कृष्णं दध्युर्महात्मानो योगिनः सनकादयः । यमर्चयंति ब्रह्मेश शक्राद्या देवतागणाः
The great-souled yogis such as Sanaka meditate upon Krishna; Brahma, Shiva, Indra, and other hosts of gods worship him.
यस्य पत्न्याः कटाक्षार्द्धदृष्ट्या दृष्टा दिवौकसः । ब्रह्मेंद्र रुद्र वरुण यम सोम धनाधिपाः
By a mere sidelong glance from his wife, the dwellers of heaven—Brahma, Indra, Rudra, Varuna, Yama, Soma, and Kubera—are seen.
यन्नामस्मरणादेव पापिनामपि सत्वरम् । मुक्तिर्भवति जंतूनां ब्रह्मादीनां सुदुर्लभा
By merely remembering his name, even the sinful quickly attain liberation—a liberation difficult even for beings like Brahma to obtain.
स एवं रक्षकः श्रीशो देवानामपि सर्वदा । तमेव पूजयिष्यामि लक्ष्म्या संयुतमच्युतम्
He alone is the protector, the lord of Sri, always for the gods; I will worship only him, the infallible one, united with Lakshmi.
प्राप्स्यामि सुसुखेनैव तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् । रुद्र उवाच- इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा हिरण्यकशिपुस्ततः
I will easily attain that supreme abode of Vishnu. Rudra said: Hearing these words, then Hiranyakashipu—
क्रोधेन महताविष्टो जज्वालाग्निरिवापरः । परितो वीक्ष्य दैतेयानित्याह क्रोधमूर्छितः
Overcome by great anger, blazing like another fire, he looked around at the Daityas and, maddened by rage, spoke.
हिरण्यकशिपुरुवाच - भीषणैः शस्त्रसंघातैः प्रह्लादं पापकारिणम् । ममाज्ञया घातयध्वं शत्रुपूजनतत्परम्
Hiranyakashipu said: With terrifying weapons, kill Prahlada, the evildoer, by my command—he who is devoted to worshiping the enemy.
रक्षिता हरिरेवेति रक्षते तेन वात्सलात् । अद्यैव सफलं तस्य पश्येयं हरिरक्षणम्
If Hari alone is the protector and protects him out of affection, then today I shall see the fruition of that protection by Hari.
रुद्र उवाच- तदोद्यतास्त्रा दैतेया हंतुं दैत्येश्वरात्मजम् । परिवार्य महात्मानं तस्थुर्दैत्येश्वराज्ञया
Rudra said: Then the Daityas, weapons raised, surrounded the great-souled son of the lord of the Daityas, standing by the command of their king.
प्रह्लादोऽपि तथा विष्णुं ध्यात्वा हृदयपंकजे । जपन्नष्टाक्षरं मंत्रं तस्थौ गिरिरिवापरः
Prahlada, too, meditating on Vishnu in the lotus of his heart, reciting the eight-syllabled mantra, stood firm like another mountain.
तं जघ्नुः परितो वीराः शूलतोमरशक्तिभिः । प्रह्लादस्य वपुस्तत्र हरिसंस्मरणाच्छुभे
The warriors surrounded him and struck with spears, javelins, and lances; yet Prahlada’s body, blessed by remembrance of Hari, remained unharmed.
विष्णोः प्रभावाद्दुद्धर्षाद्वज्रभूतमभूद्भृशम् । ततः संप्राप्य तद्गात्रं महास्त्राणि सुरद्विषाम्
By the power of Vishnu, his body became unassailable, like adamant; then, upon striking his limbs, the mighty weapons of the enemies of the gods
नीलोत्पलदलानीव पेतुश्चिछन्नाः क्षितौ शुभे । अल्पमप्यस्य तद्गात्रं भेत्तुं दैत्या न च क्षमाः
fell to the ground, scattered like petals of blue lotuses, O blessed one; the demons were unable to break even a small part of his body.
विस्मितावाङ्मुखास्तस्थुर्दैत्य राजांतिके भटाः । तादृग्विधं महात्मानं दृष्ट्वा पुत्रं महाबलम्
Astonished and speechless, the warriors stood before the king of the demons, having seen such a great-souled and powerful son.
विस्मयं परमं गत्वा दैत्यराट्क्रोधमूर्छितः । आदिदेश ततः सर्वान्दंदशूकान्महाविषान्
Filled with utmost wonder and overcome by anger, the king of the demons then ordered all the venomous serpents.
वासुकिप्रभृतीन्भीमान्खादयध्वमिति क्रुधा । आदिष्टास्तेन राज्ञाथ ते नागाः सुमहाबलाः
He commanded the fierce serpents, led by Vasuki, in his wrath: 'Devour him!' Thus ordered by the king, those mighty serpents
ज्वलितास्या महाभीमास्तं च खादुर्महाबलम् । गरुडध्वजभक्तं तं विदश्य गरलायुधाः
with blazing mouths, terrifying in form, attacked that powerful devotee of Garuda’s banner, biting him with their venomous weapons.
निर्विषाश्च्छिन्नदशना बभूवुरनिलाशनाः । वैनतेयसहस्रेण छिन्नगात्राः सुविह्वलाः
Their venom gone, their fangs broken, they became wind-eaters; their bodies were wounded by the thousand attacks of Vainateya, and they were greatly distressed.
प्रदुद्रुवुर्दिशः सर्वावमंतो रुधिरं भृशम् । तादृग्विधान्महासर्पान्दृष्ट्वा दैत्यपतिस्तदा
They fled in all directions, blood flowing profusely; seeing such mighty serpents, the lord of the demons then
आदिदेश ततः क्रुद्धो दिग्गजान्सुमदान्वितान् । निर्दिष्टास्तेन राज्ञाथ दिग्गजाश्च मदोद्धताः
angrily ordered the elephants of the quarters, intoxicated and powerful; thus commanded by the king, those elephants, maddened with pride,
परिवार्याथ तं जघ्नुर्दंतैः पृथुतरैर्भृशम् । अथ दिग्गजदंताश्च छिन्नमूलाः पतन्भुवि
surrounded him and struck fiercely with their large tusks; then, the elephants’ tusks were broken at the root, and they fell to the ground.
दंतैर्विनाकृता नागा भयार्ता वै प्रदुद्रुवुः । तान्दृष्ट्वाथ महानागान्दैत्येंद्रः कुपितो बली
Deprived of their tusks, the elephants, terrified, fled; seeing those great elephants, the powerful demon king, enraged,
प्रज्वाल्य च महावह्निं चिक्षेप सुतमात्मनः । जलशायिप्रियं दृष्ट्वा प्रह्लादं हव्यवाहनः
kindled a great fire and cast his own son into it; seeing Prahlada, beloved of the Lord who rests on water, Agni,
न ददाह च तं धीरं सुशीतः समभूच्छिखी । अदह्यमानं तं बालं दृष्ट्वा राजा सुविस्मितः
did not burn that steadfast boy, and the flames became cool; seeing the child unharmed by the fire, the king was greatly astonished.
प्रादात्तस्मै विषं घोरं सर्वभूतहितं तदा । तस्य विष्णोः प्रभावाच्च विषमस्यामृतं भवेत्
He gave him dreadful poison, meant to destroy all beings; yet, by the power of Vishnu, the poison became nectar.
अर्पणात्तस्य देवस्य विषं चामृतमश्नुते । एवमाद्यैर्वधोपायैर्घोररूपैः सुदारुणैः
By offering it to that divine one, the poison was transformed into nectar; thus, by various deadly means, terrible and fierce,
मोहयित्वात्मजं राजा तस्यावध्यत्वमीक्ष्य च । ततः साम्ना सुतं प्राह दैत्यराड्विस्मयाकुलः
Having tried to delude his son and seeing his invulnerability, the king, overwhelmed with wonder, then spoke to his son gently.
हिरण्यकशिपुरुवाच- त्वया विष्णोः परत्वं च सम्यगुक्तं ममाग्रतः । व्यापित्वात्सर्वभूतानां विष्णुरित्यभिधीयते
Hiranyakashipu said: 'You have rightly spoken of Vishnu’s supremacy before me; because he pervades all beings, he is called Vishnu.'
योऽसौ सर्वगतो देवः स एव परमेश्वरः । तस्य सर्वगतत्वं वै प्रत्यक्षं दर्शयस्व मे
That god who is all-pervading is indeed the Supreme Lord; show me directly his all-pervasiveness.
ऐश्वर्यशक्तितेजांसि ज्ञानवीर्यबलानि च । परस्य तस्य परमं रूपं गुणविभूतयः
His lordly powers, energies, brilliance, knowledge, strength, and might—these are the supreme form and divine glories of that transcendent one.