Prahlada in Indian tradition
Prahlada appears here not in a separate devotional episode, but as the father asked to judge a wager between his son Virochana and Sudhanva. In the framing conversation, Vidura tells Dhritarashtra how Keshini’s question about rank leads the two young men from argument to a wager of their lives. Prahlada must decide which claim is true, even though one claimant is his own son. He asks Sudhanva about the cost of false testimony, then gives the judgment against Virochana. Sudhanva receives the victory but spares Virochana because Prahlada told the truth. The story turns on a father’s impartial ruling and the mercy that follows it.
SourceMahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 25)· Mahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 26)· Mahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 27)· Mahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 28)· Mahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 29)· Mahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 30)· Mahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 31)· Mahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 32)· Mahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 33)· Mahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 34)· Mahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 35)· Mahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 36)· Mahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 37)· Mahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 38)· Mahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 39)· Mahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 40)· Mahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 41)· Mahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 42)· Mahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 43)· Mahabharata Vol. 4 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Fifty-One, printed marker 698(35) (EPUB text block 44)
The quick answers
Who is Prahlada?
Prahlada is an Indian hero.
The myths of Prahlada
1 myth, with sources recorded for each.
Prahlada Judges Virochana and Sudhanva
Vidura told Dhritarashtra how Virochana and Sudhanva came before Prahlada. The dispute began when Keshini asked Virochana whether brahmanas or the sons of Diti ranked higher. Virochana claimed that his own people were superior. Keshini asked him to wait for Sudhanva. When Sudhanva arrived, Virochana refused to share his golden seat. He offered wealth to settle their disagreement, but Sudhanva proposed that they stake their lives instead.
The two went to Prahlada, Virochana’s father, and demanded a judgment. Prahlada noticed that they said they were not friends, yet had travelled together. He offered Sudhanva the customary welcome. Sudhanva replied that he had already received hospitality on the way and wanted an answer. Prahlada asked what happened to a person who gave false testimony. Sudhanva described the misery and grave consequences that followed a lie.
Prahlada considered the claims and answered that Angiras was superior to him, Sudhanva was superior to Virochana, and Sudhanva’s mother was superior to Virochana’s. Under the wager, Virochana’s life now belonged to Sudhanva. Prahlada asked Sudhanva to spare his son. Sudhanva agreed because Prahlada had spoken truthfully rather than favouring Virochana. He told Virochana to wash his feet before Keshini.
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