Shloka 2
विषप्रयोगः कृत्योत्पादनं च (प्रह्लादस्य अवध्यता, कृत्याविनाशः, पुरोहितानां रक्षणम्)
हे सूदा मम पुत्रो ऽसाव् अन्येषाम् अपि दुर्मतिः कुमार्गदेशिको दुष्टो हन्यताम् अविलम्बितम्
he sūdā mama putro 'sāv anyeṣām api durmatiḥ kumārgadeśiko duṣṭo hanyatām avilambitam
“O Sūda, that one—though my own son—has become a corrupter of others as well: a man of perverse counsel, a teacher of the wrong path, wicked in conduct. Let him be put to death at once, without delay.”
A king (addressing Sūda) issuing an immediate royal command regarding his son
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Hiraṇyakaśipu’s denunciation of Prahlāda as a ‘teacher of the wrong path’ and his command to kill him
Teaching: Historical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Adharma mislabels true devotion as ‘wrong path’, revealing how egoic power distorts moral judgment.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Recognize and resist pressure to abandon conscience and devotion when authority condemns what is truly good.
Vishishtadvaita: Devotion to the Supreme Person is portrayed as the highest dharma even when opposed by worldly power, implying the Lord’s supremacy over social coercion.
Phase: Persecution
Bhakti Quality: Unshaken devotion despite familial hostility
Vishnu Form: Hari
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse frames misguiding others as a grave social and spiritual offense; the king treats the spread of wrong conduct as a threat to dharma that demands swift restraint.
The king’s command shows impartial raja-dharma: personal attachment must not override the protection of society and the maintenance of moral order.
Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s worldview assumes dharma as part of Vishnu’s cosmic order; protecting that order through just rule aligns governance with the Supreme sustaining principle.