On hearing these words, hundreds and thousands of daityas attacked Prahlada and all sorts of weapons could do him no protected by Vishnu, the weapons could do him no harm., Hiranyakashipu then let loose many poisonous snakes on Prahlada. But because Prahlada had Vishnu’s protection, the fangs of the snakes could not penetrate his skin., Hiranyakashipu then asked many elephants to kill Prahlada with their tusks. The elephants threw down Prahlada on the ground and gored him with their tusks. But Prahlada thought of vishnu and the tusks broke on his breast. On the orders of Hiranyakashipu, the daityas next lit a fire. Prahlada was put into the fire, but the flames could do nothing to him. On witnessing all this, Hiranyakashipu’s priests requested him to take Prahlada out of the fire. “Don’t worry,” they said. “We will give him a proper education.”

Prahlada went back to his guru. But whenever he could find the time, he began to teach the sons of the daityas. He taught them to pray to Vishnu.

“Dear son,” asked Hiranyakashipu, “who has taught you this rubbish?”

“The teacher of all teachers. Lord Vishnu,” came the reply.

“Who is this Vishnu?”, asked Hiranyakashipu.

“The Lord of my heart,” said Prahlada.

“Lord of your heart. How can you have a Lord other than me?”

“He is not only my Lord, he is yours as well,” replied Prahlada. “Lord of everyone.”

“Take him away,” said the angry Hiranyakashipu. “Send him back to the teacher. Let him unlearn all this.”

Prahlada went back to his guru’s home and studied there for many years. he was then again brought back before Hiranyakashipu.

“Son,” asked Hiranyakashipu, “what did you study?”

“To pray to Vishnu,” was the reply.

“Kill my evil son,” said Hiranyakashipu. “There is nothing to be gained by his remaining alive. he is a disgrace to my family”.