Hiranyakashipu Terrorizes the Universe

Verse 1 (bhagavata.7.4.1)

श्रीनारद उवाच एवं वृतः शतधृतिर्हिरण्यकशिपोरथ । प्रादात्तत्तपसा प्रीतो वरांस्तस्य सुदुर्लभान् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-nārada uvāca evaṁ vṛtaḥ śata-dhṛtir hiraṇyakaśipor atha prādāt tat-tapasā prīto varāṁs tasya sudurlabhān

Shri Narada said: Thus entreated, Brahma of a hundred rites, pleased by Hiranyakashipu's austerity, granted him those boons, rare though they were.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.7.4.2)

श्रीब्रह्मोवाच तातेमे दुर्लभाः पुंसां यान् वृणीषे वरान् मम । तथापि वितराम्यङ्ग वरान् यद्यपि दुर्लभान् ॥ २ ॥

śrī-brahmovāca tāteme durlabhāḥ puṁsāṁ yān vṛṇīṣe varān mama tathāpi vitarāmy aṅga varān yadyapi durlabhān

Shri Brahma said: My son, these boons you ask of me are rare indeed for ordinary men to obtain. Even so, my child, difficult as they are, I grant them to you.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.7.4.3)

ततो जगाम भगवानमोघानुग्रहो विभुः । पूजितोऽसुरवर्येण स्तूयमानः प्रजेश्वरैः ॥ ३ ॥

tato jagāma bhagavān amoghānugraho vibhuḥ pūjito ’sura-varyeṇa stūyamānaḥ prajeśvaraiḥ

Then, worshiped by the foremost of asuras and praised by the lords of creation, the all-powerful Lord Brahma, whose favor is never in vain, departed from that place.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.7.4.4)

एवं लब्धवरो दैत्यो बिभ्रद्धेममयं वपुः । भगवत्यकरोद् द्वेषं भ्रातुर्वधमनुस्मरन् ॥ ४ ॥

evaṁ labdha-varo daityo bibhrad dhemamayaṁ vapuḥ bhagavaty akarod dveṣaṁ bhrātur vadham anusmaran

Having thus obtained his boon, the demon, now bearing a body radiant as gold, forever recalling his brother's death, nursed his hatred against the Lord.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.7.4.5)

स विजित्य दिशः सर्वा लोकांश्च त्रीन् महासुरः । देवासुरमनुष्येन्द्रगन्धर्वगरुडोरगान् ॥ ५ ॥

sa vijitya diśaḥ sarvā lokāṁś ca trīn mahāsuraḥ devāsura-manuṣyendra- gandharva-garuḍoragān

That great demon, having conquered every direction and all three worlds, brought under his sway the gods, the asuras, the kings of men, the Gandharvas, the Garudas, and the serpents.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.7.4.6)

सिद्धचारणविद्याध्रानृषीन् पितृपतीन्मनून् । यक्षरक्षःपिशाचेशान् प्रेतभूतपतीनपि ॥ ६ ॥

siddha-cāraṇa-vidyādhrān ṛṣīn pitṛ-patīn manūn yakṣa-rakṣaḥ-piśāceśān preta-bhūta-patīn api

The Siddhas, Charanas, and Vidyadharas, the sages, the lords of the ancestors, the Manus, the lords of the yakshas, rakshasas, and pishachas, and even the lords of ghosts and spirits — all these he brought under his control.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.7.4.7)

सर्वसत्त्वपतीञ्जित्वा वशमानीय विश्वजित् । जहार लोकपालानां स्थानानि सह तेजसा ॥ ७ ॥

sarva-sattva-patīñ jitvā vaśam ānīya viśva-jit jahāra loka-pālānāṁ sthānāni saha tejasā

That conqueror of the universe, having subdued and mastered the lords of all beings, seized the very seats of the world-guardians along with their power.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.7.4.8)

देवोद्यानश्रिया जुष्टमध्यास्ते स्म त्रिपिष्टपम् । महेन्द्रभवनं साक्षान्निर्मितं विश्वकर्मणा । त्रैलोक्यलक्ष्म्यायतनमध्युवासाखिलर्द्धिमत् ॥ ८ ॥

devodyāna-śriyā juṣṭam adhyāste sma tri-piṣṭapam mahendra-bhavanaṁ sākṣān nirmitaṁ viśvakarmaṇā trailokya-lakṣmy-āyatanam adhyuvāsākhilarddhimat

He came to dwell in that heaven graced by the divine garden's splendor — in Indra's own palace, built by Vishvakarma himself, the very abode of the three worlds' fortune, filled with every opulence.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.7.4.9)

यत्र विद्रुमसोपाना महामारकता भुवः । यत्र स्फाटिककुड्यानि वैदूर्यस्तम्भपङ्क्तयः ॥ ९ ॥

yatra vidruma-sopānā mahā-mārakatā bhuvaḥ yatra sphāṭika-kuḍyāni vaidūrya-stambha-paṅktayaḥ

There the stairways were made of coral, the floors of great emerald, the walls of crystal, and the rows of pillars of cat's-eye gem.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.7.4.10)

यत्र चित्रवितानानि पद्मरागासनानि च । पयःफेननिभाः शय्या मुक्तादामपरिच्छदाः ॥ १० ॥

yatra citra-vitānāni padmarāgāsanāni ca payaḥ-phena-nibhāḥ śayyā muktādāma-paricchadāḥ

There were richly painted canopies, seats of ruby, and beds white as milk-foam, adorned with strings of pearls.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.7.4.11)

कूजद्भिर्नूपुरैर्देव्यः शब्दयन्त्य इतस्ततः । रत्नस्थलीषु पश्यन्ति सुदतीः सुन्दरं मुखम् ॥ ११ ॥

kūjadbhir nūpurair devyaḥ śabda-yantya itas tataḥ ratna-sthalīṣu paśyanti sudatīḥ sundaraṁ mukham

The celestial women wandered there, their anklets tinkling as they moved about, and, lovely of teeth, they would gaze at their own beautiful faces mirrored in the jeweled floors.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.7.4.12)

तस्मिन्महेन्द्रभवने महाबलो महामना निर्जितलोक एकराट् । रेमेऽभिवन्द्याङ्घ्रियुगः सुरादिभिः प्रतापितैरूर्जितचण्डशासनः ॥ १२ ॥

tasmin mahendra-bhavane mahā-balo mahā-manā nirjita-loka eka-rāṭ reme ’bhivandyāṅghri-yugaḥ surādibhiḥ pratāpitair ūrjita-caṇḍa-śāsanaḥ

In that palace of Indra, the mighty, great-minded, sole sovereign who had conquered all worlds took his ease, his two feet worshipfully saluted by the gods and others, tormented as they were by his fierce and forceful rule.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.7.4.13)

तमङ्ग मत्तं मधुनोरुगन्धिना विवृत्तताम्राक्षमशेषधिष्ण्यपाः । उपासतोपायनपाणिभिर्विना त्रिभिस्तपोयोगबलौजसां पदम् ॥ १३ ॥

tam aṅga mattaṁ madhunoru-gandhinā vivṛtta-tāmrākṣam aśeṣa-dhiṣṇya-pāḥ upāsatopāyana-pāṇibhir vinā tribhis tapo-yoga-balaujasāṁ padam

O my dear king, drunk on strong-smelling wine, his coppery eyes rolling, that man who was a very storehouse of power gained through austerity and yoga was worshiped, gifts in hand, by every ruler of the worlds except the three — Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.7.4.14)

जगुर्महेन्द्रासनमोजसा स्थितं विश्वावसुस्तुम्बुरुरस्मदादयः । गन्धर्वसिद्धा ऋषयोऽस्तुवन्मुहु- र्विद्याधराश्चाप्सरसश्च पाण्डव ॥ १४ ॥

jagur mahendrāsanam ojasā sthitaṁ viśvāvasus tumburur asmad-ādayaḥ gandharva-siddhā ṛṣayo ’stuvan muhur vidyādharāś cāpsarasaś ca pāṇḍava

O Pandava, as he sat by his own power upon Indra's throne, Vishvavasu, Tumburu, and I myself would sing his praises; the Gandharvas, Siddhas, and sages extolled him again and again, and so did the Vidyadharas and Apsaras.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.7.4.15)

स एव वर्णाश्रमिभिः क्रतुभिर्भूरिदक्षिणैः । इज्यमानो हविर्भागानग्रहीत् स्वेन तेजसा ॥ १५ ॥

sa eva varṇāśramibhiḥ kratubhir bhūri-dakṣiṇaiḥ ijyamāno havir-bhāgān agrahīt svena tejasā

Worshiped in sacrifices offering rich gifts, performed by the followers of varna and ashrama, he, by his own power, took for himself the very shares of the oblations meant for the gods.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.7.4.16)

अकृष्टपच्या तस्यासीत् सप्तद्वीपवती मही । तथा कामदुघा गावो नानाश्चर्यपदं नभः ॥ १६ ॥

akṛṣṭa-pacyā tasyāsīt sapta-dvīpavatī mahī tathā kāma-dughā gāvo nānāścarya-padaṁ nabhaḥ

The earth, with its seven islands, out of fear of him, yielded its harvest without being plowed; the cows gave milk at will; and the sky itself became the seat of manifold wonders.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.7.4.17)

रत्नाकराश्च रत्नौघांस्तत्पत्न्यश्चोहुरूर्मिभिः । क्षारसीधुघृतक्षौद्रदधिक्षीरामृतोदकाः ॥ १७ ॥

ratnākarāś ca ratnaughāṁs tat-patnyaś cohur ūrmibhiḥ kṣāra-sīdhu-ghṛta-kṣaudra- dadhi-kṣīrāmṛtodakāḥ

The oceans — of salt water, of wine, of ghee, of honey, of curd, of milk, and of nectarine water — together with their wives, the rivers, bore floods of jewels to him upon their waves.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.7.4.18)

शैला द्रोणीभिराक्रीडं सर्वर्तुषु गुणान् द्रुमाः । दधार लोकपालानामेक एव पृथग्गुणान् ॥ १८ ॥

śailā droṇībhir ākrīḍaṁ sarvartuṣu guṇān drumāḥ dadhāra loka-pālānām eka eva pṛthag guṇān

The mountains, with their valleys, became his playgrounds; the trees bore fruit and flower in every season alike; and he alone came to hold, within himself, the separate powers otherwise divided among all the world-guardians.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.7.4.19)

स इत्थं निर्जितककुबेकराड् विषयान् प्रियान् । यथोपजोषं भुञ्जानो नातृप्यदजितेन्द्रियः ॥ १९ ॥

sa itthaṁ nirjita-kakub eka-rāḍ viṣayān priyān yathopajoṣaṁ bhuñjāno nātṛpyad ajitendriyaḥ

Thus that sole sovereign, having conquered every quarter, enjoyed every pleasing sense-object exactly as he wished, and yet, his senses left unconquered, he never found satisfaction.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.7.4.20)

एवमैश्वर्यमत्तस्य दृप्तस्योच्छास्त्रवर्तिनः । कालो महान् व्यतीयाय ब्रह्मशापमुपेयुषः ॥ २० ॥

evam aiśvarya-mattasya dṛptasyocchāstra-vartinaḥ kālo mahān vyatīyāya brahma-śāpam upeyuṣaḥ

Thus, drunk on his own opulence, proud, and transgressing the bounds set by scripture, a long span of time passed for him — until at last he even drew down a brahmana's curse.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.7.4.21)

तस्योग्रदण्डसंविग्नाः सर्वे लोकाः सपालकाः । अन्यत्रालब्धशरणाः शरणं ययुरच्युतम् ॥ २१ ॥

tasyogra-daṇḍa-saṁvignāḥ sarve lokāḥ sapālakāḥ anyatrālabdha-śaraṇāḥ śaraṇaṁ yayur acyutam

Terrified by his fierce punishments, all the worlds, together with their guardians, finding refuge nowhere else, went for shelter to the infallible Lord.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.7.4.22)

तस्यै नमोऽस्तु काष्ठायै यत्रात्मा हरिरीश्वरः । यद्गत्वा न निवर्तन्ते शान्ताः संन्यासिनोऽमलाः ॥ २२ ॥

tasyai namo ’stu kāṣṭhāyai yatrātmā harir īśvaraḥ yad gatvā na nivartante śāntāḥ sannyāsino ’malāḥ

"Homage to that quarter where the Lord Hari, the very Self, dwells — reaching which, peaceful and purified renunciants never return again."

Verse 23 (bhagavata.7.4.23)

इति ते संयतात्मानः समाहितधियोऽमलाः । उपतस्थुर्हृषीकेशं विनिद्रा वायुभोजनाः ॥ २३ ॥

iti te saṁyatātmānaḥ samāhita-dhiyo ’malāḥ upatasthur hṛṣīkeśaṁ vinidrā vāyu-bhojanāḥ

Thus, with restrained hearts, minds gathered, and made pure, they worshiped Hrishikesha, forgoing sleep and sustaining themselves on air alone.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.7.4.24)

तेषामाविरभूद्वाणी अरूपा मेघनिःस्वना । सन्नादयन्ती ककुभः साधूनामभयङ्करी ॥ २४ ॥

teṣām āvirabhūd vāṇī arūpā megha-niḥsvanā sannādayantī kakubhaḥ sādhūnām abhayaṅkarī

Before them there arose a voice without form, deep as the rumble of a cloud, resounding through every quarter, bringing fearlessness to the saintly.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.7.4.25)

मा भैष्ट विबुधश्रेष्ठाः सर्वेषां भद्रमस्तु वः । मद्दर्शनं हि भूतानां सर्वश्रेयोपपत्तये ॥ २५ ॥

mā bhaiṣṭa vibudha-śreṣṭhāḥ sarveṣāṁ bhadram astu vaḥ mad-darśanaṁ hi bhūtānāṁ sarva-śreyopapattaye

"Fear not, O best of the wise; may good come to you all. My very sight itself is meant to bring about the highest good for all beings.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.7.4.26)

ज्ञातमेतस्य दौरात्म्यं दैतेयापसदस्य यत् । तस्य शान्तिं करिष्यामि कालं तावत्प्रतीक्षत ॥ २६ ॥

jñātam etasya daurātmyaṁ daiteyāpasadasya yat tasya śāntiṁ kariṣyāmi kālaṁ tāvat pratīkṣata

I am well aware of this vile demon's wickedness. I shall bring about his end; until then, wait patiently.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.7.4.27)

यदा देवेषु वेदेषु गोषु विप्रेषु साधुषु । धर्मे मयि च विद्वेषः स वा आशु विनश्यति ॥ २७ ॥

yadā deveṣu vedeṣu goṣu vipreṣu sādhuṣu dharme mayi ca vidveṣaḥ sa vā āśu vinaśyati

Whoever grows hostile toward the gods, the Vedas, the cows, the brahmanas, the saintly, dharma, and toward Me as well, is soon and surely destroyed.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.7.4.28)

निर्वैराय प्रशान्ताय स्वसुताय महात्मने । प्रह्रादाय यदा द्रुह्येद्धनिष्येऽपि वरोर्जितम् ॥ २८ ॥

nirvairāya praśāntāya sva-sutāya mahātmane prahrādāya yadā druhyed dhaniṣye ’pi varorjitam

When he turns to persecute his own son Prahlada — free of enmity, at peace, and great of soul — then, mighty as he is with his boon, I shall slay him.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.7.4.29)

श्रीनारद उवाच इत्युक्ता लोकगुरुणा तं प्रणम्य दिवौकसः । न्यवर्तन्त गतोद्वेगा मेनिरे चासुरं हतम् ॥ २९ ॥

śrī-nārada uvāca ity uktā loka-guruṇā taṁ praṇamya divaukasaḥ nyavartanta gatodvegā menire cāsuraṁ hatam

Shri Narada said: Thus reassured by the Lord, the teacher of the worlds, the gods bowed to Him and, their anxiety gone, returned home, considering the demon as good as already slain.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.7.4.30)

तस्य दैत्यपतेः पुत्राश्चत्वारः परमाद्भुताः । प्रह्रादोऽभून्महांस्तेषां गुणैर्महदुपासकः ॥ ३० ॥

tasya daitya-pateḥ putrāś catvāraḥ paramādbhutāḥ prahrādo ’bhūn mahāṁs teṣāṁ guṇair mahad-upāsakaḥ

That demon-king had four most wondrous sons, of whom Prahlada, greatest in his qualities, was ever a devotee of the great and holy.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.7.4.31)

ब्रह्मण्यः शीलसम्पन्नः सत्यसन्धो जितेन्द्रियः । आत्मवत्सर्वभूतानामेकप्रियसुहृत्तमः । दासवत्सन्नतार्याङ्घ्रिः पितृवद्दीनवत्सलः ॥ ३१ ॥

brahmaṇyaḥ śīla-sampannaḥ satya-sandho jitendriyaḥ ātmavat sarva-bhūtānām eka-priya-suhṛttamaḥ

He was devoted to the brahmanas, well-mannered, faithful to truth, and master of his senses; he regarded all beings as he did his own self, and was the one true, dearest friend of all.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.7.4.32)

भ्रातृवत्सदृशे स्निग्धो गुरुष्वीश्वरभावनः । विद्यार्थरूपजन्माढ्यो मानस्तम्भविवर्जितः ॥ ३२ ॥

dāsavat sannatāryāṅghriḥ pitṛvad dīna-vatsalaḥ bhrātṛvat sadṛśe snigdho guruṣv īśvara-bhāvanaḥ vidyārtha-rūpa-janmāḍhyo māna-stambha-vivarjitaḥ

He bowed at the feet of his elders as would a servant, was tender toward the poor as a father, affectionate toward his equals as a brother, and beheld his teachers as he would God Himself; and though rich in learning, wealth, beauty, and birth, he was utterly free of pride or stubbornness.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.7.4.33)

नोद्विग्नचित्तो व्यसनेषु निःस्पृहः श्रुतेषु दृष्टेषु गुणेष्ववस्तुदृक् । दान्तेन्द्रियप्राणशरीरधीः सदा प्रशान्तकामो रहितासुरोऽसुरः ॥ ३३ ॥

nodvigna-citto vyasaneṣu niḥspṛhaḥ śruteṣu dṛṣṭeṣu guṇeṣv avastu-dṛk dāntendriya-prāṇa-śarīra-dhīḥ sadā praśānta-kāmo rahitāsuro ’suraḥ

His mind never wavered amid misfortune; he was without craving for worldly pleasures; he saw all qualities, heard of or witnessed, as without real substance; he held his senses, life-breath, and body ever in check; his desires were stilled — an asura by birth, yet wholly without the nature of one.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.7.4.34)

यस्मिन्महद्गुणा राजन्गृह्यन्ते कविभिर्मुहुः । न तेऽधुना पिधीयन्ते यथा भगवतीश्वरे ॥ ३४ ॥

yasmin mahad-guṇā rājan gṛhyante kavibhir muhuḥ na te ’dhunā pidhīyante yathā bhagavatīśvare

O King, the great virtues which the learned again and again recognize in him remain as undimmed even now as they are in Bhagavan, the Supreme Lord Himself.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.7.4.35)

यं साधुगाथासदसि रिपवोऽपि सुरा नृप । प्रतिमानं प्रकुर्वन्ति किमुतान्ये भवादृशाः ॥ ३५ ॥

yaṁ sādhu-gāthā-sadasi ripavo ’pi surā nṛpa pratimānaṁ prakurvanti kim utānye bhavādṛśāḥ

O King, in any assembly recounting the deeds of the saintly, even his enemies, the gods, hold him up as the very model — what then need be said of those like yourself?

Verse 36 (bhagavata.7.4.36)

गुणैरलमसङ्ख्येयैर्माहात्म्यं तस्य सूच्यते । वासुदेवे भगवति यस्य नैसर्गिकी रतिः ॥ ३६ ॥

guṇair alam asaṅkhyeyair māhātmyaṁ tasya sūcyate vāsudeve bhagavati yasya naisargikī ratiḥ

His countless virtues need hardly be enumerated; his greatness is made plain enough by this alone — that his devotion to Bhagavan Vasudeva was entirely his own inborn nature.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.7.4.37)

न्यस्तक्रीडनको बालो जडवत्तन्मनस्तया । कृष्णग्रहगृहीतात्मा न वेद जगदीदृशम् ॥ ३७ ॥

nyasta-krīḍanako bālo jaḍavat tan-manastayā kṛṣṇa-graha-gṛhītātmā na veda jagad īdṛśam

Even as a child he set aside his playthings; his mind, absorbed in thought of Krishna, seemed almost inert to the world; his very self held fast by Krishna, he never knew this world as it appeared to others.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.7.4.38)

आसीनः पर्यटन्नश्नन् शयानः प्रपिबन् ब्रुवन् । नानुसन्धत्त एतानि गोविन्दपरिरम्भितः ॥ ३८ ॥

āsīnaḥ paryaṭann aśnan śayānaḥ prapiban bruvan nānusandhatta etāni govinda-parirambhitaḥ

Sitting, walking about, eating, lying down, drinking, speaking — embraced as he was by Govinda, he took no conscious notice of any of these acts at all.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.7.4.39)

क्वचिद्रुदति वैकुण्ठचिन्ताशबलचेतनः । क्वचिद्धसति तच्चिन्ताह्लाद उद्गायति क्वचित् ॥ ३९ ॥

kvacid rudati vaikuṇṭha- cintā-śabala-cetanaḥ kvacid dhasati tac-cintā- hlāda udgāyati kvacit

Sometimes, his consciousness stirred by thoughts of Vaikuntha, he would weep; sometimes, in the very joy of that same thought, he would laugh; and sometimes he would burst into loud song.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.7.4.40)

नदति क्वचिदुत्कण्ठो विलज्जो नृत्यति क्वचित् । क्वचित्तद्भावनायुक्तस्तन्मयोऽनुचकार ह ॥ ४० ॥

nadati kvacid utkaṇṭho vilajjo nṛtyati kvacit kvacit tad-bhāvanā-yuktas tanmayo ’nucakāra ha

Sometimes he would cry out in longing, sometimes, all shyness forgotten, he would dance; and sometimes, wholly absorbed in that very mood, he would act out the Lord's own pastimes.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.7.4.41)

क्वचिदुत्पुलकस्तूष्णीमास्ते संस्पर्शनिर्वृतः । अस्पन्दप्रणयानन्दसलिलामीलितेक्षणः ॥ ४१ ॥

kvacid utpulakas tūṣṇīm āste saṁsparśa-nirvṛtaḥ aspanda-praṇayānanda- salilāmīlitekṣaṇaḥ

Sometimes, his body thrilled with rapture, he sat in silence, as though basking in the very touch of the Lord, his half-closed eyes filled and still with tears of loving bliss.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.7.4.42)

स उत्तमश्लोकपदारविन्दयो- र्निषेवयाकिञ्चनसङ्गलब्धया । तन्वन् परां निर्वृतिमात्मनो मुहु- र्दुःसङ्गदीनस्य मनः शमं व्यधात् ॥ ४२ ॥

sa uttama-śloka-padāravindayor niṣevayākiñcana-saṅga-labdhayā tanvan parāṁ nirvṛtim ātmano muhur duḥsaṅga-dīnasya manaḥ śamaṁ vyadhāt

Through service to the lotus feet of the Lord of glorious renown, attained through the company of unpossessive devotees, he ever deepened within himself a supreme joy — and thereby brought peace even to the troubled minds of those afflicted by bad company.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.7.4.43)

तस्मिन्महाभागवते महाभागे महात्मनि । हिरण्यकशिपू राजन्नकरोदघमात्मजे ॥ ४३ ॥

tasmin mahā-bhāgavate mahā-bhāge mahātmani hiraṇyakaśipū rājann akarod agham ātmaje

O King, upon that great devotee, that most fortunate and great-souled one, Hiranyakashipu inflicted suffering — even though Prahlada was his own son.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.7.4.44)

श्रीयुधिष्ठिर उवाच देवर्ष एतदिच्छामो वेदितुं तव सुव्रत । यदात्मजाय शुद्धाय पितादात् साधवे ह्यघम् ॥ ४४ ॥

śrī-yudhiṣṭhira uvāca devarṣa etad icchāmo vedituṁ tava suvrata yad ātmajāya śuddhāya pitādāt sādhave hy agham

Yudhishthira said: O celestial sage, O one of noble vows, we wish to know this — why did a father inflict such suffering upon his own pure and saintly son?

Verse 45 (bhagavata.7.4.45)

पुत्रान् विप्रतिकूलान् स्वान् पितरः पुत्रवत्सलाः । उपालभन्ते शिक्षार्थं नैवाघमपरो यथा ॥ ४५ ॥

putrān vipratikūlān svān pitaraḥ putra-vatsalāḥ upālabhante śikṣārthaṁ naivāgham aparo yathā

Fathers who love their sons rebuke them, when disobedient, only for the sake of their instruction — never to cause them harm as an enemy would.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.7.4.46)

किमुतानुवशान् साधूंस्तादृशान् गुरुदेवतान् । एतत्कौतूहलं ब्रह्मन्नस्माकं विधम प्रभो । पितुः पुत्राय यद्द्वेषो मरणाय प्रयोजितः ॥ ४६ ॥

kim utānuvaśān sādhūṁs tādṛśān guru-devatān etat kautūhalaṁ brahmann asmākaṁ vidhama prabho pituḥ putrāya yad dveṣo maraṇāya prayojitaḥ

What then to say of a son so obedient, so saintly, worthy of reverence as a teacher? O brahmana, O lord, dispel this doubt of ours — why did a father's hatred toward his son go so far as to be turned even toward killing him?