O wise one, you have asked about the trials endured by Prahlada, the great-souled devotee of Vishnu. Why was he made to suffer on the ground trampled by the elephants of the quarters? For what reason did the asuras unleash upon him the harsh, drying winds? What sorcery did the Daitya teachers employ, and what thousand illusions did Shambara conjure against him? Why was the deadly halahala poison given to him by the slayers of the Daitya lord, and how was it digested by Prahlada? You wish to hear all these deeds that reveal the supreme greatness of Prahlada. Indeed, it is no wonder that the Daityas could not slay him. For who, with a mind devoted solely to Vishnu, can be cast down? In Prahlada, ever devoted to righteousness and intent on the destruction of Keshava’s enemies, it was exceedingly difficult for the Daityas—even those born of his own lineage—to act against him or even to look upon him. Since the Daityas attacked this great soul, whose very nature is righteousness, who is devoted to Vishnu and free from envy, you ask to hear of these events. Even adversaries of great soul do not attack one endowed with such virtue and truthfulness; how much less would birds or other creatures harm him? Therefore, O best of sages, you ask for a detailed account of the deeds of the lord of the Daityas. Parashara replied: “O Maitreya, listen well to the story of Prahlada, the wise and noble soul. Diti’s son, the mighty Hiraṇyakaśipu, once brought the three worlds under his control, empowered by a boon from Brahma. That Daitya assumed the role of Indra, and himself became the Sun. He became the Wind, Fire, Lord of Waters, and Soma. He was the lord of wealth and also Yama, the lord of death. This Asura enjoyed all the shares of sacrifice without remainder. The gods, abandoning their realms in fear, wandered the earth in human form. Having conquered the three worlds and filled with the pride of universal sovereignty, Hiraṇyakaśipu enjoyed his beloved pleasures, praised by the Gandharvas. At that time, all the Siddhas, Gandharvas, and serpents attended upon him, for he was addicted to drinking. Some played instruments, others sang, and still others shouted cries of victory. The Siddhas, filled with joy, performed before the Daitya king. As the Apsaras danced on crystal floors, the Asura, delighted, drank wine in a charming palace. His son, the illustrious Prahlada, went as a child to the house of his teacher and recited his lessons. Once, that righteous soul went with his teacher before his father, the lord of the Daityas, who was absorbed in drinking. Hiraṇyakaśipu, raising his son who had bowed at his feet, spoke to Prahlada, whose energy was immeasurable: ‘O child, among all that you have studied and recited, what is the best and most excellent saying you have learned?’ Prahlada replied, ‘Listen, dear one! By your command, I shall speak the essence; with a focused mind, I will express what is established in my heart. I bow to the great soul, the cause of all causes—beginningless, endless, unborn, unaging, undecaying, and unchanging.’ Hearing this, the king of the Daityas, his eyes reddened with anger, looked at his son's teacher and spoke, his lips quivering: ‘O false Brahmin! What is this, filled with praise for the enemy? Foolish one, you have led this child astray, disregarding me!’ The teacher replied, ‘Lord of the Daityas, you should not give in to anger; your son does not speak what I have taught him.’ Hiraṇyakaśipu asked Prahlada, ‘By whom and how have you been instructed, child? Tell me, Prahlada. This is not what I have taught—so says your teacher.’ Prahlada answered, ‘Vishnu, who abides in the heart, is the ruler of the entire world; apart from that Supreme Self, dear father, who can instruct whom?’ Hiraṇyakaśipu, enraged, demanded, ‘Who is this Vishnu, you fool, whom you keep mentioning again and again, right here before me, the lord of the worlds?’ Prahlada replied, ‘He whose supreme state is not within the reach of words, who is meditated upon by yogis—he, from whom the universe arises, is Vishnu, the Supreme Lord.’ Hiraṇyakaśipu, furious, declared, ‘Ignorant one! Who else is called the Supreme Lord, existing through his own power? You must wish to die, since you keep saying this again and again.’ Prahlada, undisturbed, said, ‘Not only mine, father, but of all beings, that Vishnu is the source and creator, the Supreme Lord. Be gracious—why do you show anger?’ Hiraṇyakaśipu wondered, ‘Who has corrupted the heart of this wicked, evil-minded one, so that, possessed in mind, he speaks such unrighteous words?’ Prahlada explained, ‘Not only my heart does Vishnu pervade—he abides in all the worlds; he, all-pervading, unites me, you, and all our kin in every action, O father.’ Hiraṇyakaśipu commanded, ‘Let this wicked one be restrained and disciplined in the teacher’s house; by whom has this evil-minded boy been led to praise the enemy falsely?’ Thus addressed, Prahlada was again taken by the Daityas to the teacher’s house, where he diligently learned knowledge day and night, eager to listen. When a long time had passed, the lord of the Asuras summoned Prahlada and said, ‘My son, recite some verse you have learned.’ Prahlada replied, ‘From whom both Pradhāna and Puruṣa arise, and from whom all this moving and unmoving world comes—may that Vishnu, the cause of all, be gracious to us.’ Hiraṇyakaśipu, overcome with anger, declared, ‘This evil-hearted one should be killed; there is no purpose in his living. He has become a disgrace to the family, like one who cuts the wings of a bird.’ Thus, Prahlada’s unwavering devotion to Vishnu and his truthfulness brought upon him the wrath and persecution of his father and kin, yet his greatness shone ever brighter amidst these trials.