PLATE ONE
When Hiraṇyakaśipu, the King of the demons, went to Mandarācala mountain to execute severe austerities, in his absence the demigods, headed by King Indra, made a great attempt to subdue all the demons in warfare. When the leaders of the demons, who were being killed one after another, saw the unprecedented exertion of the demigods in fighting, they began to flee, scattering themselves in all directions. Simply to protect their lives, they hastily fled from their homes, wives, children, animals and household paraphernalia. The victorious demigods plundered the palace of Hiraṇyakaśipu and destroyed everything within it. Then Indra, King of heaven, arrested Prahlāda's mother. As she was being led away, crying in fear like a small bird captured by a vulture, the great sage Nārada appeared on the scene and saw her in that condition. Nārada Muni said, "O Indra, King of the demigods, this woman is certainly sinless. You should not drag her off in this merciless way. You must immediately release her." King Indra said, "In the womb of this woman, the wife of the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu, is the seed of that great demon. Therefore, let her remain in our custody until her child is delivered, and then we shall release her." Nārada Muni replied, "The child within this woman's womb is faultless and sinless. Indeed, he is a great devotee, a powerful servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore you will not be able to kill him." ( pp. 43-48 )