Having realized the truth through knowledge, meditation, and unwavering concentration, many souls were freed from bondage and attained liberation. The root of all prosperity, sovereignty, greatness, wisdom, noble lineage, virtuous action, and even liberation itself is found solely in the worship of Hari. Since the fruits known as dharma, wealth, desire, and liberation all arise from Him, O twice-born, what need is there for endless speculation or debate? Moreover, what is the use of excessive speech here? You are my elders—let them decide what is proper or improper, for our own discrimination is slight. We have restrained our anger and protected you, a mere child, from its fiery consequences. But if you persist in speaking, you will not know the depth of our wisdom. If you do not abandon your delusion despite our words, then to destroy your wrongful mind, we will employ a magical being. Who kills whom, and who protects whom among creatures? The self alone is both killer and protector, acting rightly or wrongly. Thus addressed, the enraged preceptors of the Daitya king conjured a magical being, blazing fiercely and adorned with a garland of flames. This terrifying entity approached with thunderous steps and, in her rage, struck the boy in the chest with her trident. Yet as the blazing trident reached his heart, it shattered and fell to the ground, broken into a hundred pieces. Where the imperishable Lord Hari, the Supreme Lord, abides in the heart—even the thunderbolt is broken; what then of a mere trident? There, when the evil ones were cast down by the priests, that destructive force was quickly vanquished. Witnessing the priests being burned by their own conjured force, the wise boy cried out, "Save me, Krishna! Infinite One!" and sought refuge in Him. "O all-pervading One, form of the universe, destroyer of the world's afflictions, protect these Brahmins from the unbearable fire of their mantra." Just as Vishnu, the all-pervading teacher of the world, dwells in all beings, so too do these priests live by Him. Just as I see Vishnu present everywhere and not the fire, so even among the enemy, I know these priests live by Him. Those who have tried to kill me, who gave me poison, who set fire to me, who crushed me with elephants, and who had me bitten by snakes—I regard them equally, as friends. I do not consider myself sinful. Therefore, by this truth, may these priests of the demons live today. Thus addressed by him, all of them, touched by him, became free from illness and rose up again. The Brahmins spoke to him with humility: "May you, dear one, be long-lived, endowed with unimpeded strength and vigor, blessed with sons, grandsons, wealth, and prosperity." Having spoken thus, they went and reported everything that had occurred to the great sage and to the king of the Daityas. When Hiraṇyakaśipu heard that the destructive force had been rendered ineffective, he summoned his son and questioned him about the source of this power. "Prahlāda, you possess great strength—what is this that you have done? Is it produced by some mantra, or is it innate to you?" Prahlāda, the child of the Asuras, bowed at his father's feet and replied humbly, "It is not by mantra or any such means, father, nor is it my own nature. This power is common to anyone in whose heart the Imperishable One dwells. For one who does not think of others' sins as his own, there is no arrival of sin, since there is no cause. Whoever harms others by deed, mind, or speech, for him the seed of that action bears abundant evil fruit at birth. I neither desire sin, nor do I commit or speak it, for I contemplate Keśava, who dwells in all beings and in my own self. Physical, mental, divine, and elemental suffering—where could any of these arise for one whose mind is auspicious everywhere? Thus, unwavering devotion must be practiced by the wise toward all beings, knowing Hari to be present in all creatures." Hearing this, the lord of the demons, standing atop his palace, his face darkened by anger, commanded his attendants, "Cast this wicked child from the palace, a hundred yojanas away; let him fall upon the mountain's summit, his body shattered by the rocks." The Daitya and Dānava demons seized the boy and hurled him down; but as he fell, carrying Hari in his heart, the earth herself, devoted to Keśava, approached and received him gently, filled with devotion. Seeing Prahlāda unharmed, his bones unbroken, Hiraṇyakaśipu turned to Śambara, the foremost among magicians. "We are unable to kill this wicked-minded boy. You know magic—destroy him by your arts." Śambara replied, "I will indeed destroy him, O lord of the demons. Witness the power of my magic—here are a thousand spells, and even a hundred million more." Then Śambara, the demon, unleashed his magic against Prahlāda, intent on his destruction. Yet Prahlāda saw all with equal vision. With his mind composed and free from envy even toward Śambara, Prahlāda remembered Madhusūdana. At that moment, for his protection, the supreme disc, Sudarśana, encircled with flames, arrived, summoned by the Lord.