Storia do Mogor 247.4

247.4

The fourth incarnation was that of a man and lion jointly. The reason alleged for this is as follows: There was a giant called Hiranie (Hiranya-Kasipu), to whom Rudra accorded the privilege of immunity from being killed by anyone, whether by night or day, at home or abroad. The giant grew so high and mighty at this privilege that he promulgated an ordinance that none other name than his should be pronounced throughout the world. If anyone brought to mind the gods or invoked them, he should suffer no lesser penalty than death. At the time when this giant was the most puffed up, imagining to himself that no one in the world remembered the gods, a son of his, called Paragaladam (Prahladam), was a schoolboy. When his teacher told him to read and pronounce the name of his father, Hiranya, he brought forth that of Vishnu. Upon this the teacher, afraid of the father's anger, made an accusation to him against his son. Hiranya menaced his son with death by snakes, bears, tigers, and elephants; but the boy, through his devotion to Vishnu, was delivered from all without difficulty.