SECTION XVIII.Parāçara said:—Having observed the conduct of Prahlāda, the Dānavas, out of fear, reported it to the king. Hiranyakashipu sent for his cooks and said "O cooks—my vile and wicked son is teaching others his impious doctrines. Do ye slay him without his knowledge by mixing up deadly poison with all his viands. Do not hesitate to destroy that wretch". Parāçara said:—Thereupon they offered poison to the high-souled Prahlāda as they were commanded by his sire. O Maitreya, repeating the name of the imperishable and mixing that poison with his food he ate it up. Prahlāda did not suffer any harm either in body or in mind for the very name of the endless baffled the power of the poison. Beholding that deadly poison digested by him, they stricken with fear approached the king of Daityas and said: "O king of Daityas, deadliest poison was offered by us but it was digested with food by thy son Prahlāda". Hiranyakashipu said,—"Hasten, hasten, O ye priests of the Daityas: do ye speedily perform the rites that will bring about his destruction". Parāçara said:—Thereupon the priests approaching Prahlāda and beholding him lowly consoled him and said,—"Thou hast been born in the family of Brahmā celebrated in the three worlds and thou art the son of Hiranyakashipu the king of Daityas. Why dost thou depend upon the gods? Thy father is the refuge of all people:—thou dost also become the same. Do thou renounce eulogising the enemy of thy family: know that a father is the most venerable of all preceptors". Prahlāda said—"O illustrious Brahmins, that ye have said is true—the family of Marichi is celebrated in the three worlds—this cannot be gainsaid. My father has attained to the foremost place in the world by his actions—I have known this to be true—there is not the least shadow of untruth. That a father is the most venerable of all preceptors—I do not find the least mistake in this assertion. Forsooth, father is a venerable preceptor and is to be respected with all care. Methinks I have not committed any offence in this respect. You have said, 'Why do you seek shelter of the eternal?' I do not know how far this statement is sound and reasonable". Having said this Prahlāda remained speechless for some time to uphold their dignity. And again smiling he said: "'Why do you seek shelter of the eternal,' was it fair for you to accost me thus? What need of the eternal? Most admirable, most worthy of you, O my preceptors. If it does not pain you, hear what need there is of the eternal. Virtue, desire, wealth and emancipation are the fourfold objects of men. Is it vain to adore him who is the source of these four objects? Why do ye speak in vain? Marichi and other ascetics, the Patriarch Daksha and other eminent men attained to virtue and others and obtained the enjoyment of their desires. Others, through true wisdom and holy contemplation, have come to know his essence, and being freed from the bondage of the world have obtained emancipation. The adoration of Hari, attainable by unity, is the root of all wealth, dignity, glory, wisdom, progeny, piety and emancipation. O twice-born one, virtue, wealth, desire and final emancipation (all) proceed from him (and still you say) what need is of the eternal? What is the use of speaking more, you are all my preceptors—speak ye good or evil, limited is my understanding". The priests said—"O boy thou wert about to be consumed by fire, but we saved you thinking that you would not give vent to such words again. We know how foolish you are. If you, at our words, do not remove this hallucination we shall, O vicious-minded one, perform rites for your destruction". Prahlāda said—"Who slayeth what living creature—who preserveth what living creature? Every one is his own destroyer or preserver accordingly as he follows evil or good". Parāçara said:—Being thus addressed, the priests of the Daitya-chief were excited with rage, and instantly, by virtue of their magical powers, created a female form enveloped with fiery flame. That highly dreadful figure, under whose tread earth trembled, greatly wroth, struck him instantly on his breast with a dart. That fiery dart reaching speedily the breast of the boy fell on the ground broken into hundred pieces. Even a thunder-bolt is shattered against the breast of him in whose heart the imperishable Hari resides—what to, speak of a dart? The magic, which was directed by the vicious priests against the guileless (Prahlāda), then fell upon them and slew them all; And beholding them thus consumed by fire the noble Prahlāda exclaiming, "Save, O Krishna, O Eternal" approached them and said—"O thou, spread all over the universe, O thou who art manifest in the universe, O thou the creator of the universe, O Janārddana! do thou save these Brāhmanas from the unbearable flame set up by their magical incantations. As the omnipresent Vishnu, the preceptor of the world, is present in all creatures, let these priests regain their life. Vishnu being present everywhere, as I did not consider fire as my enemy let the priests be restored to life. I regarded with a friendly attitude all those who came to slay me, those who offered me poison, those who kindled fire, the elephants of the skies and serpents by whom I was bitten. And I never entertained malice against them; if this be true let the priests of Asuras be restored to life". Parāçara said:—He having said this they all, touched, rose up unhurt, and spoke to Prahlāda who was humble,—"O boy, O foremost of all, be thou crowned with a long life, undaunted strength and prowess". O great Muni, having said this, the priests repaired to the king of Daityas and related to him every thing.
SECTION XVIII.Parāçara said:—Having observed the conduct of Prahlāda, the Dānavas, out of fear, reported it to the king. Hiranyakashipu sent for his cooks and said "O cooks—my vile and wicked son is teaching others his impious doctrines. Do ye slay him without his knowledge by mixing up deadly poison with all his viands. Do not hesitate to destroy that wretch". Parāçara said:—Thereupon they offered poison to the high-souled Prahlāda as they were commanded by his sire. O Maitreya, repeating the name of the imperishable and mixing that poison with his food he ate it up. Prahlāda did not suffer any harm either in body or in mind for the very name of the endless baffled the power of the poison. Beholding that deadly poison digested by him, they stricken with fear approached the king of Daityas and said: "O king of Daityas, deadliest poison was offered by us but it was digested with food by thy son Prahlāda". Hiranyakashipu said,—"Hasten, hasten, O ye priests of the Daityas: do ye speedily perform the rites that will bring about his destruction". Parāçara said:—Thereupon the priests approaching Prahlāda and beholding him lowly consoled him and said,—"Thou hast been born in the family of Brahmā celebrated in the three worlds and thou art the son of Hiranyakashipu the king of Daityas. Why dost thou depend upon the gods? Thy father is the refuge of all people:—thou dost also become the same. Do thou renounce eulogising the enemy of thy family: know that a father is the most venerable of all preceptors". Prahlāda said—"O illustrious Brahmins, that ye have said is true—the family of Marichi is celebrated in the three worlds—this cannot be gainsaid. My father has attained to the foremost place in the world by his actions—I have known this to be true—there is not the least shadow of untruth. That a father is the most venerable of all preceptors—I do not find the least mistake in this assertion. Forsooth, father is a venerable preceptor and is to be respected with all care. Methinks I have not committed any offence in this respect. You have said, 'Why do you seek shelter of the eternal?' I do not know how far this statement is sound and reasonable". Having said this Prahlāda remained speechless for some time to uphold their dignity. And again smiling he said: "'Why do you seek shelter of the eternal,' was it fair for you to accost me thus? What need of the eternal? Most admirable, most worthy of you, O my preceptors. If it does not pain you, hear what need there is of the eternal. Virtue, desire, wealth and emancipation are the fourfold objects of men. Is it vain to adore him who is the source of these four objects? Why do ye speak in vain? Marichi and other ascetics, the Patriarch Daksha and other eminent men attained to virtue and others and obtained the enjoyment of their desires. Others, through true wisdom and holy contemplation, have come to know his essence, and being freed from the bondage of the world have obtained emancipation. The adoration of Hari, attainable by unity, is the root of all wealth, dignity, glory, wisdom, progeny, piety and emancipation. O twice-born one, virtue, wealth, desire and final emancipation (all) proceed from him (and still you say) what need is of the eternal? What is the use of speaking more, you are all my preceptors—speak ye good or evil, limited is my understanding". The priests said—"O boy thou wert about to be consumed by fire, but we saved you thinking that you would not give vent to such words again. We know how foolish you are. If you, at our words, do not remove this hallucination we shall, O vicious-minded one, perform rites for your destruction". Prahlāda said—"Who slayeth what living creature—who preserveth what living creature? Every one is his own destroyer or preserver accordingly as he follows evil or good". Parāçara said:—Being thus addressed, the priests of the Daitya-chief were excited with rage, and instantly, by virtue of their magical powers, created a female form enveloped with fiery flame. That highly dreadful figure, under whose tread earth trembled, greatly wroth, struck him instantly on his breast with a dart. That fiery dart reaching speedily the breast of the boy fell on the ground broken into hundred pieces. Even a thunder-bolt is shattered against the breast of him in whose heart the imperishable Hari resides—what to, speak of a dart? The magic, which was directed by the vicious priests against the guileless (Prahlāda), then fell upon them and slew them all; And beholding them thus consumed by fire the noble Prahlāda exclaiming, "Save, O Krishna, O Eternal" approached them and said—"O thou, spread all over the universe, O thou who art manifest in the universe, O thou the creator of the universe, O Janārddana! do thou save these Brāhmanas from the unbearable flame set up by their magical incantations. As the omnipresent Vishnu, the preceptor of the world, is present in all creatures, let these priests regain their life. Vishnu being present everywhere, as I did not consider fire as my enemy let the priests be restored to life. I regarded with a friendly attitude all those who came to slay me, those who offered me poison, those who kindled fire, the elephants of the skies and serpents by whom I was bitten. And I never entertained malice against them; if this be true let the priests of Asuras be restored to life". Parāçara said:—He having said this they all, touched, rose up unhurt, and spoke to Prahlāda who was humble,—"O boy, O foremost of all, be thou crowned with a long life, undaunted strength and prowess". O great Muni, having said this, the priests repaired to the king of Daityas and related to him every thing.
SECTION XVIII.Parāçara said:—Having observed the conduct of Prahlāda, the Dānavas, out of fear, reported it to the king. Hiranyakashipu sent for his cooks and said "O cooks—my vile and wicked son is teaching others his impious doctrines. Do ye slay him without his knowledge by mixing up deadly poison with all his viands. Do not hesitate to destroy that wretch". Parāçara said:—Thereupon they offered poison to the high-souled Prahlāda as they were commanded by his sire. O Maitreya, repeating the name of the imperishable and mixing that poison with his food he ate it up. Prahlāda did not suffer any harm either in body or in mind for the very name of the endless baffled the power of the poison. Beholding that deadly poison digested by him, they stricken with fear approached the king of Daityas and said: "O king of Daityas, deadliest poison was offered by us but it was digested with food by thy son Prahlāda". Hiranyakashipu said,—"Hasten, hasten, O ye priests of the Daityas: do ye speedily perform the rites that will bring about his destruction". Parāçara said:—Thereupon the priests approaching Prahlāda and beholding him lowly consoled him and said,—"Thou hast been born in the family of Brahmā celebrated in the three worlds and thou art the son of Hiranyakashipu the king of Daityas. Why dost thou depend upon the gods? Thy father is the refuge of all people:—thou dost also become the same. Do thou renounce eulogising the enemy of thy family: know that a father is the most venerable of all preceptors". Prahlāda said—"O illustrious Brahmins, that ye have said is true—the family of Marichi is celebrated in the three worlds—this cannot be gainsaid. My father has attained to the foremost place in the world by his actions—I have known this to be true—there is not the least shadow of untruth. That a father is the most venerable of all preceptors—I do not find the least mistake in this assertion. Forsooth, father is a venerable preceptor and is to be respected with all care. Methinks I have not committed any offence in this respect. You have said, 'Why do you seek shelter of the eternal?' I do not know how far this statement is sound and reasonable". Having said this Prahlāda remained speechless for some time to uphold their dignity. And again smiling he said: "'Why do you seek shelter of the eternal,' was it fair for you to accost me thus? What need of the eternal? Most admirable, most worthy of you, O my preceptors. If it does not pain you, hear what need there is of the eternal. Virtue, desire, wealth and emancipation are the fourfold objects of men. Is it vain to adore him who is the source of these four objects? Why do ye speak in vain? Marichi and other ascetics, the Patriarch Daksha and other eminent men attained to virtue and others and obtained the enjoyment of their desires. Others, through true wisdom and holy contemplation, have come to know his essence, and being freed from the bondage of the world have obtained emancipation. The adoration of Hari, attainable by unity, is the root of all wealth, dignity, glory, wisdom, progeny, piety and emancipation. O twice-born one, virtue, wealth, desire and final emancipation (all) proceed from him (and still you say) what need is of the eternal? What is the use of speaking more, you are all my preceptors—speak ye good or evil, limited is my understanding". The priests said—"O boy thou wert about to be consumed by fire, but we saved you thinking that you would not give vent to such words again. We know how foolish you are. If you, at our words, do not remove this hallucination we shall, O vicious-minded one, perform rites for your destruction". Prahlāda said—"Who slayeth what living creature—who preserveth what living creature? Every one is his own destroyer or preserver accordingly as he follows evil or good". Parāçara said:—Being thus addressed, the priests of the Daitya-chief were excited with rage, and instantly, by virtue of their magical powers, created a female form enveloped with fiery flame. That highly dreadful figure, under whose tread earth trembled, greatly wroth, struck him instantly on his breast with a dart. That fiery dart reaching speedily the breast of the boy fell on the ground broken into hundred pieces. Even a thunder-bolt is shattered against the breast of him in whose heart the imperishable Hari resides—what to, speak of a dart? The magic, which was directed by the vicious priests against the guileless (Prahlāda), then fell upon them and slew them all; And beholding them thus consumed by fire the noble Prahlāda exclaiming, "Save, O Krishna, O Eternal" approached them and said—"O thou, spread all over the universe, O thou who art manifest in the universe, O thou the creator of the universe, O Janārddana! do thou save these Brāhmanas from the unbearable flame set up by their magical incantations. As the omnipresent Vishnu, the preceptor of the world, is present in all creatures, let these priests regain their life. Vishnu being present everywhere, as I did not consider fire as my enemy let the priests be restored to life. I regarded with a friendly attitude all those who came to slay me, those who offered me poison, those who kindled fire, the elephants of the skies and serpents by whom I was bitten. And I never entertained malice against them; if this be true let the priests of Asuras be restored to life". Parāçara said:—He having said this they all, touched, rose up unhurt, and spoke to Prahlāda who was humble,—"O boy, O foremost of all, be thou crowned with a long life, undaunted strength and prowess". O great Muni, having said this, the priests repaired to the king of Daityas and related to him every thing.
Parāçara said:—Having observed the conduct of Prahlāda, the Dānavas, out of fear, reported it to the king. Hiranyakashipu sent for his cooks and said "O cooks—my vile and wicked son is teaching others his impious doctrines. Do ye slay him without his knowledge by mixing up deadly poison with all his viands. Do not hesitate to destroy that wretch". Parāçara said:—Thereupon they offered poison to the high-souled Prahlāda as they were commanded by his sire. O Maitreya, repeating the name of the imperishable and mixing that poison with his food he ate it up. Prahlāda did not suffer any harm either in body or in mind for the very name of the endless baffled the power of the poison. Beholding that deadly poison digested by him, they stricken with fear approached the king of Daityas and said: "O king of Daityas, deadliest poison was offered by us but it was digested with food by thy son Prahlāda". Hiranyakashipu said,—"Hasten, hasten, O ye priests of the Daityas: do ye speedily perform the rites that will bring about his destruction". Parāçara said:—Thereupon the priests approaching Prahlāda and beholding him lowly consoled him and said,—"Thou hast been born in the family of Brahmā celebrated in the three worlds and thou art the son of Hiranyakashipu the king of Daityas. Why dost thou depend upon the gods? Thy father is the refuge of all people:—thou dost also become the same. Do thou renounce eulogising the enemy of thy family: know that a father is the most venerable of all preceptors". Prahlāda said—"O illustrious Brahmins, that ye have said is true—the family of Marichi is celebrated in the three worlds—this cannot be gainsaid. My father has attained to the foremost place in the world by his actions—I have known this to be true—there is not the least shadow of untruth. That a father is the most venerable of all preceptors—I do not find the least mistake in this assertion. Forsooth, father is a venerable preceptor and is to be respected with all care. Methinks I have not committed any offence in this respect. You have said, 'Why do you seek shelter of the eternal?' I do not know how far this statement is sound and reasonable". Having said this Prahlāda remained speechless for some time to uphold their dignity. And again smiling he said: "'Why do you seek shelter of the eternal,' was it fair for you to accost me thus? What need of the eternal? Most admirable, most worthy of you, O my preceptors. If it does not pain you, hear what need there is of the eternal. Virtue, desire, wealth and emancipation are the fourfold objects of men. Is it vain to adore him who is the source of these four objects? Why do ye speak in vain? Marichi and other ascetics, the Patriarch Daksha and other eminent men attained to virtue and others and obtained the enjoyment of their desires. Others, through true wisdom and holy contemplation, have come to know his essence, and being freed from the bondage of the world have obtained emancipation. The adoration of Hari, attainable by unity, is the root of all wealth, dignity, glory, wisdom, progeny, piety and emancipation. O twice-born one, virtue, wealth, desire and final emancipation (all) proceed from him (and still you say) what need is of the eternal? What is the use of speaking more, you are all my preceptors—speak ye good or evil, limited is my understanding". The priests said—"O boy thou wert about to be consumed by fire, but we saved you thinking that you would not give vent to such words again. We know how foolish you are. If you, at our words, do not remove this hallucination we shall, O vicious-minded one, perform rites for your destruction". Prahlāda said—"Who slayeth what living creature—who preserveth what living creature? Every one is his own destroyer or preserver accordingly as he follows evil or good". Parāçara said:—Being thus addressed, the priests of the Daitya-chief were excited with rage, and instantly, by virtue of their magical powers, created a female form enveloped with fiery flame. That highly dreadful figure, under whose tread earth trembled, greatly wroth, struck him instantly on his breast with a dart. That fiery dart reaching speedily the breast of the boy fell on the ground broken into hundred pieces. Even a thunder-bolt is shattered against the breast of him in whose heart the imperishable Hari resides—what to, speak of a dart? The magic, which was directed by the vicious priests against the guileless (Prahlāda), then fell upon them and slew them all; And beholding them thus consumed by fire the noble Prahlāda exclaiming, "Save, O Krishna, O Eternal" approached them and said—"O thou, spread all over the universe, O thou who art manifest in the universe, O thou the creator of the universe, O Janārddana! do thou save these Brāhmanas from the unbearable flame set up by their magical incantations. As the omnipresent Vishnu, the preceptor of the world, is present in all creatures, let these priests regain their life. Vishnu being present everywhere, as I did not consider fire as my enemy let the priests be restored to life. I regarded with a friendly attitude all those who came to slay me, those who offered me poison, those who kindled fire, the elephants of the skies and serpents by whom I was bitten. And I never entertained malice against them; if this be true let the priests of Asuras be restored to life". Parāçara said:—He having said this they all, touched, rose up unhurt, and spoke to Prahlāda who was humble,—"O boy, O foremost of all, be thou crowned with a long life, undaunted strength and prowess". O great Muni, having said this, the priests repaired to the king of Daityas and related to him every thing.