प्रह्लाद

prahlAda

Shabda Sagara

प्रह्लाद

m.

(-दः)

1.

Pleasure,

joy,

happiness.

2.

Sound,

noise.

3.

The

name

of

HIRAṆYĀKSHA'S

PIOUS

son

and

regent

of

one

division

of

Pātāla.

E.

प्र

before,

ह्लाद

gladness

or

sound.

Capeller Eng

प्रह्लाद

m.

refreshment,

comfort,

joy,

happiness;

N.

of

a

Daitya,

also

=

prec.

pl.

N.

of

a

people.

Yates

प्र-ह्लाद

(दः)

1.

m.

Joy;

noise;

Hiranyāksha's

son.

Wilson

प्रह्लाद

m.

(-दः)

1

Pleasure,

joy,

happiness.

2

Sound,

noise.

3

The

name

of

HIRAṆYĀKṢA'S

pious

son

and

regent

of

one

division

of

Pātāla.

E.

प्र

before

ह्लाद

gladness

or

sound.

Monier Williams Cologne

pl.

N.

of

a

people,

ib.

of

a

Prajā-pati,

ib.

of

a

Nāga,

MBh.

N.

of

a

pious

Daitya

(son

of

Hiraṇya-kaśipu;

he

was

made

king

of

the

by

Viṣṇu,

and

was

regent

of

one

of

the

divisions

of

Pātāla;

cf.

प्र-ह्राद),

MBh.;

VP.

(RTL.

109)

a

species

of

rice,

Gal.

sound,

noise,

L.

प्र-ह्लाद

m.

joyful

excitement,

delight,

joy,

happiness,

MBh.;

R.;

Suśr.

Macdonell

प्रह्लाद

pra-hlāda,

m.

pleasurable

excitement,

feeling

of

joy;

N.

of

a

pious

Daitya

(=

Prahrāda):

-ka,

a.

refreṣing,

gladdening;

-hlādana,

a.

(ī)

cheering,

gladdening;

n.

ā,

f.

refreṣing,

delighting;

-hlādin,

a.

delighting.

Benfey

प्र-ह्लाद्

+

अ,

m.

1.

Joy,

pleasure.

2.

The

name

of

a

Daitya,

Arj.

8,

20.

Hindi

विष्णु

के

भक्त

Mahabharata

Prahlāda,

pl.

(ºāḥ),

a

people.

§

574

(Jambūkh.):

VI,

9,

354.

Prahlāda^3,

a

serpent.

§

268

(Varuṇasabhāv.):

II,

9,

362

(in

the

palace

of

Varuṇa).

Prahlāda^2,

a

Bāhlīka

prince.

§

130

(Aṃśāvat.):

I,

67,

2667

(Bāhlīkaḥ,

incarnation

of

the

Asura

Śalabha).

Prahlāda^1,

an

Asura

(=

Prahrāda)

(B.

has

mostly

Prahrāda).

§

89

(Aṃśāvat.):

I,

65,

2526

(eldest

son

of

Hiraṇyakaśipu).

--§

90

(do.):

I,

65,

2527

(father

of

Virocana,

Kumbha,

and

Nikumbha).--§

130

(do.):

I,

67,

2642

(Saṃhlādaḥ

…Pºsyānujaḥ).--§

270

(Brahmasabhāv.):

II,

11,

437

(among

the

prajānāṃ

patayaḥ

in

the

palace

of

Brahmán).

§

299

(Dyūtap.):

II,

68,

2314

(ºsya

ca

saṃvādaṃ

muner

Āṅgirasasya

ca;

ºhlº

also

B.).--§

300

(do.):

Virocana,

the

son

of

the

king

of

the

Daityas

P.,

for

the

sake

of

obtaining

a

bride,

quarrelled

with

Sudhanvan

Āṅgirasa,

and

they

mutually

wagered

their

lives

as

to

who

was

superior,

and

made

P.

the

arbitrator

between

them.

As

P.

was

frightened,

Sudhanvan

threatened

him

saying

that

if

he

answered

falsely

or

did

not

answer,

Indra

would

split

his

head

into

100

pieces

with

his

thunderbolt.

P.

then

asked

Kaśyapa

what

regions

were

obtainable

by

those

who,

upon

being

asked

a

question,

answered

it

not

or

answered

it

falsely.

Kaśyapa

said

that

they

cast

1,000

Vāruṇa

pāśas

upon

themselves,

each

of

which

could

not

be

loosened

in

less

than

a

full

year,

etc.

P.

then

declared

Sudhanvan

to

be

superior

to

Virocana,

as

Aṅgiras

was

to

himself,

and

the

mother

of

Sudhanvan

to

the

mother

of

Virocana.

Sudhanvan,

because

P.

had

spoken

truth,

granted

that

Virocana

should

live

100

years;

II,

68,

2315

(Daityendraḥ;

ºhlº

also

B.),

2317

(ºhlº

also

B.),

2319

(do.),

(2321)

(do.),

2329

(do.),

2334

(do.).--§

326

(Draupadīparitāpav.):

III,

28,

1029

(ºsya

ca

saṃvādaṃ

Baler

Vairocanasya

ca),

1030

(Asurendraṃ…Daityendraṃ),

(1034)

(discourse

between

P.

and

[his

grandson]

Bali).--§

443

(Nivātakavacayuddhap.):

III,

168,

12073

(had

been

defeated

by

Indra).--§

538

(Kumbhakarṇaraṇagamana):

III,

286,

16390

(Indra-Pºyor

iva,

sc.

yuddhaṃ;

ºhlº,

also

B.).--§

541

(Indrajidvadha):

III,

289,

16482

(Śakra-Pºyor

iva,

sc.

yuddhaṃ;

ºhlº,

also

B.).--§

571

(Ulūkadūtāgamanap.):

V,

160,

5419

(a

śloka

sung

by

P.

is

quoted).--§

576

(Bhagavadgītāp.):

VI,

34,

1234

(ºś

cāsmi

Daityānāṃ,

says

Kṛshṇa).--§

599

(Jayadrathavadhap.):

VII,

108,

4096

(ºaṃ

samare

jitvā

yathā

Śakraṃ);

122,

4925

(Śakra-Pºyor

iva,

sc.

yuddhaṃ;

ºhlº,

also

B.).--§

600

(Ghaṭotkacavadhap.):

VII,

156,

6856

(do.,

do.);

166,

7426

(do.,

do.).--§

647b

(Brahmadatta-Pūjanīsaṃv.):

XII,

139,

5203

(Uśanas

recited

two

gāthās

to

P.;

ºhlº,

also

B.).-§

656

(Khaḍgotpattik.):

XII,

166,

6146.--§

714f

(cf.

Himavat):

P.,

the

son

of

Hiraṇyakaśipu,

could

not

raise

the

dart

of

Skanda,

but

fell

down

in

a

swoon:

XII,

328,

12328.--§

778b

(Saṃvartta-Maruttīya):

XIV,

9,

†248

(divaḥ

Pºṃ

avasānam

ānayaṃ,

says

Indra;

ºhlº,

also

B.).

Cf.

Asurādhipa,

Asurendra,

Daiteya,

Daitya,

Daityapati,

Daityendra,

Dānava.

Purana

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प्रह्लाद

४«word3»↶P598R↷PRAHLĀDA

IV

.

A

place

of

human

habitation

of

Purāṇic

fame.

(Śloka

46,

Chapter

9,

bhīṣma

parva).

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प्रह्लाद

३«word2»↶P598R↷PRAHLĀDA

III

.

A

serpent.

This

serpent

sits

in

the

court

of

varuṇa

and

worships

him.

(Śloka

10,

Chapter

9,

bhīṣma

parva).

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प्रह्लाद

२«word1»↶P598R↷PRAHLĀDA

II

.

A

kṣatriya

King

born

of

the

family

of

bālhīka.

This

King

belonged

to

the

line

of

kings

under

the

demon

king

śalabha.

(Śloka

30,

Chapter

67,

Ādi

Parva).

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प्रह्लाद

१«word2»↶P595R↷PRAHLĀDA

I

.1)

General

information.

Son

of

a

rākṣasa

King

who

saw

Mahāviṣṇu

by

means

of

his

devotion

in

the

form

of

narasiṁha

(man-lion).

His

father

was

hiraṇyakaśipu

and

mother

kayādhū.2)

Genealogy.

Descending

in

order

from

viṣṇu-brahmā--marīci--kaśyapa--hiraṇyakaśipu-prahlāda.3)

Birth.

Kaśyapaprajāpati

got

of

his

wife

diti

two

sons

named

hiraṇyākṣa

and

hiraṇyakaśipu

and

a

daughter

named

siṁhikā.

Of

these

two,

hiraṇyākṣa

got

boons

from

brahmā

and

roamed

about

as

a

very

valiant

hero

destroying

everything

on

earth

and

finally

pulling

down

the

earth

to

the

depths

of

the

ocean.

Mahāviṣṇu

then

incarnated

as

varāha

and

after

killing

hiraṇyākṣa

lifted

the

earth

from

the

ocean

and

put

it

in

its

original

position.hiraṇyakaśipu

became

very

angry

at

Mahāviṣṇu

for

killing

his

brother

and

with

a

view

to

wreaking

vengeance

on

him

performed

penance

to

propitiate

brahmā.

When

the

emperor

of

the

demons,

hiraṇyakaśipu,

thus

went

to

the

forests

for

performing

penance

the

devas

attacked

the

land

of

the

demons.

A

great

fight

ensued

in

which

the

devas

were

defeated.

While

fleeing

away

thus

indra

took

away

kayādhū

wife

of

hiraṇyakaśipu

by

force.

nārada

who

heard

the

moanings

of

the

poor

woman

under

the

clutches

of

indra

got

her

released

from

Indra's

hold.

For

some

time

she

stayed

in

the

āśrama

of

nārada

worshipping

him.

kayādhū

was

pregnant

then.

nārada

taught

the

child

in

Kayādhū's

womb

lessons

in

Vedas,

moral

philosophy,

duty

and

spiritual

knowledge.

When

hiraṇyakaśipu

returned

after

his

penance

kayādhū

joined

him

and

very

soon

gave

birth

to

a

son.

That

boy

was

prahlāda.hiraṇyakaśipu

begot

of

kayādhū

five

sons,

prahlāda,

saṁhlāda,

anuhlāda,

śibi

and

bāṣkala.

prahlāda

got

three

sons

named

virocana,

kumbha

and

nikumbha.

The

celebrated

emperor

mahābali

was

the

son

of

virocana.

bāṇa

was

the

son

of

mahābali.

uṣā,

daughter

of

bāṇa,

was

married

to

aniruddha,

son

of

pradyumna

and

grandson

of

śrī

kṛṣṇa.

(Chapter

65,

Ādi

Parva;

Chapter

19,

agni

purāṇa;

Chapter

15,

aṁśa

1,

viṣṇu

purāṇa

and

7th

skandha,

bhāgavata).4)

Boyhood

and

education.

hiraṇyakaśipu

decided

to

make

prahlāda

an

instrument

to

wreak

vengeance

on

Mahāviṣṇu.

Entrusting

the

education

of

his

son

to

able

preceptors

he

instructed

that

the

boy

should

never

mutter

‘Nārāyaṇāya

namaḥ’

but

should

on

the

other

hand

mutter

‘Hiraṇyāya

namaḥ’

only.

Not

only

that,

he

wiped

out

the

name

of

nārāyaṇa

from

the

land

altogether.

prahlāda

stayed

in

the

house

of

the

preceptor

and

studied

his

lessons.

One

day

prahlāda

went

to

see

his

father

along

with

his

preceptor.

hiraṇyakaśipu

was

drunk

then.

prahlāda

went

and

prostrated

before

his

father

and

hiraṇyakaśipu

lifting

the

boy

up

from

the

ground

asked

him

with

affection

to

repeat

to

him

all

the

good

things

he

had

learned

so

far

and

prahlāda

quickly

repeated

thus:--“I

bow

down

to

Mahāviṣṇu,

the

root

cause

of

all

things

seen

and

unseen,

the

protector

of

this

visible

universe,

who

is

without

beginning,

centre

and

end

and

who

is

without

origin,

growth

and

decay.”The

words

of

prahlāda

struck

his

father

like

a

thunderbolt.

With

his

lips

trembling

with

anger

hiraṇyakaśipu

stared

with

his

blood-red

eyes

at

the

preceptor.

The

frightened

guru

again

and

again

submitted

that

he

had

never

taught

him

any

of

the

kind

the

boy

had

repeated

before

his

father.

Then

who

must

have

taught

him

those

things?

the

emperor

enquired.

Then

prahlāda

said

that

all

those

things

were

put

into

his

mind

by

Mahāviṣṇu

himself.

A

hot

discussion

then

took

place

between

prahlāda

and

his

father

and

in

the

end

Hiraṇyakaśīpu

ordered

the

preceptor

to

take

away

prahlāda

and

make

another

earnest

attempt

to

correct

him

and

bring

him

round

to

the

emperor's

liking.

prahlāda

stayed

for

another

period

with

the

guru

serving

him

with

devotion

and

studying

well.

After

a

long

time

prahlāda

was

again

taken

before

his

father

and

the

latter

as

before

asked

him

to

repeat

what

he

had

studied

so

far.

To

the

shocking

disappointment

of

hiraṇyakaśipu

prahlāda

again

repeated

verses

in

praise

of

Mahāviṣṇu.

The

emperor's

rage

knew

no

bounds

and

he

ordered

his

men

to

kill

his

son.

(Chapter

17,

aṁśa

1,

viṣṇu

purāṇa).5)

Torturing

prahlāda.

On

hearing

the

order

of

hiraṇyakaśipu

many

armed

soldiers

surrounded

prahlāda.

prahlāda

addressed

them

thus:

“Oh

daityas,

Mahāviṣṇu

resides

in

your

weapons,

in

you

all

and

in

me

also.

Since

that

is

the

real

truth

your

weapons

will

not

injure

me.”

The

daityas

struck

him

hard

with

their

weapons

but

prahlāda

did

not

feel

pain

at

all.hiraṇyakaśipu

then

sent

thousands

of

poisonous

serpents

led

by

great

ones

like

takṣaka.

When

they

started

thrusting

their

venomous

fangs

into

his

body,

prahlāda

stood

cheerfully

meditating

on

Mahāviṣṇu

and

he

did

not

even

feel

the

bitings.

On

the

other

hand

the

fangs

of

the

serpents

dropped

out

from

their

mouths

and

the

gems

on

the

heads

of

the

big

ones

burst

out

and

all

the

snakes

felt

sorry

for

their

action.hiraṇyakaśipu

then

sent

the

aṣṭadiggajas

(the

eight

elephants

who

bear

the

burden

of

this

earth)

to

kill

prahlāda.

The

huge

animals

bigger

than

the

biggest

of

mountains

threw

the

boy

to

the

ground

and

struck

him

with

their

long

and

pointed

tusks.

prahlāda

lay

meditating

on

Mahāviṣṇu

and

the

tusks

that

hit

the

body

of

prahlāda

were

broken

to

bits.

prahlāda

was

then

thrown

into

a

pit

of

fire.

But

the

wind-blown

ferocious

fire

was

not

able

to

burn

him

and

as

he

lay

in

the

firepit

meditating

on

Mahāviṣṇu

he

felt

he

was

lying

on

a

bed

of

lotuses.When

things

progressed

so

far

the

astonished

priests

of

the

palace

advised

the

emperor

to

put

a

stop

to

tortur-

ing

prahlāda.

Their

consoling

words

alleviated

his

rage

and

he

sent

prahlāda

again

to

his

guru

for

another

term

of

study.

He

stayed

with

his

guru

and

continued

his

studies.

Whenever

he

got

leisure

he

taught

the

other

inmates

of

the

āśrama

lessons

in

Viṣṇumārga.

hiraṇyakaśipu

was

informed

of

this

and

obeying

orders

from

him

the

asuras

gave

poison

to

prahlāda.

That

too

was

of

no

avail.

The

royal

priests

got

angry

and

they

created

a

devil

as

ferocious

as

the

flames

of

fire.

The

devil

with

mighty

thumpings

on

earth

dashed

towards

prahlāda

and

hit

him

on

his

breast

with

its

spike.

The

spike

broke

into

pieces

and

the

devil

turning

back

cursed

the

priests.

Then

the

daityarāja

took

him

to

the

top

of

a

mountain

twentyfour

miles

high

and

pushed

him

down

from

there.

The

boy

fell

down

meditating

on

Mahāviṣṇu

and

the

goddess

of

earth

received

him

with

extended

hands

and

prevented

a

painful

impact

with

the

ground.

The

father

became

furious

and

sent

Śambarāsura

to

kill

his

son.

śambara

tried

many

magical

attacks.

prahlāda

without

any

ill-feeling

towards

śambara

sat

meditating

on

Mahāviṣṇu

and

then

viṣṇu

sent

his

sudarśana

wheel

against

the

demon

and

he

was

forced

to

retreat.

Then

by

orders

from

hiraṇyakaśipu

the

wind

god

entered

the

body

of

prahlāda.

prahlāda

knew

it

and

he

sat

meditating

on

viṣṇu

and

the

latter

entering

the

body

of

prahlāda

drank

the

wind

inside

him.

When

hiraṇyakaśipu

was

defeated

in

all

his

attempts

to

kill

prahlāda

he

sent

his

son

again

to

his

guru.

Then

the

preceptor

taught

him

everything

that

was

needed

for

a

king

and

also

the

science

of

justice

written

by

śukrācārya.

When

prahlāda

completed

his

education

and

the

guru

felt

the

boy

had

become

humble

he

took

him

back

to

hiraṇyakaśipu.Once

again

hiraṇyakaśipu

entered

into

a

discussion

on

god

with

his

son

and

dissatisfied

with

his

continued

devotion

to

viṣṇu

decided

again

to

kill

his

son.

He

was

thrown

into

the

ocean

bound

hand

and

foot.

With

every

movement

of

prahlāda

the

ocean

became

turbulent

and

water

rose

on

all

sides.

There

was

a

deluge

on

earth.

hiraṇyakaśipu

called

the

daityas

to

his

side

and

said:

“Oh

daityas,

bring

all

the

mountains

on

earth

and

create

a

barrier

round

the

ocean

so

that

my

wicked

son

cannot

get

outside

the

ocean.

Fire

does

not

kill

this

boy;

he

is

not

wounded

by

any

of

the

weapons;

wind,

poison,

devils,

magic,

falls

from

heights

and

even

the

diggajas

could

not

kill

him.

So

let

him

remain

in

water

for

thousands

of

years

together

and

then

he

will

die.”The

daityas

and

dānavas

brought

mountains

and

dropped

them

over

prahlāda

lying

inside

the

ocean.

The

mountains

lay

spread

over

thousands

of

miles.

Lying

thus

in

the

ocean

the

pious

boy

prayed

to

Mahāviṣṇu

and

the

latter

appeared

before

him

and

granted

him

boons.

Escaping

from

the

ocean

prahlāda

went

to

his

father

and

prostrated

before

him.

hiraṇyakaśipu

was

astounded

to

see

him

alive

and

taking

him

in

his

arms

embraced

him

and

with

tears

rolling

down

his

cheeks

for

having

tortured

him

so

far

asked

him

“My

son,

you

are

still

alive,

are

you

not?”

After

that

he

started

treating

him

as

his

son.

(Chapter

20,

aṁśa

1,

viṣṇu

purāṇa).6)

The

incarnation

of

narasiṁha.

But

as

days

went

by

hiraṇyakaśipu

got

wild

again.

He

could

not

bear

his

son's

increasing

devotion

to

viṣṇu.

He

hated

to

hear

Prahlāda's

chantings

of

Viṣṇu's

name

and

so

one

dar

while

prahlāda

was

repeating

his

chantings

of

Viṣṇu's

name

hiraṇyakaśipu

{??}umped

up

from

his

seat

with

sword

in

his

hand

and

asked

prahlāda

where

his

viṣṇu

was.

prahlāda

very

calmly

replied

that

viṣṇu

was

present

everywhere

even

in

stones,

trees

or

the

pillars

of

the

palace.

hiraṇyakaśipu

in

uncontrollable

rage

struck

the

nearest

pillar

with

his

sword.

Then

to

the

shocking

surprise

of

hiraṇyakaśipu

Mahāviṣṇu

in

the

form

of

a

fierce

man-lion

(narasiṁha)

jumped

out

from

the

pillar.

The

figure

was

terrifying

to

look

at.

It

had

fiery

eyes,

a

dagger-like

tongue

with

blood

oozing

from

it,

shaggy

neck

with

trembling

eyebrows,

two

teeth

one

on

each

side

curved

like

the

crescent

moon,

a

black

face

inside

a

cave-like

heap

of

manes,

hairs

strong

and

pointed

like

diamond

needles,

nails

white

and

cup-like

and

a

body

as

bright

and

brilliant

as

a

thousand

crores

of

suns.

Only

prahlāda

could

stand

before

the

figure

and

look

at

it.The

man-lion

jumped

on

the

body

of

hiraṇyakaśipu

and

tearing

open

the

belly

of

hiraṇyakaśipu

took

the

bloody

intestines

out

and

wearing

it

round

its

neck

performed

a

naked

dance.

Everything

happened

in

no

time

and

the

narasiṁha

changing

into

the

form

of

Mahāviṣṇu

blessed

prahlāda

and

then

disappeared.

(7th

skandha,

bhāgavata).7)

prahlāda

and

naranārāyaṇas.

When

hiraṇyakaśipu

was

killed

prahlāda

was

crowned

as

emperor

of

the

demons

in

pātāla.

At

that

time,

once

cyavana

the

best

of

the

Bhṛgus,

went

to

Nāgakuleśvaratīrtha

to

bathe

in

the

narmadā.

He

saw

mahādeva

there.

When

he

entered

the

waters

of

the

river

a

serpent

kekaralohita

by

name

bit

him

and

took

him

to

pātāla.

cyavana

meditated

on

viṣṇu

when

he

was

bitten

by

the

serpent

and

so

he

was

not

affected

by

the

poison

of

the

serpent.

He

therefore,

roamed

about

in

pātāla

accepting

the

hospitality

of

the

serpent

maidens.

Travelling

thus

he

reached

the

land

of

the

dānavas.

He

was

worshipped

by

the

daityas

there

and

prahlāda

finding

an

ascetic

of

great

saintliness

honoured

and

worshipped

by

his

people

received

him

with

respect

and

worshipped

him

and

enquired

about

him.

cyavana

said:

“I

came

today

to

see

Nāgakuleśvara

and

bathe

in

the

narmadā

river.

But

as

soon

as

I

entered

the

river

I

was

caught

by

a

serpent

and

was

brought

to

pātāla.

I

was

thus

able

to

see

you.”

Hearing

the

words

of

cyavana

the

lord

of

the

daityas

said:

“Oh,

Bhagavan,

which

are

all

the

sacred

tīrthas

of

the

earth,

which

are

in

the

heavens

and

which

all

in

pātāla?

Please

do

enlighten

us.”

cyavana

replied;

“Mighty

king,

naimiṣa

is

the

best

of

all

tīrthas

on

earth,

puṣkara

in

the

heavens

and

Cakratīrtha

in

pātāla.”The

daitya

emperor

turned

to

the

dānavas

and

said

“Make

all

preparations

immediately.

We

must

go

to

earth

to

bathe

in

the

holy

tīrtha,

naimiṣa.

We

can

then

see

Puṇḍarīkākṣa

(lotus-eyed)

viṣṇu

sitting

there

as

Pītāmbara

(robed

in

yellow).”

Hearing

this

dānavas

with

heavy

equipments

started

from

pātāla

with

their

king

to

the

earth.All

the

mighty

dānavas

reached

the

forest

of

naimiṣa

and

after

bathing

in

the

holy

pond

there

went

for

hunting.

During

their

wanderings

they

found

the

river

sarasvatī,

flowing

with

crystal-like

water.

On

the

shore

of

the

same

they

saw

a

pine

tree

covered

with

arrows.

The

arrows

were

sticking

to

it

one

above

another.

The

arrows

looked

like

serpents

and

the

gruesome

sight

roused

Prahlāda's

anger.

Near

that

tree

sat

two

ascetics

wear-

ing

the

hide

of

kṛṣṇa

deer

and

matted

hair

on

thei

heads.

By

their

side

were

two

divine

bows,

śārṅga

and

ajagava

with

two

never-empty

quivers.

prahlāda

mistook

them

for

two

fake

sannyāsins

and

therefore

questioned

them

thus:

“Why

are

you

thus

falsely

trading

on

virtuousness?

What

connection

is

there

between

matted

hair

and

penance

and

weapons

of

such

supreme

quality?”

Then

one

of

the

ṛṣis,

Nararṣi,

said

“King

of

daityas,

why

do

you

think

like

that?

If

one

is

powerful

whatever

one

does

will

be

right.”

prahlāda

jeered

and

said

“When

I,

who

have

fixed

limits

for

virtue

and

righteousness,

am

here

what

power

can

you

wield?”

nara

replied

“Oh

king,

our

ability

is

really

supreme.

There

is

nobody

in

the

three

worlds

to

conquer

us

in

a

fight.”

prahlāda

got

furious

on

hearing

the

boasting

of

the

ṛṣi

and

took

a

vow

thus

immediately:

“I

will

fight

and

win

against

naranārāyaṇas.”

Then

the

great

prahlāda

keeping

aside

his

army

in

the

forest

took

his

bow

and

made

a

thundering

noise

with

it.At

once

nara

took

his

ajagava

bow

and

showered

arrows

on

prahlāda

with

it.

But

prahlāda

broke

them

all

with

his

gold-plated

matchless

arrows.

nara

got

angry

when

he

found

all

his

arrows

broken

to

pieces

so

easily

by

prahlāda

and

he

sent

different

kinds

of

arrows

in

quick

succession.

But

the

daitya

king

replied

with

astonishing

rapidity.

For

one

arrow

of

nara

the

daitya

sent

two

and

the

fight

became

grim.

nara

covered

the

whole

world

above

with

arrows

and

the

daitya

emperor

smashed

them

all

to

pieces

by

his

gold-plated

ones.The

fight

then

turned

to

one

with

divine

weapons.

The

asura

chief

took

the

divine

brahmāstra

and

then

nara

took

the

fierce

Nārāyaṇāstra.

They

met

in

the

air

and

fell

down

powerless.

When

his

brahmāstra

got

fused

prahlāda

got

wild

with

anger

and

taking

a

mace

jumped

out

of

his

chariot

and

rushed

at

nara.

When

nārāyaṇa

saw

the

daitya

chief

rushing

towards

nara

with

his

mace

he

asked

nara

to

step

aside

and

faced

the

demon

himself.

prahlāda

then

attacked

nārāyaṇa

and

hit

him

with

the

mace.

But

the

mace

broke

into

a

hundred

pieces

and

prahlāda

was

forced

to

use

other

weapons.

The

fight

became

ghastly

and

even

devas

assembled

above

to

witness

the

fight.

When

prahlāda

found

it

was

getting

more

and

more

difficult

for

him

to

defeat

the

naranārāyaṇas

he

prayed

to

Mahāviṣṇu

for

help.

viṣṇu

appeared

before

him

and

when

prahlāda

asked

him

the

reason

why

he

could

not

defeat

naranārāyaṇas,

viṣṇu

replied

that

they

were

the

sons

of

Dharmadeva

who

were

invincible

by

weapons.

They

could

be

won

over

only

by

devotion.Hearing

that

prahlāda

returned

to

pātāla

and

entrusting

the

administration

of

his

kingdom

to

his

cousin

andhaka,

son

of

hiraṇyākṣa,

prahlāda

returned

to

badarikāśrama

and

erecting

an

āśrama

there

started

a

penance

to

propitiate

naranārāyaṇas.

When

naranārāyaṇas

appeared

before

him

prahlāda

requested

to

be

pardoned

for

fighting

against

them.

They

pardoned

him

and

blessed

him

and

prahlāda

returned

to

pātāla.

Even

after

his

return

prahlāda

did

not

take

back

the

administration

from

andhaka.

He

constructed

an

āśrama

away

from

the

palace

and

lived

there

performing

penance.

He

spent

many

years

there

as

an

advisor

to

the

asura

Kings.

(Chapters

7

and

8,

vāmana

purāṇa).8)

Blessings

of

śukra.

andhaka,

son

of

hiraṇyākṣa,

ruled

over

the

empire

only

for

a

short

time.

At

that

time

there

was

a

fight

between

the

asuras

and

the

devas

in

which

the

asuras

were

defeated.

After

a

truce

with

the

devas

bali,

son

of

virocana,

and

grandson

of

prahlāda

was

crowned

the

emperor

of

the

asuras.

prahlāda

then

went

to

the

mountain

gandhamādana

and

started

doing

penance

to

increase

his

personal

power.

bali

ruled

as

an

antagonist

of

the

devas

and

so

very

soon

a

grisly

battle

ensued

between

the

devas

and

the

asuras

and

Mahāviṣṇu

defeated

them.

They

fled

from

their

land

and

took

refuge

under

their

preceptor

śukrācārya.

śukra

then

told

them

thus:

“You

remain

here

without

fear.

I

shall

protect

you

by

my

power

of

mantra

and

medicines.

I

shall

devote

my

cogent

brilliance

to

your

advantage.

It

is

enough

if

you

remain

here

with

full

confidence

in

me.”The

devas

understood

all

these

plans

of

the

daityas

through

spies

and

they

met

in

conference

to

consider

their

future

plans.

They

knew

that

śukrācārya

was

very

powerful

and

if

the

daityas

attacked

them

with

the

help

of

śukrācārya

the

defeat

of

the

devas

was

sure.

They

feared

that

they

might

even

be

compelled

to

flee

from

Svargaloka.

How

could

the

daityas

under

the

shield

of

the

mighty

Sukra

be

destroyed?

That

was

the

worrrying

thought

of

the

devas.They

were

thus

worrying

about

this

when

śukrācārya

went

to

do

penance

for

attaining

more

power.

The

daityas

awaited

the

return

of

their

ācārya.

In

the

meantime

they

sent

prahlāda

who

was,

though

a

daitya,

a

friend

of

the

devas

to

talk

peace

terms

with

the

devas.

The

mission

was

successful

and

the

devas

agreed

to

a

no-war

treaty.

prahlāda

returned

triumphant.śukra

did

severe

penance

to

propitiate

śiva

and

śiva

appeared

before

śukrācārya

and

when

he

knew

that

the

purpose

of

śukra

was

to

defeat

the

devas

he

was

a

bit

embarrassed.

So

he

told

him

thus:

“Oh

sage

śukra,

you

take

a

vow

and

do

penance

with

your

head

downwards

over

smoky

incense

for

a

thousand

years.

You

will

then

attain

power

and

happiness

as

you

desire.”

In

fact

śiva

thought

śukra

might

not

be

able

to

complete

the

penance

and

so

not

succeed

in

his

plan

of

destroying

the

devas.

But

śukra

started

the

penance

in

right

earnest.The

devas

were

frightened

when

they

knew

the

deceit

of

the

daityas

and

the

strategy

of

their

preceptor.

They

decided

to

go

to

war

with

the

daityas

immediately.

The

daityas

were

in

a

fix.

They

knew

that

if

they

fought

without

the

help

of

their

guru

defeat

to

them

was

sure.

So

they

ran

to

the

mother

of

śukra

and

sought

her

help.

The

devas

rebelled

against

Śukra's

mother

and

she

invoked

the

goddess

of

sleep

and

put

all

the

devas

into

deep

slumber.

Mahāviṣṇu

stealthily

carried

away

indra

lying

asleep.

indra

persuaded

Mahāviṣṇu.

to

kill

Śukra's

mother

and

he

cut

off

the

head

of

Śukra's

mother

by

the

divine

discus,

sudarśana.Bhṛgumaharṣi,

father

of

śukra,

was

angry

at

that

arrogant

and

cruel

deed

of

Mahāviṣṇu

and

cursed

him

saying

that

he

would

be

born

on

earth

several

times

as

man.

After

that

he

brought

to

life

by

sprinkling

water

his

wife

lying

dead

with

her

head

severed

from

her

body.

Knowing

well

the

havoc

that

would

be

created

when

śukra

came

back

after

his

penance

indra

sent

his

daughter

jayantī

to

destroy

the

penance

of

śukra.

She

went

in

the

guise

of

a

demon

girl

to

serve

śukrācārya.

In

the

meantime

at

the

request

of

indra

bṛhaspati

took

the

form

of

śukrācārya

and

presented

himself

before

the

daityas.

The

daityas

believed

him

to

be

their

real

guru

śukra

and

were

pleased.ten

years

went

by

and

one

day

śukrācārya

remembering

the

old

events

left

jayantī

and

went

to

his

court

in

the

demon

land.

bṛhaspati

had

by

that

time

returned

to

devaloka

fully

satisfied

with

his

mission.

The

devas

not

knowing

that

śukra

had

returned

started

for

a

war

with

the

daityas.

śukra

when

he

came

back

went

wild

when

he

knew

that

his

people

had

been

worshipping

bṛhaspati

for

ten

years.

The

angered

preceptor

was

not

to

be

pacified

by

any

amount

of

arguments

and

so

they

sent

prahlāda

to

śukrācārya

and

prahlāda

pleaded

for

controlling

his

anger

and

śukra

did

so.śukra

then

saw

with

his

divine

vision

the

maneuverings

in

mind

of

the

devas

and

was

convinced

that

a

war

with

the

devas

at

that

juncture

would

be

an

utter

failure.

So

he

advised

the

daityas

to

desist

from

war

and

assured

them

that

during

the

period

of

sāvarṇi

manu

to

come,

emperor

bali

would

become

all-powerful

and

he

would

then

fight

and

win

the

devas.

prahlāda

returned

and

told

the

asuras

the

message

of

śukrācārya.

But

the

daityas

were

not

satisfied

and

compelled

prahlāda

to

go

to

war

with

the

devas.

At

last

prahlāda

was

forced

to

agree

and

a

fierce

devāsura

battle

ensued.

prahlāda

met

indra

in

a

single

combat

and

it

prolonged

for

a

hundred

years.

In

the

end

prahlāda

won.

indra

prayed

to

the

goddess

and

fearing

that

she

might

destroy

the

demon

world,

prahlāda

also

prayed

to

her.

The

devī

was

pleased

with

both

of

them

and

she

pacified

them

both

and

each

went

back

to

his

own

place.

(4th

skandha,

devī

bhāgavata).9)

Other

details.

(i)

Once

there

was

a

fight

between

prahlāda

and

kāla.

(Bhaviṣya

Parva,

Chapter

59).(ii)

bali

who

was

trampled

down

to

pātāla

built

a

viṣṇu

temple

and

worshipped

viṣṇu

following

the

advice

of

prahlāda.

(See

under

bali).(iii)

Once

prahlāda

taught

indra

the

rules

of

good

conduct.

(Śloka

28,

Chapter

124

śānti

Parva).(iv)

Once

uśanas

sang

in

honour

of

prahlāda.

(Śloka

50,

Chapter

139,

śānti

Parva).(v)

Once

prahlāda

learnt

the

importance

of

Ājagaravṛtti

from

a

sage.

(Chapter

179,

śānti

Parva).(vi)

During

the

reign

of

emperor

pṛthu

when

the

goddess

of

earth

(Bhūmidevī)

was

milked,

the

asuras

used

prahlāda

as

the

calf

to

milk

madya

(wine)

from

her.

(4th

skandha,

bhāgavata).(vii)

prahlāda

sits

in

the

court

of

varuṇa

and

worships

him.

(Śloka

12,

Chapter

9,

Sabhā

Parva).(viii)

prahlāda

once

went

to

the

court

of

brahmā

to

worship

him.

(Śloka

19,

Chapter

11,

Sabhā

Parva).(ix)

prahlāda

acted

as

mediator

in

the

controversy

between

virocana

and

sudhanvā.

(See

under

sudhanvā).

(For

knowing

more

details

about

prahlāda

please

see

under

virocana

and

bali.)

Kalpadruma

प्रह्लादः

,

पुं,

(प्रह्लादयतीति

प्र

+

ह्लाद्

+

णिच्

+

अच्

।)

प्रह्रादः

पूर्ब्बजन्मनि

शिव-

शर्म्मणः

पुत्त्रः

सोमशर्म्मनामाभूत्

ततो

दैत्य-

भावनया

मृतः

अनन्तरं

कमलायां

हिरण्य-

कशिपोः

सकाशाद्दैत्यभावेन

जातः

यथा,

सूत

उवाच

“स

लोष्टेन

समं

मेने

काञ्चनं

भूषणं

पुनः

जिताहारः

धर्म्मात्मा

निद्रया

परिवर्जितः

विषयान्

परित्यज्य

एकान्तमपि

सेवते

योगासनसमारूढो

निराशो

निष्परिग्रहः

तस्य

वेलां

सुसंप्राप्य

मृत्युकालः

समागतः

आगतान्

दानवान्

विप्रः

सोमशर्म्मा

व्यलो-

कयत्

मृत्युकाले

तु

संप्राप्ते

प्राणयात्राप्रवर्त्तके

शालग्रामे

महाक्षेत्रे

ऋषीणामेव

सन्निधौ

केचिद्बदन्ति

वै

दैत्याः

केचिद्बदन्ति

दानवाः

एवंविधो

महाशब्दः

कर्णरन्ध्रगतस्तदा

तस्यैव

विप्रवर्य्यस्य

सुविप्राः

सोमशर्म्मणः

ज्ञानध्यानात्

प्रचलतः

प्रविष्टं

दैत्यजं

भयम्

तेन

ध्यानेन

तस्यापि

दैत्यभूतेन

वै

तदा

सत्वरं

तस्य

वै

प्राणा

गतास्तस्य

महात्मनः

दैत्यभावेन

संयुक्तः

हि

मृत्युवशं

गतः

तस्माद्दैत्यगृहे

जातो

हिरण्यकशिपोस्तदा

देवासुरे

महायुद्धे

निहतश्चक्रपाणिना

युध्यमानेन

तेनापि

प्रह्रादेन

महात्मना

सुभृशं

वासुदेवं

तद्बिश्वरूपं

विचिन्तितम्

योगाभ्यासेन

पूर्ब्बेण

ज्ञानमासीन्महात्मनः

सस्मार

पौर्ब्बिकं

सर्व्वं

चरित्रं

शिवशर्म्मणः

सोऽप्यहं

सोमशर्म्मा

वै

प्रविष्टो

दानवीं

तनुम्

कस्य

कायं

कदा

पुण्यं

केवलं

ध्यानमुत्तमम्

प्रयामि

महापुण्यैर्ज्ञानाख्यैर्मोक्षदायिभिः

समरे

प्रीयमाणेन

प्रह्रादेन

महात्मना

एवं

चिन्ता

कृता

पूर्ब्बं

श्रूयतां

द्विजसत्तम

!

एतत्ते

सर्व्वमाख्यातं

सर्व्वसन्देहनाशनम्

॥”

सूत

उवाच

“प्रह्रादे

तु

हते

संख्ये

देवदेवेन

चक्रिणा

संह्रादे

महावीर्य्ये

तस्मिंश्च

कालनेमिनि

प्रह्रादस्य

तु

या

माता

हिरण्यकशिपोः

प्रिया

प्रह्रादस्य

महाशोकैर्दिवा

रात्रौ

प्रशोचति

पतिव्रता

महाभागा

कमला

नाम

दुःखिता

खिद्यमाना

दिवा

रात्रौ

नारदस्तामुवाच

मा

शुचस्त्वं

महाभागे

पुत्त्रार्थं

पुण्यभागिनि

!

निहतो

वासुदेवेन

तव

पुत्त्रः

समेष्यति

तद्रूपलक्षणोपेतस्तवोदरे

महामतिः

प्रह्रादेति

वै

नाम

पुनरस्य

भविष्यति

विहीन

आसुरैर्भावैर्वैष्णवेन

समन्वितः

इन्द्रत्वं

भोक्ष्यते

भद्रे

!

सर्व्वदेवैर्नमस्कृतः

सुखीभव

महाभागे

!

पुत्त्रेण

तेन

वै

सदा

प्रकाश्या

त्वया

देवि

!

स्ववार्त्तेयञ्च

कस्यचित्

कर्त्तव्यमज्ञानभावैः

सुगोप्यं

त्वं

सदा

कुरु

एवमुक्त्वा

गतो

विप्र

नारदो

मुनिसत्तमः

कमलायाश्चोदरे

वै

आसीत्

तज्जन्म

चोत्तमम्

पुनः

प्रह्लादो

वै

नाम

तस्यां

जातो

महात्मनः

बाल्यभावं

गतो

विप्र

कृष्ण

एवं

विचिन्त्य

नरसिंहप्रसादेन

देवराजोऽप्यभूत्

हि

॥”

इति

पाद्मे

भूमिखण्डे

अध्यायः

*

(अनेन

सह

नरनारायणयोर्युद्धमासीत्

एतद्-

विवरणन्तु

देवीभागवते

चतुर्थस्कन्धे

नवमा-

ध्याये

द्रष्टव्यम्

॥)

प्रमोदः

इति

विश्वः

(यथा,

महाभारते

७०

“मनःप्रह्लादजननं

दृष्टिकान्तमतीव

॥”)

शब्दः

इति

धरणिः

(नागविशेषः

यथा,

महाभारते

१०

“प्रह्लादो

मूषिकादश्च

तथैव

जनमेजयः

॥”)

Vachaspatyam

प्रह्लाद

is

an

alternate

of

प्रह्राद.

प्रह्रा(ह्ला)द

पु०

हिरण्यशिपोः

पुत्रभेदे

भा०

आ०

६५

अ०

तच्चरितं

भाग०

७५

अध्यायादौ

दृश्यम्

तस्य

पूर्वज-

न्मकथा

पाद्मे

भूमि०

अ०

नागभेदे

भा०

स०

अ०

ह्लद-

भावे

घञ्

प्रमोदे

विश्वः

ह्रद—भावे

घञ्

शब्दे

धरणिः

Capeller Germany

प्रह्लाद

m.

Erquickung,

Freude.

Stchoupak French

प्र-ह्लाद-

m.

joie,

consolation,

bonheur

;

n.

du

chef

des

Asura,

fils

de

Hiraṇyakaçipu

;

-क-इका-

ag.

qui

cause

du

plaisir,

qui

réconforte

;

-न-

(f.

-ई-)

-इन्-

a.

id.