Text 46] Prahlada, the Saintly Son of Hiranyakasipu 283

eries; asat-dharmaih—abominable actions; muktah—released; svena—
his own; eva—indeed; teyjasa—by prowess.

TRANSLATION

Hiranyakasipu thought: I have used many ill names in chastising
this boy Prahlada and have devised many means of killing him, but
despite all my endeavors, he could not be killed. Indeed, he saved
himself by his own powers, without being affected in the least by
these treacheries and abominable actions.

TEXT 46
TAMAS J TASCA |
a famefa Asad WarAe za mT Vall

vartamano ‘vidiire vai
balo ’py ajada-dhir ayam
na vismarati me ’ndryam

Sunah Sepa iva prabhuh

vartamanah—being situated; avidire—not very far away; vai—in-
deed; balah—a mere child; api—although; ajada-dhih—complete
fearlessness; ayam—this; na—not; vismarati—forgets; me—my;
anaryam—misbehavior; sunah sepah—the curved tail of a dog; iva—
exactly like; prabhuh—being able or potent.

TRANSLATION

Although he is very near to me and is merely a child, he is situ-
ated in complete fearlessness. He resembles a dog’s curved tail,
which can never be straightened, because he never forgets my
misbehavior and his connection with his master, Lord Visnu.

PURPORT

The word sunah means “‘of a dog,” and Sepa means “‘tail.” The exam-
ple is ordinary. However one may try to straighten a dog’s tail, it is never
