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.
सम्यग्दृष्ट्वा प्रयत्नेन विष्णुं मन्ये दिवौकसाम् । मम प्रतिबलो लोके नास्ति देवेषु कश्चन
Having truly and diligently seen Viṣṇu, I consider that among the gods there is no one in the world who can match my power.
ईशानवरदानेन सर्वभूतेष्ववध्यताम् । प्राप्तवान्सर्वभूतानांनदुर्जयत्वं च मानद । ईश्वरत्वं लभेद्विष्णुर्मां जित्वा बलवीर्यतः
By receiving a boon from Īśāna, I have attained invulnerability among all beings, and unconquerability over all creatures, O giver of honor; Viṣṇu could only gain lordship by defeating me in strength and valor.
रुद्र उवाच- इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रह्लादः प्राह विस्मितः । हरेः प्रभावं दैन्यस्य कथयामास सुव्रतः
Rudra said—Hearing these words, Prahlāda, amazed and steadfast in his vows, began to speak of the glory of Hari and the humility of the wretched.
प्रह्लाद उवाच- योऽसौ नारायणः श्रीमान्परमात्मा सनातनः । वसनात्सर्वभूतेषु वासुदेवः स उच्यते
Prahlāda said—That illustrious Nārāyaṇa, the supreme soul, eternal, who dwells in all beings, is called Vāsudeva.
सर्वस्यापि जगद्धाता विष्णुरित्यभिधीयते । न किंचिदस्मादन्यं तु जगत्स्थावर जंगमम्
He who is the sustainer of the entire universe is called Viṣṇu; there is nothing else in this world, whether moving or unmoving, apart from him.
सर्वत्र चिदचिद्वस्तु रूपं तस्यैव नान्यथा । त्रिपाद्व्याप्तिः परं व्योम्नि पादव्याप्ति कलाद्भुता
Everywhere, the form of both sentient and insentient things is only his, not otherwise; his threefold pervasion is in the supreme sky, and his single-footed pervasion is a wondrous portion.
योऽसौ चक्रगदापाणिः पीतवासा जनार्दनः । योगिभिर्दृश्यते भक्त्या नाभक्त्या दृश्यते क्वचित्
He who holds the discus and mace in his hands, who wears yellow garments, Janārdana—he is seen by yogis through devotion, but never seen without devotion.
द्रष्टुं न शक्यो रोषाच्च मत्सराद्वा जनार्दनः । देवतिर्यङ्मनुष्येषु स्थावरेष्वपि जंतुषु । व्याप्य तिष्ठति सर्व्वेषु क्षुद्रेष्वपि महत्सु च
Janārdana cannot be seen out of anger or envy; yet, pervading all—gods, animals, humans, even immobile beings—he abides in all, from the smallest to the greatest.
रुद्र उवाच- इति प्रह्लादवचनं श्रुत्वा दैत्यवरस्तदा । उवाच रोषताम्राक्षो भर्त्सयंश्च सुतं मुहुः
Rudra said—Hearing Prahlāda's words, the foremost of the Daityas, his eyes reddened with anger, repeatedly rebuked his son.
हिरण्यकशिपुरुवाच- असौ सर्वगतो विष्णुरपि चेत्परमः पुमान् । प्रत्ययं दर्शयस्वाद्य बहुभिः किं च लापितैः
Hiraṇyakaśipu said—If this Viṣṇu is truly all-pervading and the supreme person, then show me proof today; what use are many words?