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?
अहमेवेश्वरो लोके त्रैलोक्याधिपतिर्यतः । मामेवार्च्चय गोविंदं त्यज शत्रुं दुरासदम्
I alone am the Lord in the world, the ruler of the three realms. Worship me, Govinda; abandon that difficult enemy.
अथवा शंकरं देवं रुद्रं लोकगुरुं प्रभुम् । अर्च्चयस्वासुराध्यक्षं सर्वैश्वर्य्यप्रदं शिवम्
Or worship Shankara, the god Rudra, the teacher of the world, the master, the chief of the demons, Shiva who grants all prosperity.
त्रिपुंड्रधारणं कृत्वा भस्मना दैत्यपूजितम् । पूजयित्वा महादेवं पाशुपत्योक्तमार्गतः
Having applied the three lines with ash, as worshipped by demons, and having worshipped Mahadeva according to the path taught by Pashupati,
रुद्र उवाच- इति दैत्यपतेर्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा दैत्यपुरोहिताः
Rudra said: Hearing the words of the demon lord, the demon priests—
पुरोहिता ऊचुः- एवमेव महाभाग कुरुष्व वचनं पितुः । त्यज शत्रुं कैटभारिं पूजयस्व त्रिलोचनम्
The priests said: 'So be it, O fortunate one, follow your father's words. Abandon the enemy who slew Kaitabha and worship the three-eyed one.'
रुद्रात्परतरो देवो नास्ति सर्वप्रदो नॄणाम् । पिता तवापि तस्यैव प्रसादादीश्वरोऽभवत्
There is no god higher than Rudra; he grants all to men. Even your father became a lord by his grace.
रुद्र उवाच- इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा प्रह्लादो जन्मवैष्णवं
Rudra said: Hearing their words, Prahlada, born in the Vaishnava lineage—
प्रह्लाद उवाच- अहो भगवतः श्रेष्ठा यन्माया मोहितं जगत् । अहो वेदांतविदुषः सर्वलोकेषु पूजिताः
Prahlada said: 'Ah, how wondrous is the supreme Lord, whose maya has deluded the world! Ah, those learned in Vedanta are honored everywhere.'
ब्राह्मणा अपि चापल्याद्वदंत्येवं मदान्विताः । नारायणः परं ब्रह्म तत्वं नारायणः परम्
Even Brahmins, out of fickleness and intoxication, speak thus. Narayana is the supreme Brahman; the essence is Narayana, the highest.
नारायणः परो ध्याता ध्यानं नारयणः परम् । गतिर्विश्वस्य जगतः शाश्वतं शिवमच्युतः
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.