PLATE ONE

When Hiranyakasipu, the King of the demons, went to Mandaracala
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 fight-
ing, 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 plun-
dered the palace of Hiranyakasipu and destroyed everything within it.
Then Indra, King of heaven, arrested Prahlada’s mother. As she was
being led away, crying in fear like a small bird captured by a vulture, the
great sage Narada appeared on the scene and saw her in that condition.
Narada Muni said, “‘O Indra, King of the demigods, this woman is cer-
tainly 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 Hiranyakasipu, 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.” Narada 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 God-
head. Therefore you will not be able to kill him.” (pp. 43-48)
