समर्च्यमानस्तैर्देवैस्तेषामिष्टं वरं ददौ । गंधर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च गायमानो मुदा हरिः
Being worshipped by those gods, he granted them their desired boon; Hari, rejoicing, was sung to by Gandharvas and Apsarases.
महर्षिभिः स्तूयमानस्तत्रैवांतरधीयत । एभिः स्तुत्वा नरो भक्त्या प्रातरुत्थाय भक्तिमान्
Praised by the great sages, he vanished there; whoever praises him with devotion, rising early in the morning—
ईप्सितांल्लभते भूमिं चिरं सस्यफलान्विताम् । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं वाराहवैभवं हरैः । नारसिंहं तथा वक्ष्ये शृणु देवि वरानने
Obtains the desired earth, long endowed with abundant crops and fruits; all this Varāha's glory has been told to you; I will now speak of Nārasiṃha, listen, O goddess with radiant face.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायामुत्तरखंडे। वराहावतारकथनंनाम सप्तत्रिंशदधिकद्विशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Padma Mahāpurāṇa, in the Uttara Khaṇḍa of the fifty-five-thousand-verse Saṃhitā, the two hundred thirty-seventh chapter, named 'The Story of the Varāha Incarnation.'
रुद्र उवाच- भ्रातरं निहतं ज्ञात्वा हिरण्यकशिपुस्ततः । तपस्तेपे महादैत्यो मेरोः पार्श्वे च मां प्रति
Rudra said: Knowing his brother had been slain, Hiraṇyakaśipu, the great demon, then performed austerities beside Mount Meru, directed at me.
दिव्यवर्षसहस्राणि वायुभक्षो महाबलः । जपन्पंचाक्षरं मंत्रं पूजयामास मां शुभे
For thousands of divine years, subsisting on air, mighty in strength, chanting the five-syllable mantra, he worshipped me, O auspicious one.
ततः प्रहृष्टमनसा तमवोचं महासुरम् । वरं वृणीष्व दैतेय यत्ते मनसि वर्त्तते । ततः प्रोवाच दैतेयो मां प्रसन्नं शुभानने
Then, with a delighted heart, I spoke to that great asura: 'Choose a boon, O Daitya, whatever is in your mind.' Then the Daitya replied to me, O auspicious-faced one, as I was pleased.
हिरण्यकशिपुरुवाच- देवासुरमनुष्याणां गंधर्वोरगरक्षसाम् । पशुपक्षिमृगाणां च सिद्धानां वै महात्मनाम्
Hiraṇyakaśipu said: 'Among the gods, asuras, humans, gandharvas, serpents, and rākṣasas, and among cattle, birds, wild animals, and the great perfected beings—'
यक्षविद्याधराणां च किन्नराणां तथैव च । सर्वेषामेव रोगाणामायुधानां तथैव च । सर्वेषामृषिमुख्यानामवध्यत्वं प्रयच्छ मे
'—and among yakṣas, vidyādharas, and likewise kinnaras, and from all diseases and weapons as well, and from all the foremost sages—grant me invulnerability.'
रुद्र उवाच- एवमस्त्विति तद्रक्षस्त्वब्रुवं प्रियदर्शने । मत्तो महद्वरं प्राप्य स दैतेयो महाबलः
Rudra said: 'So be it,' thus I spoke to that rākṣasa, O lovely one. Having obtained this great boon from me, that mighty Daitya—
जित्वा महेंद्रं देवांश्च स त्रैलोक्येश्वरोऽभवत् । सर्वांश्च यज्ञभागांश्च स्वयमेवाग्रहीद्बलात्
—having conquered Mahendra and the gods, became the lord of the three worlds; and by force, he seized all shares of the sacrifices for himself.
त्रातारं नाधिगच्छंति देवतास्तेन निर्जिताः । तस्यैव किंकराः सर्वे गंधर्वा देवदानवाः
The gods, defeated by him, found no protector; all the gandharvas, gods, and dānavas became his servants.
यक्षाश्चनागाः सिद्धाश्च साध्याश्च वशवर्तिनः । उत्तानपादस्य सुतां कल्याणीं नाम कन्यकाम्
The yakṣas, nāgas, siddhas, and sādhyas also came under his control. The mighty Daitya king married, according to proper rites, the maiden named Kalyāṇī, daughter of Uttānapāda.
उपयेमे विधानेन दैत्यराजो महाबलः । तस्यां जातो महातेजाः प्रह्लादो दैत्यराट्शुभे
From her was born the radiant Prahlāda, the noble king of the Daityas.
अनुरक्तो हृषीकेशे गर्भवासेऽपि यो हरौ । सर्वावस्थासु कृत्येषु मनोवाक्कायकर्म्मभिः
He was devoted to Hṛṣīkeśa, to Hari, even while in the womb; in all circumstances and actions, by mind, speech, and body—
नान्यं जानाति देवेशात्प्रसन्नात्मा सनातनात् । स कालेऽपि विनीतः सन्गुरुगेहे वसत्सुधीः
He knew no one but the eternal Lord of the gods, his heart pure; even as a child, dwelling in the house of his teacher, he was humble and wise.
अधीत्य सर्ववेदांश्च शास्त्राणि विविधानि च । कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य गुरुणा सह दैत्यजः
Having studied all the Vedas and various treatises, then, after some time, the Daitya boy, together with his teacher—
पितुः समीपमागत्य ववंदे विनयान्वितः । तं परिष्वज्य बाहुभ्यां तनयं शुभलक्षणम् । अंके निधाय दैत्येंद्रः प्रोवाचेदं सुविस्मितम्
—came before his father and bowed with humility. Embracing his auspicious son with both arms and seating him on his lap, the Daitya lord spoke these amazed words:
हिरण्यकशिपुरुवाच- प्रह्लाद चिरकालं त्वं गुरुगेहे निवेशितः । यदुक्ता गुरुणा विद्या तन्ममाचक्ष्व सुव्रत
Hiraṇyakaśipu said: 'Prahlāda, you have long dwelt in the house of your teacher. Tell me, O steadfast one, what knowledge your teacher has imparted to you.'
रुद्र उवाच- इति पृष्टः स्वपित्रा वै प्रह्लादो जन्मवैष्णवः । प्राह दैत्येश्वरं प्रीत्या वचनं कलुषापहम्
Rudra said: Thus questioned by his father, Prahlāda, born of the Vaiṣṇava line, spoke to the lord of the Daityas with affection, words that dispel impurity.
प्रह्लाद उवाच- यो वै सर्वोपनिषदामर्थः पुरुष ईश्वरः । तं वै सर्वगतं विष्णुं नमस्कृत्वा ब्रवीमि ते
Prahlāda said: '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.'
रुद्र उवाच-। इति विष्णुस्तुतिं श्रुत्वा दैत्यराड् विस्मयान्वितः । उवाच तं गुरुं रोषात्किं त्वयोक्तं ममात्मजे
Rudra said: Hearing this praise of Viṣṇu, the Daitya king, filled with astonishment, angrily spoke to the teacher: 'Why have you taught such words to my son?'
ममात्मजस्य दुर्बुद्धे हरिसंस्तवमीदृशम् । किमर्थमुक्तवान्जाड्यमकार्य्यं ब्राह्मणोचितम्
'O foolish one, why have you uttered this praise of Hari to my son? This is improper, unworthy of a brāhmaṇa, and pointless.'
अश्राव्यं मदमित्रस्य स्तवमेतं ममाग्रतः । बालेनापिकृतंत्वेतत्त्वत्प्रसादाद्दिवजाधम
'This praise of my enemy should not be heard before me. Even if done by a child, it is because of your influence, O lowest of the twice-born.'
इत्युक्त्वा परितो वीक्ष्य दैत्यराट्क्रोधमूर्च्छितः । उवाच दैत्यमेकं तु बंधयैनं द्विजाधमम्
Having spoken thus and looking around, the king of the demons, overcome with anger, said to a demon: 'Bind this lowest of Brahmins.'
इतिराजवचः श्रुत्वा स बबंध भृगोः सुतम् । बध्यमानं गुरुं दृष्ट्वा प्रह्लादो ब्राह्मणप्रियः । उवाच पितरं तात इदं मे नोक्तवान्गुरुः
Hearing the king's command, he bound the son of Bhrigu. Seeing his teacher being bound, Prahlada, who cherished Brahmins, spoke to his father: 'Father, my teacher has not told me this.'
कृपया देवदेवस्य शिक्षितोस्मि हरेः प्रभो । नान्यो गुरुर्मे भवति स एव प्रेरको हरिः
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.
श्रोता मंता तथा वक्ता द्रष्टा सर्वग ईश्वरः । हरिरेवाक्षयः कर्त्ता नियंता सर्वदेहिनाम् । तस्मादनागसो विप्रो मोक्तव्योऽयं गुरुः प्रभो
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.
रुद्र उवाच- इति पुत्रवचः श्रुत्वा हिरण्यकशिपुस्ततः । तं ब्राह्मणं मोचयित्वा स्वसुतं प्राह विस्मयात्
Rudra said: Hearing his son's words, Hiranyakashipu then released the Brahmin and, astonished, spoke to his own son.
किं वत्स त्वं भ्रमस्येवं मिथ्यावाक्यैर्द्विजन्मनः । को विष्णुः किं तु तद्रूपं कुत्रासौ संस्थितो हरिः
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?