Narasimha Purana — Chapter 42
NsP 42.1
सो ऽप्य् आशु नीतो गुरुवेश्म दैत्यैर् दैत्येन्द्रसूनुर् हरिभक्तिभूषणः अशेषविद्यानिवहेन साकं कालेन कौमारम् अवाप योगी
so 'py āśu nīto guruveśma daityair daityendrasūnur haribhaktibhūṣaṇaḥ aśeṣavidyānivahena sākaṃ kālena kaumāram avāpa yogī
And he too, the son of the lord of demons, adorned with devotion to Hari, was quickly taken by the demons to the teacher's house; and in time that yogin reached boyhood together with the entire mass of learning.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.2
प्रायेण कौमारम् अवाप्य लोकः पुष्णाति नास्तिक्यम् असद्गतिं च तस्मिन् वयःस्थस्य बहिर्विरक्तिर् भवत्य् अभूच् चित्रम् अजे च भक्तिः
prāyeṇa kaumāram avāpya lokaḥ puṣṇāti nāstikyam asadgatiṃ ca tasmin vayaḥsthasya bahirviraktir bhavaty abhūc citram aje ca bhaktiḥ
As a rule, on reaching boyhood people nourish godlessness and a bad course; but in him, while he was at that age, there was outward detachment, and — a marvel — devotion to the unborn one.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.3
अथ संपूर्णविद्यं तं कदाचिद् दितिजेश्वरः आनाय्य प्रणतं प्राह प्रह्लादं विदितेश्वरम्
atha saṃpūrṇavidyaṃ taṃ kadācid ditijeśvaraḥ ānāyya praṇataṃ prāha prahlādaṃ viditeśvaram
Then once, when his learning was complete, the lord of Diti's sons had Prahlāda, who knew the Lord, brought before him, and as he bowed, spoke to him.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.4
साध्व् अज्ञाननिधेर् बाल्यान् मुक्तो ऽसि सुरसूदन इदानीं भ्राजसे भास्वान् नीहाराद् इव निर्गतः
sādhv ajñānanidher bālyān mukto 'si surasūdana idānīṃ bhrājase bhāsvān nīhārād iva nirgataḥ
"Well done! You are free of childhood, that treasury of ignorance, O slayer of the gods; now you shine like the sun come out of the mist.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.5
बाल्ये वयं च त्वम् इव द्विजैर् जाड्याय मोहिताः वयसा वर्धमानेन पुत्रकैवं सुशिक्षिताः
bālye vayaṃ ca tvam iva dvijair jāḍyāya mohitāḥ vayasā vardhamānena putrakaivaṃ suśikṣitāḥ
"In childhood we too, like you, were deluded by brahmins into dullness; but as our years grew, my little son, we were well schooled in this way.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.6
तद् अद्य त्वयि धुर्ये ऽहं संसकण्टकताधुरम् विन्यस्य स्वां चिरधृतां सुखी पश्यन् श्रियं तव
tad adya tvayi dhurye 'haṃ saṃsakaṇṭakatādhuram vinyasya svāṃ ciradhṛtāṃ sukhī paśyan śriyaṃ tava
"So today, laying upon you, who can bear the yoke, my own long-borne load of the thorn (in my side), I am happy, seeing your splendour.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
NsP 42.7
यदा यदा हि नैपुण्यं पिता पुत्रस्य पश्यति तदा तदाधिं त्यक्त्वा नु महत् सौख्यम् अवाप्नुयात्
yadā yadā hi naipuṇyaṃ pitā putrasya paśyati tadā tadādhiṃ tyaktvā nu mahat saukhyam avāpnuyāt
"For whenever a father sees his son's competence, then indeed, casting off his worry, he must attain great happiness.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.8
गुरुश् चातीव नैपुण्यं ममाग्रे ऽवर्णयत् तव न चित्रं पुत्र तच् छ्रोतुं किं नु मे वाञ्छतः श्रुती
guruś cātīva naipuṇyaṃ mamāgre 'varṇayat tava na citraṃ putra tac chrotuṃ kiṃ nu me vāñchataḥ śrutī
"And the teacher described your very great competence in my presence — no wonder, son: what else are my ears for, longing to hear that?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.9
नेत्रयोः शत्रुदारिद्र्यं श्रोत्रयोः सुतसूक्तयः युद्धव्रणं च गात्रेषु मायिनां च महोत्सवः
netrayoḥ śatrudāridryaṃ śrotrayoḥ sutasūktayaḥ yuddhavraṇaṃ ca gātreṣu māyināṃ ca mahotsavaḥ
"The poverty of one's enemies for the eyes, a son's fine sayings for the ears, and a battle-wound on the limbs — that is the great festival of the wielders of magic.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.10
श्रुत्वेति निकृतिप्रज्ञं दैत्याधिपवचस् ततः जगाद योगी निश्शङ्कं प्रह्लादः प्रणतो गुरुम्
śrutveti nikṛtiprajñaṃ daityādhipavacas tataḥ jagāda yogī niśśaṅkaṃ prahlādaḥ praṇato gurum
Hearing thus the demon-lord's words, whose intent was deceit, the yogin Prahlāda then bowed to his elder and spoke without hesitation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.11
सूक्तयः श्रोत्रयोः सत्यं महाराज महोत्सवः किंतु ता वैष्णवीर् वाचो मुक्त्वा नान्या विचारयेत्
sūktayaḥ śrotrayoḥ satyaṃ mahārāja mahotsavaḥ kiṃtu tā vaiṣṇavīr vāco muktvā nānyā vicārayet
"It is true, great king, that fine sayings are a great festival for the ears; but apart from those words concerning Viṣṇu, one should reflect on no others.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.12
नीतिः सूक्तिः कथाः श्राव्याः श्राव्यं काव्यं च तद् वचः यत्र संसृतिदुःखौघकक्षाग्निर् गीयते हरिः
nītiḥ sūktiḥ kathāḥ śrāvyāḥ śrāvyaṃ kāvyaṃ ca tad vacaḥ yatra saṃsṛtiduḥkhaughakakṣāgnir gīyate hariḥ
"That speech is (true) statecraft, fine saying, tales worth hearing, and poetry worth hearing, in which Hari is sung, the fire that burns the thicket of the flood of sorrows of transmigration.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.13
अचिन्त्यः स्तूयते यत्र भक्त्या भक्तेप्सितप्रदः अर्थशात्रेण किं तात यत्र संसृतिसंततिः
acintyaḥ stūyate yatra bhaktyā bhaktepsitapradaḥ arthaśātreṇa kiṃ tāta yatra saṃsṛtisaṃtatiḥ
"(That, ) wherein the inconceivable one, who grants what his devotees desire, is praised with devotion. What use is the science of wealth, father, in which lies the continuation of transmigration?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.14
शास्त्रश्रमेण किं तात येनात्मैव विहंस्यते वैष्णवं वाङ्मयं तस्माच् *छ्राव्यं सेव्यं च सर्वदा
śāstraśrameṇa kiṃ tāta yenātmaiva vihaṃsyate vaiṣṇavaṃ vāṅmayaṃ tasmāc *chrāvyaṃ sevyaṃ ca sarvadā
"What use, father, is toil over the scriptures by which the self itself is destroyed? Therefore the body of Vaiṣṇava speech is always to be heard and attended to
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.15
मुमुक्षुभिर् भवक्लेशान् नो चेन् नैव सुखी भवेत् इति तस्य वचः शृण्वन् हिरण्यकशिपुस् तदा
mumukṣubhir bhavakleśān no cen naiva sukhī bhavet iti tasya vacaḥ śṛṇvan hiraṇyakaśipus tadā
"by those who seek release from the torments of existence; otherwise one will never be happy." Hearing these words of his, Hiraṇyakaśipu then
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.16
जज्वाल दैत्यराट् तप्तसर्पिर् अद्भिर् इवाधिकम् प्रह्लादस्य गिरं पुण्यां जनसंसृतिनाशिनीम्
jajvāla daityarāṭ taptasarpir adbhir ivādhikam prahlādasya giraṃ puṇyāṃ janasaṃsṛtināśinīm
— the demon-king blazed up all the more, like heated ghee with water, at Prahlāda's holy speech that destroys the transmigration of men.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.17
नामृस्यतासुरः क्षुद्रो घूको भानुप्रभाम् इव परितो वीक्ष्य संप्राह क्रुद्धो दैत्यभटान् इदम्
nāmṛsyatāsuraḥ kṣudro ghūko bhānuprabhām iva parito vīkṣya saṃprāha kruddho daityabhaṭān idam
The petty demon could not endure (it), as an owl cannot endure the sun's radiance; looking about, enraged, he said this to the demon soldiers:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.18
हन्यताम् एष कुटिलः शस्त्रपातैः सुभीषणैः उत्कृत्त्योत्कृत्त्य मर्माणि रक्षितास्तु हरिः स्वयम्
hanyatām eṣa kuṭilaḥ śastrapātaiḥ subhīṣaṇaiḥ utkṛttyotkṛttya marmāṇi rakṣitāstu hariḥ svayam
"Let this crooked one be slain with most terrifying strokes of weapons, cutting and cutting away his vital parts — let Hari himself protect him!
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.19
पश्यत्व् इदानीम् एवैष हरिसंस्तवजं फलम् काकोलकङ्कगृध्रेभ्यो ह्य् अस्याङ्गं संविभज्यताम्
paśyatv idānīm evaiṣa harisaṃstavajaṃ phalam kākolakaṅkagṛdhrebhyo hy asyāṅgaṃ saṃvibhajyatām
"Let him see right now the fruit born of praising Hari; indeed, let his body be parcelled out to crows, owls, herons and vultures."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.20
अथोद्धृतास्त्रा दैतेयस् तर्जयन्तः प्रगर्जितैः अच्युतस्य प्रियं भक्तं तं जग्नुः पतिनोदिताः
athoddhṛtāstrā daiteyas tarjayantaḥ pragarjitaiḥ acyutasya priyaṃ bhaktaṃ taṃ jagnuḥ patinoditāḥ
Then the sons of Diti, with weapons raised, threatening (him) with roars, urged on by their master, struck that dear devotee of the Unfallen (Viṣṇu).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.21
प्रह्लादो ऽपि प्रभुं नत्वा ध्यानवज्रं समाददे अकृत्रिमरसम् भक्तं तम् इत्थं ध्याननिश्चलम्
prahlādo 'pi prabhuṃ natvā dhyānavajraṃ samādade akṛtrimarasam bhaktaṃ tam itthaṃ dhyānaniścalam
Prahlāda too, bowing to the Lord, took up the thunderbolt of meditation; (and toward) that devotee of unfeigned love, thus unmoving in meditation,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.22
ररक्ष भगवान् विष्णुः प्रह्लादं भक्तदुःखहृत् अथालब्धपदान्य् अस्य गात्रे शस्त्राणि रक्षसाम्
rarakṣa bhagavān viṣṇuḥ prahlādaṃ bhaktaduḥkhahṛt athālabdhapadāny asya gātre śastrāṇi rakṣasām
the Lord Viṣṇu, remover of his devotees' suffering, protected Prahlāda; then the demons' weapons, finding no lodging on his body,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.23
नीलाब्जशकलानीव पेतुश् छिन्नान्य् अनेकधा किं प्राकृतानि शस्त्राणि करिष्यन्ति हरिप्रिये
nīlābjaśakalānīva petuś chinnāny anekadhā kiṃ prākṛtāni śastrāṇi kariṣyanti haripriye
fell broken in many pieces, like fragments of blue lotuses. What will ordinary weapons accomplish against one dear to Hari?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.24
तापत्रयमहास्त्रौघः सर्वो ऽप्य् अस्माद् बिभेति वै पीडयन्ति जनांस् तावद् व्याधयो राक्षसा ग्रहाः
tāpatrayamahāstraughaḥ sarvo 'py asmād bibheti vai pīḍayanti janāṃs tāvad vyādhayo rākṣasā grahāḥ
Even the whole flood of the great missiles of the three afflictions is afraid of him. Diseases, demons and (malign) planets torment people only so long
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.25
यावद् गुहाशयं विष्णुं सूक्ष्मं चेतो न विन्दति ते तु भग्नास्त्रशकलैः प्रतीपोत्थैर् इतस् ततः
yāvad guhāśayaṃ viṣṇuṃ sūkṣmaṃ ceto na vindati te tu bhagnāstraśakalaiḥ pratīpotthair itas tataḥ
as the mind does not find the subtle Viṣṇu who dwells in the cave (of the heart). But they, (struck) here and there by the fragments of their broken weapons rebounding back,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.26
हन्यमाना न्यवर्तन्त सद्यः फलददैर् इव न चित्रं विबुधानां तद् अज्ञानां विस्मयावहम्
hanyamānā nyavartanta sadyaḥ phaladadair iva na citraṃ vibudhānāṃ tad ajñānāṃ vismayāvaham
being struck, at once turned back, as if by weapons that gave back their fruit. That is no wonder for the wise, (though) it brings amazement to the ignorant.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.27
वैष्णवं बलम् आलोक्य राजा नूनं भयं दधौ पुनस् तस्य वधोपायं चिन्तयन् स सुदुर्मतिः
vaiṣṇavaṃ balam ālokya rājā nūnaṃ bhayaṃ dadhau punas tasya vadhopāyaṃ cintayan sa sudurmatiḥ
Seeing the strength that comes from Viṣṇu, the king surely felt fear; and again that very evil-minded one pondered a means of killing him.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.28
समादिशत् समाहूय दंदशूकान् सुदुर्विषान् अशस्त्रवधयोग्यो ऽयम् अस्मयो हरितोषकृत्
samādiśat samāhūya daṃdaśūkān sudurviṣān aśastravadhayogyo 'yam asmayo haritoṣakṛt
Having summoned biting serpents of most deadly venom, he commanded: "This unwavering one, who gives pleasure to Hari, is not to be killed by weapons.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.29
तस्माद् भवदिभिर् अचिराद् हन्यतां गरलायुधाः हिरण्यकशिपोः श्रुत्वा वचनं ते भुजंगमाः तस्याज्ञां जगृहुर् मूर्ध्ना प्रहर्षाद् देशवर्तिनः
tasmād bhavadibhir acirād hanyatāṃ garalāyudhāḥ hiraṇyakaśipoḥ śrutvā vacanaṃ te bhujaṃgamāḥ tasyājñāṃ jagṛhur mūrdhnā praharṣād deśavartinaḥ
"Therefore let him be slain quickly by you, whose weapon is poison." Hearing Hiraṇyakaśipu's word, those serpents, dwelling in that region, took his command upon their heads with delight.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.30
अथ ज्वलद्दशनकरालदंष्ट्रिण स्फुटस्फुरद्दशनसहस्रभीषणाः अकर्षका हरिमहिस्वकर्षका हरिप्रियं द्रुततरम् आपतन् रुषा
atha jvaladdaśanakarāladaṃṣṭriṇa sphuṭasphuraddaśanasahasrabhīṣaṇāḥ akarṣakā harimahisvakarṣakā haripriyaṃ drutataram āpatan ruṣā
Then those (serpents), with fearsome fangs and blazing teeth, terrifying with a thousand teeth flashing and glinting, unattracted (by pity) and drawing to themselves the great splendour of Hari, rushed in fury very swiftly upon the one dear to Hari.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
NsP 42.31
गरायुधास् त्वचम् अपि भेत्तुम् अल्पिकां वपुष्यजस्मृतिबलदुर्भिदाकृतेः अलं न ते हरिवपुषं तु केवलं विदश्य तं निजदशनैर् विना कृताः
garāyudhās tvacam api bhettum alpikāṃ vapuṣyajasmṛtibaladurbhidākṛteḥ alaṃ na te harivapuṣaṃ tu kevalaṃ vidaśya taṃ nijadaśanair vinā kṛtāḥ
Those whose weapon was poison were not able to pierce even the thin skin on the body of him whose form was unpierceable through the strength of remembrance of the Unborn; rather, biting that Hari-bodied one, they were simply deprived of their own teeth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.32
ततः स्रवत्क्षतजविषण्णमूर्तयो द्विधाकृताद्भुतदशना भुजंगमाः समेत्य ते दितिजपतिं व्यजिज्ञपन् विनिःश्वसत्प्रचलफणा भुजंगमाः
tataḥ sravatkṣatajaviṣaṇṇamūrtayo dvidhākṛtādbhutadaśanā bhujaṃgamāḥ sametya te ditijapatiṃ vyajijñapan viniḥśvasatpracalaphaṇā bhujaṃgamāḥ
Then the serpents, their bodies dejected with flowing blood, their marvellous teeth split in two, hissing, their hoods trembling, came together and reported to the lord of Diti's sons:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.33
प्रभो महीध्रान् अपि भस्मशेषांस् तस्मिन्न् अशक्तास् तु तदैव वध्याः महानुभावस्य तवात्मजस्य वधे नियुक्त्वा दशनैर् विना कृताः
prabho mahīdhrān api bhasmaśeṣāṃs tasminn aśaktās tu tadaiva vadhyāḥ mahānubhāvasya tavātmajasya vadhe niyuktvā daśanair vinā kṛtāḥ
"O lord, though (our poison) leaves even mountains as mere ash, we were powerless against him — indeed we deserved to be killed then and there. Having been appointed to the killing of your son of great power, we have been made toothless."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
NsP 42.34
इत्थं द्विजिह्वाः कठिनं निवेद्य ययुर् विसृष्टाः प्रभुणाकृतार्थाः विचिन्तयन्तः पृथुविस्मयेन प्रह्लादसामर्थ्यनिदानम् एव
itthaṃ dvijihvāḥ kaṭhinaṃ nivedya yayur visṛṣṭāḥ prabhuṇākṛtārthāḥ vicintayantaḥ pṛthuvismayena prahlādasāmarthyanidānam eva
Having thus reported the hard (news), the forked-tongued ones, dismissed by the lord, went away with their purpose unaccomplished, pondering with great astonishment on the very cause of Prahlāda's power.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.35
अथासुरेशः सचिवैर् विचार्य निश्चित्य सूनुं तम् अदण्डसाध्यम् आहूय साम्ना प्रणतं जगाद वाक्यं सदा निर्मलपुण्यचित्तम् प्रह्लाद दुष्टो ऽपि निजाङ्गजातो न वध्य इत्य् अद्य कृपा ममाभूत्
athāsureśaḥ sacivair vicārya niścitya sūnuṃ tam adaṇḍasādhyam āhūya sāmnā praṇataṃ jagāda vākyaṃ sadā nirmalapuṇyacittam prahlāda duṣṭo 'pi nijāṅgajāto na vadhya ity adya kṛpā mamābhūt
Then the lord of the demons, having deliberated with his ministers and concluded that his son could not be won by punishment, summoned him and spoke gently to him as he bowed, his mind ever pure and holy: "Prahlāda, even though wicked, one born of one's own body is not to be killed — such compassion has arisen in me today."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.36
ततस् तूर्णं समागत्य दैत्यराजपुरोहिताः मूढाः प्राञ्जलयः प्राहुर् द्विजाः शास्त्रविशारदाः
tatas tūrṇaṃ samāgatya daityarājapurohitāḥ mūḍhāḥ prāñjalayaḥ prāhur dvijāḥ śāstraviśāradāḥ
Then the house-priests of the demon king came quickly, deluded twice-born men skilled in the scriptures, and with palms joined said:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.37
त्रैलोक्यं कम्पते देव भृशं त्वय्य् अभिकाङ्क्षिणि प्रह्लादस् त्वां न जानाति क्रुद्धं स्वल्पो महाबलम्
trailokyaṃ kampate deva bhṛśaṃ tvayy abhikāṅkṣiṇi prahlādas tvāṃ na jānāti kruddhaṃ svalpo mahābalam
"The three worlds tremble violently, O god, when you set your will (on something). Prahlāda does not know you when you are angry; he is small, and you are of great strength."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.38
तद् अलं देव रोषेण दयां कर्तुं त्वम् अर्हसि पुत्रः कुपुत्रताम् एति न मातापितरौ कदा
tad alaṃ deva roṣeṇa dayāṃ kartuṃ tvam arhasi putraḥ kuputratām eti na mātāpitarau kadā
"So enough of anger, O god; you ought to show mercy. A son may turn out a bad son, but mother and father never (turn against him)."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 42.39
उक्त्वेति कुटिलप्रज्ञं दैत्यं दैत्यपुरोहिताः आदाय तदनुज्ञातं प्रह्लादं धीधनं ययुः
uktveti kuṭilaprajñaṃ daityaṃ daityapurohitāḥ ādāya tadanujñātaṃ prahlādaṃ dhīdhanaṃ yayuḥ
Having spoken thus to the crooked-minded Daitya, the priests of the Daityas took Prahlāda, whose wealth was wisdom, with that one's permission, and went (away).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition