Shloka 53
Āśā-prabhava (आशाप्रभव) — On the Rise and Power of Hope/Expectation
Sumitra Itihāsa Begins
सत्यं विद्धयसुरेन्द्राद्य प्रयास्ये धर्ममन्वहम् । “आप कौन हैं?' यह प्रश्न होनेपर उस महातेजस्वीने उन्हें उत्तर दिया--“असुरेन्द्र! मुझे सत्य समझो! मैं अब धर्मके पीछे-पीछे जाऊँगा' ।।
satyaṁ viddhy asurendrādya prayāsye dharmam anvaham | “āpa kaun haiṁ?” iti praśne kṛte sa mahātejasvī tān praty uvāca—“asurendra! māṁ satyaṁ viddhi; ahaṁ idānīṁ dharmasya pṛṣṭhataḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ gamiṣyāmi” || 52 || tasminn anugate satye mahān vai puruṣo ’paraḥ | satyasya cale gate prahrādasya śarīrāt dvitīyo mahāpuruṣaḥ prādurabhavat | paricayaṁ pṛṣṭe sa mahābalī praty uvāca—“prahrāda! māṁ sadācāraṁ viddhi; yatra satyaṁ tatraivāham api tiṣṭhāmi” || 53 ||
婆罗门说道：“阿修罗之主啊，当知我即是真实（Satya）。从此以后，我将日复一日追随达摩（Dharma）。”当他们问：“你是谁？”那光辉者答道：“阿修罗王啊，当知我为真实；如今我将随在达摩之后。”真实既已循着达摩而去，又一位大士从普罗诃罗陀（Prahlāda）的身中显现。被问其名，那强者答道：“普罗诃罗陀啊，当知我为善行、正行（良好实践）。真实所在之处，我亦常住于彼。”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Truth (satya) and good conduct (sadācāra) are inseparable supports of Dharma: when Truth aligns itself to follow Dharma, ethical practice naturally accompanies it, dwelling wherever Truth is established.
In a symbolic scene, Truth speaks as a radiant being to the Asura-king, declaring it will follow Dharma. After Truth moves on, another great being—Good Conduct—emerges from Prahlāda and states that it abides wherever Truth is present, showing a chain of virtues: Dharma → Truth → Right Conduct.