Prahlada’s Defeat in Battle and Victory through Bhakti (Nara-Narayana Episode)
तमुवाच महातेजा वाक्यं नारायणो ऽव्ययः किमर्थं प्रणतो ऽसीह मामजित्वा महासुर
tamuvāca mahātejā vākyaṃ nārāyaṇo 'vyayaḥ kimarthaṃ praṇato 'sīha māmajitvā mahāsura
تب عظیم جلال والے، غیر فانی نارائن نے اس سے کہا— “اے مہاسُر! مجھے فتح کیے بغیر یہاں میرے آگے کیوں جھکا ہے؟”
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True reverence is not contingent on worldly victory; Nārāyaṇa’s question highlights that devotion (praṇāma) arises from recognition of the Supreme, not from power or conquest.
This belongs to Vamśānucarita/Carita-style narrative material (accounts of divine–asura interactions and exemplary devotees), rather than sarga/pratisarga or manvantara catalogues.
“Having not conquered me” underscores the unconquerability of the Absolute; even a ‘mahāsura’ is positioned as a potential bhakta when he recognizes the Lord’s transcendence.