises; out of fear fire, the moon, and death—the fifth—move forth. There was only one divine Hari, the supreme god Narayana; there was no Brahma, no Indra, no Ishana, nor the moon or the sun. There were not the heavens or the earth, nor the stars or celestial beings; the sages always behold that supreme abode of Vishnu.” “Thus, O best of twice-born, having abandoned the meaning of all the Upanishads, whether out of passion, greed, or fear, what do you say before me? Having abandoned that god Hari, the protector of all, the lord of all, how could I, taking refuge in heresy, worship Shankara? The consort of Lakshmi, god of gods, infinite, the supreme person, dark as a blue lotus petal, with eyes wide as lotus leaves, chest marked by the Srivatsa, adorned with all ornaments, ever youthful, lord of all, bestower of eternal bliss and happiness—the great-souled yogis such as Sanaka meditate upon Krishna; Brahma, Shiva, Indra, and other hosts of gods worship him. By a mere sidelong glance from his wife, the dwellers of heaven—Brahma, Indra, Rudra, Varuna, Yama, Soma, and Kubera—are seen. By merely remembering his name, even the sinful quickly attain liberation—a liberation difficult even for beings like Brahma to obtain. He alone is the protector, the lord of Sri, always for the gods; I will worship only him, the infallible one, united with Lakshmi. I will easily attain that supreme abode of Vishnu.” Hiranyakashipu, hearing these words, was overcome by great anger. Blazing like another fire, he looked around at the Daityas and, maddened by rage, commanded, “With terrifying weapons, kill Prahlada, the evildoer, by my command—he who is devoted to worshiping the enemy. If Hari alone is the protector and protects him out of affection, then today I shall see the fruition of that protection by Hari.” At their king’s command, the Daityas, weapons raised, surrounded the great-souled Prahlada, son of the lord of the Daityas. Yet Prahlada, meditating on Vishnu in the lotus of his heart, reciting the eight-syllabled mantra, stood firm—immovable, like another mountain.