प्रविष्टो वैष्णवं धाम स मुनिर्दुर्लभं पदम् । नत्वन्यैः प्राप्यते पुण्यैस्तपोभिर्मुक्तिदं पदम्
That sage entered the Vaishnava abode, the rare state; a liberating place not attained by others through merit or austerity.
विष्णोस्तु चिंतनैर्न्यासध्यानज्ञानैः स्तवैस्तथा । न दानैस्तीर्थयात्राभिर्दृश्यते मधुसूदनः
Madhusudana is not seen by offerings, pilgrimages, or gifts, but by contemplation, surrender, meditation, knowledge, and hymns to Vishnu.
समाधिज्ञानयोगेन दृश्यते परमं पदम् । महायोगैर्यथा विप्रः प्रविष्टो वैष्णवीं तनुम्
The supreme state is seen through yoga of knowledge in samadhi; just as the great yogi, the sage, entered the Vaishnava form.
सूत उवाच- ततस्तत्र तपस्तेपे सोमशर्मा महाद्युतिः । अश्मलोष्टसमं मेने कांचनंभूषणं पुनः
Suta said: Then, Somaśarman, radiant in austerity, performed penance there; he regarded gold ornaments as equal to stones and clods.
जिताहारः स धर्मात्मा निद्रया परिवर्जितः । स सर्वान्विषयांस्त्यक्त्वा एकांतमपि सेवते
That righteous one, having conquered his appetite and forsaken sleep, abandoned all sense objects and served in solitude.
योगासनसमारूढो निराशो निःपरिग्रहः । तस्य वेला सुसंप्राप्ता मृत्युकालस्य वै तदा
Seated in a yogic posture, free from hope and possessions, his time arrived—the hour of death had come.
आगता दानवा विप्रं सोमशर्माणमंतिके । मृत्युकाले तु संप्राप्ते प्राणयात्रा प्रवर्तिनः
The Danavas came near the sage Somaśarman at the moment of death, intent on taking his life.
शालिग्रामे महाक्षेत्रे ऋषीणां मानवर्द्धने । केचिद्वदंति वै दैत्याः केचिद्वदंति दानवाः
In the great field of Shaligrama, which increases the glory of sages, some say they were Daityas, others say they were Danavas.
एवंविधो महाशब्दः कर्णरंध्रं गतस्तदा । तस्यैव विप्रवर्यस्य सुचिरात्सोमशर्मणः
Such a great sound entered the ear of that distinguished sage, Somaśarman, after a long time.
ज्ञानध्यानविलग्नस्य प्रविष्टं दैत्यजं भयम् । तेन ध्यानेन तस्यापि दैत्यभीत्यैव वै तदा
Fear born of the Daityas entered him, who was absorbed in knowledge and meditation; through that meditation, even he was seized by fear of the Daityas.
सत्वरं चैव तत्प्राणा गतास्तस्य महात्मनः । दैत्यभयेन संयुक्तः स हि मृत्युवशं गतः
His life departed swiftly, joined with fear of the Daityas; thus, he fell under the sway of death.
तस्माद्दैत्यगृहे जातो हिरण्यकशिपोः सुतः । देवासुरे महायुद्धे निहतश्चक्रपाणिना
Therefore, he was born in the house of the Daityas as the son of Hiranyakashipu; in the great battle between gods and demons, he was slain by the wielder of the discus.
युद्ध्यमानेन तेनापि प्रह्लादेन महात्मना । सुदृष्टं वासुदेवत्वं विश्वरूपसमन्वितम्
While fighting with Prahlada, the great soul, he clearly saw the state of Vasudeva, endowed with the universal form.
योगाभ्यासेन पूर्वेण ज्ञानमासीन्महात्मनः । सस्मार पूर्वकं सर्वं चरितं शिवशर्मणः
Through previous practice of yoga, knowledge arose in the great soul; he remembered all the former deeds of Shivaśarman.
प्रागहं सोमशर्माख्यः प्रविष्टो दानवीं तनुम् । अस्मात्कायात्कदा पुण्यं केवलं धाम उत्तमम्
Formerly, I was called Somaśarman, and entered a Danava body; from this body, when will I attain only the supreme, holy abode?
प्रयास्यामि महापुण्यैर्ज्ञानाख्यैर्मोक्षदायकम् । समरे म्रियमाणेन प्रह्लादेन महात्मना
With great merits and knowledge that bestow liberation, I shall depart for the highest abode, as Prahlada, the great soul, dies in battle.
एवं चिंता कृता पूर्वं श्रूयतां द्विजसत्तमाः । एवं तु च समाख्यातं सर्वसंदेहनाशनम्
Such was the reflection made before; now listen, O best of twice-born. Thus has it been recounted, destroying all doubts.
सूत उवाच- प्रह्लादे निहते संख्ये देवदेवेन चक्रिणा । रुरुदे कमला सा तु हतपुत्रा च कामिनी
Sūta said: When Prahlāda was slain in battle by the Lord of gods, the wielder of the discus, Kamalā, his beloved, wept, being a grieving mother bereft of her son.
प्रह्लादस्य तु या माता हिरण्यकशिपोः प्रिया । प्रह्लादस्य महाशोकैर्दिवारात्रौ प्रशोचति
She who was Prahlāda's mother, the beloved of Hiraṇyakaśipu, mourned for Prahlāda day and night, overwhelmed by great sorrow.
पतिव्रता महाभागा कमला नाम तत्प्रिया । रोदमानां दिवारात्रौ नारदस्तामुवाच ह
That virtuous and greatly fortunate wife, named Kamalā, his beloved, as she wept day and night, was addressed by Nārada.
मा शुचस्त्वं महाभागे पुत्रार्थं पुण्यभागिनि । निहतो वासुदेवेन तव पुत्रः समेष्यति
Nārada said: Do not grieve, O greatly fortunate one, blessed with merit, for the sake of your son. Though slain by Vāsudeva, your son will return to you.
भूयः स्वलक्षणोपेतस्त्वत्सुतश्च महामतिः । प्रह्लादेति च वै नाम पुनरस्य भविष्यति
Your son, endowed again with his own marks and great wisdom, will once more bear the name Prahlāda.
विहीनश्चासुरैर्भावैर्देवत्वेन समन्वितः । इंद्रत्वे मोदते भद्रे सर्वदेवैर्नमस्कृतः
Freed from demonic qualities and endowed with divinity, O blessed one, he will rejoice as Indra, honored by all the gods.
सुखीभवमहाभागेतेनपुत्रेणवैसदा । न प्रकाश्या त्वया देवि सुवार्तेयं च कस्यचित्
Be happy, O greatly fortunate one, for you will always have such a son. But, O lady, this good news must not be revealed by you to anyone.
कर्त्तव्यमज्ञानभावैः सुगोप्यं कुरु त्वं सदा । एवमुक्त्वा गतो विप्रो नारदो मुनिसत्तमः
This must always be kept secret from those lacking understanding; do so unfailingly. Having spoken thus, the noble sage Nārada departed.
कमलायाश्चोदरे तु जन्मा स्यानुत्तमं पुनः । प्रह्लादेति च वै नाम तस्याख्यानं महात्मनः
Within Kamalā's womb, there will again be an excellent birth, and his name will indeed be Prahlāda, that great soul.
बाल्यं भावं गतो विप्राः कृष्णमेव व्यचिंतयत् । नरसिंहप्रसादेन देवराजो भवेद्दिवि
When he attained the state of childhood, O brāhmaṇas, he meditated only on Kṛṣṇa. By the grace of Narasiṃha, he became king of the gods in heaven.
देवत्वं लभ्य चैवासावैंद्रं पदमनुत्तमम् । मोक्षं यास्यति ज्ञानात्मा वैष्णवं धाम चोत्तमम्
Having attained divinity and the supreme station of Indra, he, possessing knowledge, will attain liberation and the highest Vaiṣṇava abode.
असंख्याता महाभागाः सृष्टेर्भावा ह्यनेकशः । मोह एवं न कर्त्तव्यो ज्ञानवद्भिर्महात्मभिः
Countless and manifold are the states of existence since creation, O greatly fortunate ones. Therefore, delusion should not be indulged in by the wise and noble.
एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं यथापृष्टं द्विजोत्तमाः । अन्यं पृच्छ महाभाग संदेहं ते भिनद्म्यहम्
All this has been related to you as you asked, O best of twice-born. Ask another question, O greatly fortunate one; I will dispel your doubt.