Shloka 42
Nārāyaṇa’s Impartiality, Absorption in Kṛṣṇa, and the Jaya–Vijaya Descent
Prelude to Prahlāda’s History
हिरण्यकशिपु: पुत्रं प्रह्लादं केशवप्रियम् । जिघांसुरकरोन्नाना यातना मृत्युहेतवे ॥ ४२ ॥
hiraṇyakaśipuḥ putraṁ prahlādaṁ keśava-priyam jighāṁsur akaron nānā yātanā mṛtyu-hetave
ಕೇಶವಪ್ರಿಯನಾದ ಭಕ್ತಪುತ್ರ ಪ್ರಹ್ಲಾದನನ್ನು ಕೊಲ್ಲಬೇಕೆಂದು ಹಿರಣ್ಯಕಶಿಪು ಬಯಸಿ, ಅವನಿಗೆ ನಾನಾ ವಿಧದ ಯಾತನೆಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡಿದನು.
FAQs
This verse explicitly calls Prahlāda “keśava-priya”—dear to the Lord—showing that pure devotion makes a devotee intimately protected and cherished by Viṣṇu, even amid severe danger.
Because Prahlāda was devoted to Keśava (Viṣṇu), Hiraṇyakaśipu—hostile to the Lord—became enraged and, desiring to destroy that devotion, subjected him to many tortures meant to cause death.
It teaches steadiness in devotion and values under pressure: opposition may intensify, but sincere bhakti and integrity help one endure fear, remain focused on the Divine, and not be shaken by external threats.