Prahlāda and Keśinī
Prahlāda is the great daitya-rāja (king of the daityas), known across the Purāṇas for his steady devotion to Bhagavān Viṣṇu. In the Udyoga Parva of the Mahābhārata he appears in a different role. He is a just and truthful judge. His own son Virocana and the brahmin Sudhanya came to him with a dispute over the maiden Keśinī. Prahlāda told the truth even though his son’s life depended on his answer. He said that the ṛṣi Aṅgiras was greater than he was, and that Sudhanya was greater than Virocana.
The setting
Vidura tells this story to Dhṛtarāṣṭra as a parable inside the Vidura-nīti. It is found in Chapter 35 of the Prajāgara Parvan, a part of the Udyoga Parva. It speaks of Keśinī’s svayaṃvara (the ceremony at which a maiden chooses her husband) and of the dispute between Virocana and Sudhanya.
Prahlāda does not appear here as a devotee or a warrior. He appears as a father and a judge, in the hardest place possible. If he spoke the truth, it would cost the life of his only son. He did speak the truth. Sudhanya then graciously gave the son’s life back.
Prahlāda’s moment of truth
Virocana and Sudhanya came before Prahlāda. They had each staked their lives (prāṇa) on his verdict. At first Prahlāda tried to avoid answering. He said:
“You are both here before me. There is a dispute between you. How can someone like me, who has a direct interest in the outcome, give judgment in such a case?”
Sudhanya insisted that dharma required the truth. If Prahlāda spoke falsely to save his son, the result would be terrible. He said that false testimony about human matters destroys a thousand generations, and that false testimony about land destroys everything for all time.
Prahlāda could not escape. He gave his verdict:
“Virocana, the ṛṣi Aṅgiras is superior to me. Sudhanya is superior to you. His mother is superior to your mother. Therefore you have lost to Sudhanya. And Sudhanya, the life of this my son is now in your hands.”
Prahlāda chose the truth over the life of his only son.
What false testimony destroys
The Mahābhārata gives this list of what is destroyed by a false statement.
- Lying about goats and sheep destroys five generations.
- Lying about cattle destroys ten.
- Lying about horses destroys a hundred.
- Lying about human matters destroys a thousand.
- Lying about land destroys everything for all time.
Prahlāda in the Purāṇas
The Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa tells how Prahlāda stood firm against his father Hiraṇyakaśipu. In that account he would not give way for fear of death, for love of a parent or to please anyone. In the Mahābhārata the same firmness shows itself again. He will not give way even out of love for his son.
Sources
- Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 35 (Prajāgara Parvan)
- Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa (mentioned for Prahlāda and Hiraṇyakaśipu)