SECTION XVI.Maitreya said—"O great ascetic, you have described to me the human races and the ever-existing Vishnu, the cause of the world; but who was this Prahlāda the foremost of the Daityas of whom you spoke and whom fire could not burn, and who did not die even when assailed by weapons. And Prahlāda being present in the waters, in bonds, earth trembled, agitated by his movements. And he did not die before albeit overwhelmed with rocks. Thou hast related the unlimited glory of that intelligent Prahlāda. O muni, I am desirous to hear an account of the character and unequalled might of that effulgent worshipper of Vishnu. O Muni, Why was he assailed by the descendants of Diti with weapons? And why was he, ever engaged in pious observances, thrown into water? For what was he overwhelmed with rocks? And why bitten by venomous snakes? Why thrown down from the mountain-top? Why cast into fire? And why was he made a butt for the tusks of the elephants of spheres? And why was the wind sent by the mighty Asuras into his body to wither him up? O Muni, Why the spiritual guides of the Daityas were engaged in ceremonies for his destruction? And why did the Daitya Samvara spread thousands of illusions for his destruction? Why did the cooks of the Daitya-chief offer him poison for his destruction which was digested by that high-souled sage? O noble Manu—I wish to hear all this—an account of the high-souled Prahlāda, full of marvelous glories. I am not the least surprised for the Daityas not being able to destroy him: for who can slay him whose mind is solely devoted to Vishnu? Why did the Daityas, born in his race, cherish dreadful malice against him ever engaged in pious observances and in the worship of Kesava? Relate to me, Why the sons of Diti offer violence to one so pious,—high-souled and ever devoted to Vishnu and free from sin? The great cannot offer violence to a person gifted with such qualities even if he be an enemy; how could his own kin (behave thus towards him)? O foremost of the Muni, do thou relate all this—the character of the sovereign of Daityas. I wish to hear it at length".
SECTION XVI.Maitreya said—"O great ascetic, you have described to me the human races and the ever-existing Vishnu, the cause of the world; but who was this Prahlāda the foremost of the Daityas of whom you spoke and whom fire could not burn, and who did not die even when assailed by weapons. And Prahlāda being present in the waters, in bonds, earth trembled, agitated by his movements. And he did not die before albeit overwhelmed with rocks. Thou hast related the unlimited glory of that intelligent Prahlāda. O muni, I am desirous to hear an account of the character and unequalled might of that effulgent worshipper of Vishnu. O Muni, Why was he assailed by the descendants of Diti with weapons? And why was he, ever engaged in pious observances, thrown into water? For what was he overwhelmed with rocks? And why bitten by venomous snakes? Why thrown down from the mountain-top? Why cast into fire? And why was he made a butt for the tusks of the elephants of spheres? And why was the wind sent by the mighty Asuras into his body to wither him up? O Muni, Why the spiritual guides of the Daityas were engaged in ceremonies for his destruction? And why did the Daitya Samvara spread thousands of illusions for his destruction? Why did the cooks of the Daitya-chief offer him poison for his destruction which was digested by that high-souled sage? O noble Manu—I wish to hear all this—an account of the high-souled Prahlāda, full of marvelous glories. I am not the least surprised for the Daityas not being able to destroy him: for who can slay him whose mind is solely devoted to Vishnu? Why did the Daityas, born in his race, cherish dreadful malice against him ever engaged in pious observances and in the worship of Kesava? Relate to me, Why the sons of Diti offer violence to one so pious,—high-souled and ever devoted to Vishnu and free from sin? The great cannot offer violence to a person gifted with such qualities even if he be an enemy; how could his own kin (behave thus towards him)? O foremost of the Muni, do thou relate all this—the character of the sovereign of Daityas. I wish to hear it at length".
SECTION XVI.Maitreya said—"O great ascetic, you have described to me the human races and the ever-existing Vishnu, the cause of the world; but who was this Prahlāda the foremost of the Daityas of whom you spoke and whom fire could not burn, and who did not die even when assailed by weapons. And Prahlāda being present in the waters, in bonds, earth trembled, agitated by his movements. And he did not die before albeit overwhelmed with rocks. Thou hast related the unlimited glory of that intelligent Prahlāda. O muni, I am desirous to hear an account of the character and unequalled might of that effulgent worshipper of Vishnu. O Muni, Why was he assailed by the descendants of Diti with weapons? And why was he, ever engaged in pious observances, thrown into water? For what was he overwhelmed with rocks? And why bitten by venomous snakes? Why thrown down from the mountain-top? Why cast into fire? And why was he made a butt for the tusks of the elephants of spheres? And why was the wind sent by the mighty Asuras into his body to wither him up? O Muni, Why the spiritual guides of the Daityas were engaged in ceremonies for his destruction? And why did the Daitya Samvara spread thousands of illusions for his destruction? Why did the cooks of the Daitya-chief offer him poison for his destruction which was digested by that high-souled sage? O noble Manu—I wish to hear all this—an account of the high-souled Prahlāda, full of marvelous glories. I am not the least surprised for the Daityas not being able to destroy him: for who can slay him whose mind is solely devoted to Vishnu? Why did the Daityas, born in his race, cherish dreadful malice against him ever engaged in pious observances and in the worship of Kesava? Relate to me, Why the sons of Diti offer violence to one so pious,—high-souled and ever devoted to Vishnu and free from sin? The great cannot offer violence to a person gifted with such qualities even if he be an enemy; how could his own kin (behave thus towards him)? O foremost of the Muni, do thou relate all this—the character of the sovereign of Daityas. I wish to hear it at length".
Maitreya said—"O great ascetic, you have described to me the human races and the ever-existing Vishnu, the cause of the world; but who was this Prahlāda the foremost of the Daityas of whom you spoke and whom fire could not burn, and who did not die even when assailed by weapons. And Prahlāda being present in the waters, in bonds, earth trembled, agitated by his movements. And he did not die before albeit overwhelmed with rocks. Thou hast related the unlimited glory of that intelligent Prahlāda. O muni, I am desirous to hear an account of the character and unequalled might of that effulgent worshipper of Vishnu. O Muni, Why was he assailed by the descendants of Diti with weapons? And why was he, ever engaged in pious observances, thrown into water? For what was he overwhelmed with rocks? And why bitten by venomous snakes? Why thrown down from the mountain-top? Why cast into fire? And why was he made a butt for the tusks of the elephants of spheres? And why was the wind sent by the mighty Asuras into his body to wither him up? O Muni, Why the spiritual guides of the Daityas were engaged in ceremonies for his destruction? And why did the Daitya Samvara spread thousands of illusions for his destruction? Why did the cooks of the Daitya-chief offer him poison for his destruction which was digested by that high-souled sage? O noble Manu—I wish to hear all this—an account of the high-souled Prahlāda, full of marvelous glories. I am not the least surprised for the Daityas not being able to destroy him: for who can slay him whose mind is solely devoted to Vishnu? Why did the Daityas, born in his race, cherish dreadful malice against him ever engaged in pious observances and in the worship of Kesava? Relate to me, Why the sons of Diti offer violence to one so pious,—high-souled and ever devoted to Vishnu and free from sin? The great cannot offer violence to a person gifted with such qualities even if he be an enemy; how could his own kin (behave thus towards him)? O foremost of the Muni, do thou relate all this—the character of the sovereign of Daityas. I wish to hear it at length".