As Prahlāda, bound by serpents and submerged in the ocean by the demons, became filled with the presence of Viṣṇu through the power of yoga, the bonds that held him were instantly shattered, O Maitraya. At that very moment, the great ocean was stirred, its waves tumultuous, and the entire earth trembled—mountains, forests, and groves all shaken in awe. Casting off the huge stone that the demons had placed upon him, the wise Prahlāda emerged from the waters. As he once again beheld the world, the sky, and all its features, he remembered himself, his true nature. With his mind concentrated, undisturbed, and his speech and body restrained, Prahlāda began to praise the primeval, supreme person. He offered salutations to the highest reality—the meaning of the highest truth, both gross and subtle, perishable and imperishable, manifest and unmanifest, beyond all divisions, the lord of all, the stainless one. He praised the supporter and foundation of all qualities, whose essence is beyond qualities, yet stable in them; the one with form and without form, of great form and subtle form, clear and unclear; of fierce and gentle aspects, the abode of both knowledge and ignorance, the infallible one; the embodiment of existence and non-existence, the true being, the creator of all states of being and non-being. Prahlāda continued, honoring the one whose nature is both eternal and non-eternal manifestation, untouched by illusion, pure, singular, and unique—the original cause, Vāsudeva. He saluted the Supreme Person, who is both gross and subtle, manifest and luminous, all beings yet not all beings, from whom the universe arises and who is the cause of what is not the universe. As Prahlāda thus praised the Lord with such a dedicated mind, the blessed Hari, clad in yellow garments, appeared before him. Seeing the Lord, Prahlāda rose, trembling with reverence, his words faltering, and repeatedly uttered, “Salutations to Viṣṇu!” He prayed, “O Lord, remover of the distress of those who seek refuge, show me Your favor, O Keśava; purify me again by granting me Your sight.” Viṣṇu replied, “Because you act thus, I am pleased with your unwavering devotion; ask from Me, Prahlāda, whatever boon you desire.” Prahlāda prayed, “O Lord, in whatever wombs I may be born, may my unwavering devotion to You, O Acyuta, remain in all of them. May the affection for sense objects, which never leaves the undiscerning, depart from my heart as I remember You.” Viṣṇu said, “You already have devotion to Me, and it will remain so in the future; yet, Prahlāda, ask from Me whatever boon you desire.” Prahlāda replied, “Because of my connection to You, my praise of You has arisen; O Lord, may the sin committed by my father be destroyed. Weapons have been cast at me, I was thrown into sacrificial fire, bitten by serpents, and my food was poisoned. I was bound and cast into the ocean, hurled from mountain peaks, and many other wicked acts have been done to me. O Lord, whatever sin has arisen from the enmity of those devoted to You, may my father be instantly freed from it by Your grace.” Viṣṇu assured him, “Prahlāda, all this will come to pass for you by My grace; choose another boon, O son of an Asura, whatever you desire.” Prahlāda replied, “O Lord, I am fulfilled by this boon, for unwavering devotion to You will exist by Your grace. What use are righteousness, wealth, or desires to one whose liberation is assured, whose steadfast devotion to You is at the root of all worlds?” Viṣṇu declared, “Just as your mind is unwavering and endowed with devotion to Me, so by My grace you shall attain the supreme liberation.” Having spoken thus, Viṣṇu vanished while Maitreya watched. Prahlāda returned and bowed at his father’s feet. His father, overwhelmed, embraced him, tears in his eyes, saying, “You live, my child.” Despite all he had suffered, the great asura felt joy for his son. Prahlāda, knowing righteousness, served his teacher and father. When his father was taken by Viṣṇu in the form of Narasimha, Prahlāda became friendly with the daityas around him. He enjoyed the royal day that purifies deeds and was blessed with many sons, grandsons, and great prosperity. When his authority waned, free from virtue and sin, Prahlāda meditated on the Blessed Lord and attained supreme liberation. Such was the power and wisdom of Prahlāda, O Maitreya, devoted to the Blessed Lord, whom you have asked me about. Whoever hears the deeds of that great-souled Prahlāda has their sins immediately destroyed. Any sin committed day or night is removed, O Maitreya, by hearing or reciting Prahlāda’s story—there is no doubt. Reciting it on the full moon, new moon, eighth, or twelfth day, one attains the merit of gifting a cow, O twice-born. Just as Hari protected Prahlāda in every calamity, so does He protect whoever always hears his story. Prahlāda’s lineage continued: the long-lived Śibi, Vāṣkala, and others were his sons. Virocana, also descended from Prahlāda, was born, and from Virocana came Bali. Bali had a hundred sons, O great sage, with Bāṇa as the eldest; all the sons of Hiraṇyākṣa were exceedingly powerful. Among them were Jharjhara, Śakuni, Bhūtasantāpana, Mahānābha, Mahābāhu, and Kālanābha. There were also Anupu, Dvimūrdhā, Śambara, Ayomukha, Śaṃkuśirā, Kapila, and Śaṃkara.