PLATE SEVEN
When the attempts of the demon Rākṣasas to kill Prahlāda Mahārāja were futile, the King of the demons, Hiraṇyakaśipu, being most fearful, began contriving other means to kill him. Hiraṇyakaśipu thought, “Although Prahlāda is only five years old, even at this young age he has given up his affectionate relationship with his father and mother. Prahlāda is so treacherous that he has become a devotee of Viṣṇu, who killed his uncle Hiraṇyākṣa. If a limb of one’s body is poisoned by disease, it must be amputated so that the rest of the body may live happily. Similarly, even one’s own son, if unfavorable, must be rejected, although born of one’s own body.” Thus Hiraṇyakaśipu planned a campaign to kill Prahlāda Mahārāja. He thought he would kill his son by throwing him beneath the feet of big elephants, throwing him among huge, fearful snakes, employing destructive spells, conjuring up illusory tricks, administering poison, starving him, exposing him to severe cold, winds, fire and water, throwing heavy stones to crush him, or hurling him from the top of a mountain. But Prahlāda Mahārāja, who was completely sinless, could not be harmed in any way. ( pp. 276–278, 282 )