Prahlāda and Nara-Nārāyaṇa

Prahlāda was the king of the daityas and the greatest devotee of Bhagavān Vishṇu. The Devī Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa says that he once went on a tīrtha-yātrā (pilgrimage) across Bhāratavarsha. At Badarī he met Nara, one of the twin divine ṛshis Nara and Nārāyaṇa, and challenged him to a fight. They fought for a thousand divine years. Then Bhagavān Vishṇu appeared and told Prahlāda who Nara and Nārāyaṇa were, and Prahlāda gave up the fight. The same Purāṇa also records a stotra that Prahlāda sang to the Parādevī.

Prahlāda’s pilgrimage

After the great wars between the devas and the dānavas, Prahlāda went on a tīrtha-yātrā through the holy lands of Bhāratavarsha. He was king of the daityas and the first among the devotees of Vishṇu. He visited many holy rivers, sacred forests and divine shrines. At last he came to the Himālaya region and to the famous āśrama (hermitage) of Badarī. This is the eternal home of the twin divine ṛshis Nara and Nārāyaṇa.

The challenge at Badarī

When Prahlāda reached the Badarī āśrama, he met Nara, one of the pair of divine ṛshis who live there always. Prahlāda challenged Nara to a fight. Nara is an aṃśa (part) of Vishṇu himself. He accepted the challenge.

The fight that followed was beyond ordinary. Two beings of great spiritual and bodily power fought for a thousand divine years. The ṛshis and divine beings who had gathered watched the fight with wonder.

Bhagavān Vishṇu appears

The fight went on for a thousand years and neither side won. Then Bhagavān Vishṇu himself appeared at the Badarī āśrama. He told Prahlāda the truth: “Nara and Nārāyaṇa are my own direct aṃśas. They are not separate beings. They are forms of my own self. In challenging Nara, you have been challenging me.”

Prahlāda heard these words and saw the form of his beloved Vishṇu, and he was overcome. At once he gave up all thought of fighting. He bowed to the ground in bhakti (loving devotion) and received the blessing of Bhagavān Vishṇu.

Prahlāda’s stotra to the Parādevī

The Devī Bhāgavata records a great stotra that Prahlāda offered to the Parādevī. It is one of the clearest praises in the text. It comes from one who had lived through great wars and had seen for himself the mystery of Vishṇu’s nature. Prahlāda knew her as:

  • The supreme Mahāmāyā, who holds Brahmā, Vishṇu and Śiva under her sway
  • The saccidānanda (being, awareness and bliss) Parāśakti, from whom all creation comes
  • The one who gives birth to the Trimūrti, their śaktis and all beings that move and do not move
  • The highest reality beyond all the devas, whom the devas themselves worship

The Parādevī was pleased with Prahlāda’s praise. She appeared before him riding her lion in all her glory and granted him varas (boons). She then sent the dānavas to Pātāla.

Sources

  • Devī Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, Skanda 4, Chapter 8 (Prahlāda’s pilgrimage)
  • Devī Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, Skanda 4, Chapters 8–9 (the challenge and the fight)
  • Devī Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, Skanda 4, Chapter 9 (Bhagavān Vishṇu’s appearance)
  • Devī Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, Skanda 4, Chapters 14–15 (the stotra to the Parādevī)