Shloka 9
Maitreya’s Inquiry into Prahlāda: The Logic of Bhakti’s Invincibility
कृत्यां च दैत्यगुरवो युयुजुस् ते तु किं मुने शम्बरश् चापि मायानां सहस्रं किं प्रयुक्तवान्
kṛtyāṃ ca daityaguravo yuyujus te tu kiṃ mune śambaraś cāpi māyānāṃ sahasraṃ kiṃ prayuktavān
ข้าแต่มุนี อาจารย์ของพวกไทตยะได้ปล่อยกฤตยา อสูรที่เกิดจากพิธีทำลายล้างด้วยหรือไม่? และโปรดบอกเถิด—ศัมพรได้ใช้กลมายามายานับพันหรือ?
Maitreya (questioning Sage Parāśara)
FAQs
In this verse, kṛtyā represents a weaponized ritual-force—an embodiment of hostile, adharma-driven magic—used to challenge dharma, yet ultimately shown as inferior to the divine protection surrounding Vishnu’s lineage.
The question anticipates Parāśara’s account of Śambara’s māyā as deliberate deception and sorcery—dramatic obstacles that highlight how divine sovereignty renders illusory powers ineffective against the Lord’s purpose.
Even when asuras deploy kṛtyā and extensive māyā, the underlying message is that all such powers are subordinate to Vishnu’s supreme order, which safeguards and fulfills the divine narrative.